Veganuary Plant-Based Bagel Baking Class in Midtown Manhattan

Veganuary Plant-Based Bagel Baking Class at Bagel Market sits in Midtown Manhattan, steps from Times Square at 264 W 40th Street. This two-hour hands-on workshop teaches vegan bagel techniques, offers Monty’s plant-based spreads, complimentary beer and wine, and sends you home with a dozen bagels and the signature recipe.

Step inside Bagel Market and the room smells of hot crust and boiled dough. Instructors lead a small group—up to 30 people—through mixing, shaping, boiling, and baking New York–style bagels in real ovens. The class emphasizes plant-based techniques: non-dairy washes, oil-based dough conditioners, and dairy-free schmears from Monty’s that echo classic flavors without animal products. A practical demonstration explains how New York tap water’s mineral profile contributes to a chewier crust, and why that matters for texture.

The scene is urban and tactile. Key features include the wooden prep tables, a deck oven roaring in the background, racks crowded with glossy, salted rounds, and a communal tasting station for spreads and toppings. Though this is a culinary experience rather than a nature outing, the class offers a small cultural landmark: a living slice of Jewish-American culinary history adapted for a vegan moment. Expect references to early 20th-century immigrant bakers and how the bagel evolved into a city staple.

What makes this class stand out in New York’s food scene is the combination of accessible technique and local flavor: you leave with hands-on skills, a dozen fresh bagels, and a recipe to replicate the city’s characteristic chew at home. It’s social, instructive, and geared for people who love foodcraft more than pretension—families with older kids (ages 2+ welcome, with adult supervision), couples, and solo travelers looking for a flavorful activity in Midtown. Time the class to follow a morning walk through Bryant Park or to pair with an evening show — the location puts you in the middle of Manhattan’s transit grid, making it an easy stop between sightseeing.

Practical details are clean and simple: arrive at Bagel Market, 264 W 40th St, New York, NY 10018; plan for two hours; and expect to take home a dozen bagels plus the recipe. The class balances tradition and modern dietary preferences, folding a slice of New York history into a contemporary, plant-forward kitchen. Whether you bake to save money, learn a new skill, or simply eat the best vegan bagel you’ve ever had, this workshop delivers a compact, flavorful New York experience.

Bring an appetite: instructors share troubleshooting tips for dough hydration and shaping that will save you time on repeat attempts. Classes run during Veganuary and beyond; always check the booking link for dates. Come ready to get flour on your hands and leave with a small New York story to taste.