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Easy Homemade Simit – Turkish Inspired Bagels | Soft & Chewy Inside, Crispy Sesame Outside! 🥨✨

A delicious Turkish street food classic you can easily make at home!

Looking for a fresh, homemade bread that’s crispy on the outside and wonderfully soft and chewy on the inside? These Easy Homemade Simit (Turkish Sesame Bagels) are the perfect answer! Made with simple ingredients, these golden rings are a beloved Turkish breakfast and snack staple — and now you can make them right in your own kitchen.

We’re making three delicious styles today: classic sesame-coated, almond-coated, and plain. They’re perfect for breakfast, lunchboxes, or enjoying with your favorite spreads!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe:

Authentic Turkish Flavor: Traditional taste with that signature crispy sesame crust and soft, chewy interior.
Three Styles in One: Classic Sesame, Almond, and Plain — something for everyone!
Family-Friendly & Fun: Easy enough for beginners and great for cooking with kids.
Make-Ahead Friendly: Store in the fridge for up to a month and toast to refresh — tastes just like fresh from the oven!
Better Than Store-Bought: Fresher, more delicious, and made with wholesome ingredients.

Ingredients

For the Dough:

6 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon instant yeast
1 teaspoon sugar
2 teaspoons salt
1 cup warm water
200 ml warm milk
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 Egg

For the Dipping Mixture:

½ cup water
2 tablespoons honey

For the Coatings:

1 cup sesame seeds (roasted until golden)
Almond slices (optional)
Nothing (for plain style)

Step-by-Step Instructions

Prepare the Dough: In a container, combine the warm water, warm milk, sugar, and yeast. Let it sit for 10 minutes until foamy. Add the oil into the mixture, In a big bowl container, mix salt and flour together, then add the yeast mixture in, Add an egg and Knead for 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
First Rise: Cover the dough with plastic wrap and towel and let it rest in a warm place until it doubles in size, about 60-90 minutes.
Shape the Dough: Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface. Smooth it out and roll into a log shape. Cut into 8 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a smooth ball, then cover with plastic wrap to prevent drying out.
Form the Simit Rings: Roll each ball into a long rope shape (about 12–14 inches). Twist the rope and join the ends to form the classic ring shape. Repeat until you finish all 8 pieces.
Coating Time: Mix the honey and water in a small bowl. Dip each Simit into the mixture, then generously coat with roasted sesame seeds, almond slices, or leave plain.
Second Rise: Place the shaped Simit on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Cover with plastic wrap and let them rest for about 20 minutes until slightly puffed.
Bake: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Bake for 20 minutes, switching the trays halfway through so both get evenly golden and crispy on the top rack. Lower to 375°F toward the end if they are browning too fast.
Enjoy: Let them cool slightly. Serve warm and toasted is recommended!

Storage Tip: You can store them in a zip-top bag in the fridge for up to one month. Toast them whenever you’re ready to enjoy — they will taste fresh, just like they came straight out of the oven!

Simit-Turkish Inspired Bagels,Sesame seed bagels

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Easy Simit-Turkish Inspired Bagels

Crispy on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside — these homemade Turkish Inspired Bagels are absolutely delicious! Perfect for breakfast, snacks, or lunchboxes. This simple recipe is family-friendly and tastes even better than store-bought!

Prep Time20

Active Time20

Total Time2

Course: Appetizer, Breakfast, Main Course, Snack

Cuisine: American, French, Italian, Mediterranean

Keyword: Bagels, homemade bread, Simit

Yield: Bagels

Calories: 405kcal

Cost: $4.50

Materials

For the Dough:
6 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon instant yeast
1 teaspoon sugar
2 teaspoons salt
1 cup warm water
200 ml warm milk about ¾ cup + 2 tbsp
¼ cup vegetable oil
1 Egg
For the Dipping Mixture:
½ cup water
2 tablespoons honey
For the Coatings:
1 cup sesame seeds roasted until golden
Almond slices optional
Nothing for plain style

Instructions

Prepare the Dough: In a container, combine the warm water, warm milk, sugar, and yeast. Let it sit for 10 minutes until foamy. Add the oil into the mixture, In a big bowl container, mix salt and flour together, then add the yeast mixture in, Add an egg and Knead for 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
First Rise: Cover the dough with plastic wrap and towel and let it rest in a warm place until it doubles in size, about 60-90 minutes.
Shape the Dough: Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface. Smooth it out and roll into a log shape. Cut into 8 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a smooth ball, then cover with plastic wrap to prevent drying out.
Form the Simit Rings: Roll each ball into a long rope shape (about 12–14 inches). Twist the rope and join the ends to form the classic ring shape. Repeat until you finish all 8 pieces.
Coating Time: Mix the honey and water in a small bowl. Dip each Simit into the mixture, then generously coat with roasted sesame seeds, almond slices, or leave plain.
Second Rise: Place the shaped Simit on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Cover with plastic wrap and let them rest for about 20 minutes until slightly puffed.
Bake: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Bake for 20 minutes, switching the trays halfway through so both get evenly golden and crispy on the top rack. Lower to 375°F toward the end if they are browning too fast.
Enjoy: Let them cool slightly. Serve warm and toasted is recommended!
Storage Tip: You can store them in a zip-top bag in the fridge for up to one month. Toast them whenever you’re ready to enjoy — they will taste fresh, just like they came straight out of the oven!