Can't seem to find malt powder or malt syrup in any of my local grocery stores. Is there an online source you would recommend to purchase from or a different substitution for this ingredient. I am very eager to try these bagels! Thanks.

Many folks to seem to have consistent and good results with Amazon. I did a quick search and found some available through there http://www.amazon.com/Barley-Malt-Powder-1-lb/dp/B00015UC8O - Cheers!

King Arthur Flour in the US ...suggust you sign up for the free catalog if you bake much.

Thanks for the suggestions. One more question- when given the choice to buy diastatic or non-diastatic malt powder, which do you recommend to use for making bagels?

If you don't need a lifetime supply of the stuff you might try a beer making supply store.

We use non-diastatic malt powder for this recipe, which gives the bagels nice flavor and color. It is also easier to find and a bit easier to work with. Here is a good link describing the difference between diastatic and non-diastatic malt powder. Cheers!

I'm kinda a science nerd, so I was wondering what the importance of the malt powder was to the bagel. I have seen other recipes that don't use it. Since I will have to order it to make the bagels, I was just wondering.

Malt powder imparts flavor and a natural sweetness to baked goods. It also tends to make baked goods bake up browner and shinier. However, as mentioned in the recipe, if you cannot find it, you could use maple syrup instead.

Hope that helps. Cheers!

I have made bagels before with honey instead of malt powder, as suggested by Peter Reinhart, and they came out delicious.

Hi Alex- Nice to hear that Peter Reinhart's suggestion was useful. I have huge admiration for his books. He's one of the best teachers out there, and a really nice guy. Enjoy!