The Ultimate Gluten-free Bagel List

As far as I’m concerned, there’s really nothing that a toasted bagel with butter can’t fix. Hungover? Buttered bagel. Stomach hurts/feeling under-the-weather? Buttered bagel. Woke up in a great mood and want a bit of fuel before hitting the gym? BUTTERED BAGEL.

Over the almost 16 years of being gluten-free, my family and I have tried countless dry, tasteless, crumbly bagels. My all-time favorite bagel was made by Glutino. I’m not sure when or why they did away with their bagels, but those puffy, perfect rolls of dough are desperately missed. 

I’ll be updating this list as I continue trying new bagels, but here are a couple, as of January 13th, 2019, that I’ve enjoyed chowing down on. 

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​Trader Joe’s Gluten-free Bagels
These are a great option for such a reasonable (i.e. cheap) price. They’ve expanded their flavors beyond the traditional to include blueberry and everything. I haven’t tried the blueberry, although both of my siblings have and gave it high praise. I have tried the Everything Bagels, though. This past Christmas, my sister couldn’t stop talking about them, so my dad bought two packages for us all to share. As they were rapidly being devoured, I managed to snag one to see what all the fuss was about. Holy ****. They were absolutely delicious. The texture was perfect. (Interestingly enough, I don’t mind Trader Joe’s regular GF bagels, but I’ve never liked how airy they are; the Everything Bagels have a different—better and more accurate—texture.) The flavor was spot on. (They are now holding a permanent spot in my freezer.)

Udi’s Bagels
Udi’s is a big name in the gluten-free world. Their bagel selection includes cinnamon raisin, whole grain, plain, and an “everything inside” bagel. I can say with absolute certainty that I’ve had their Whole Grain and Plain Bagels. The only problem I have with Udi’s bagels is their texture/consistency; they're far too airy and light for a bagel—I think. However, their size is nice and big, and the range of flavors means you’re bound to find something you like. Their Plain Bagels are also dairy-free, soy-free and nut-free.

Canyon Bakehouse Bagels
I actually stumbled across these bagels while at my local Walmart, perusing their gluten-free section. Unfortunately, I’ve only enjoyed the Plain Bagel so far; from a quick glance at Canyon Bakehouse's full list of products, I’m woefully unprepared to talk at length about this company (but I do know they’re entirely gluten-free!). I can say that these plain bagels are quite close to that traditional thick, hearty consistency of a “regular” bagel (well, as far as I can remember). 

​BAGEL TIP: This applies to really any gluten-free baked good that you won’t be eating within a day or two: Freeze them. It erases the stress of trying to remember how old they are, and it totally eliminates that horrible moment when you’re so excited to eat an Everything Bagel but you open the package to find mold everywhere. (To my sister: Always freeze the bagels.) I usually pop them in the microwave for about 30 seconds to remove the chill, which allows me to cut them in half before toasting. 

Also: If you’re in the mood to make your own bagels, try this recipe! 

​Do you have a gluten-free bagel you can’t live without? Let me know in the comments so I can check it out too!