Mix together all dough ingredients (flour, yeast, salt, non-diastatic malt, pesto, and water) in the bowl of a stand mixer with dough hook attached. Depending on the type of pesto you use, you may need additional water. If the dough is too dry, add water 1 tbsp at a time.
Mix dough on low for 7-20 minutes or until dough is smooth and elastic, no longer sticking to the sides of the bowl.
Remove dough, shape into a ball and place in a lightly greased bowl. Cover and allow to rise for 90-120 minutes or until dough has doubled in size.
Prep cooking sheet with parchment or silicone mat. Set aside.
When dough is ready, pour water for water bath into a large pot and bring to a boil.
Preheat oven to 425°F
Punch down dough and remove from bowl. Divide dough into 8 equal portions.
Take each portion of dough, and shape into a ball by pinching all the sides together. Place seam side down on work space. Repeat with remaining portions.
Take one of dough balls and poke index finger through the center, all the way creating a hole. Stretch the dough, creating the large center hole and bagel. Place on prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining dough.
Cover the bagels while waiting for water bath to boil.
When water begins boiling, add sugar and non-diastatic malt and stir in.
Depending on the size of your pot, place 2-4 bagels in the boiling water. Do not overcrowd. Let bagels boil for 45 seconds, then flip and let boil for another 45 seconds. Remove from water bath back to baking sheet. Repeat with remaining bagels.
Place bagels in oven on center rack. Allow bagels to bake for about 20 minutes, and then remove.
Carefully add about 1 tsp of pesto to the top of each bagel, spreading over the top portion. Then sprinkle parmesan cheese over the top of the pesto.
Place bagels back in the oven for another 5-7 minutes. Bagels will be golden and cheese should be melted (at least mostly) when they are ready.
Remove bagels from oven and place on a wire rack to cool. Wait for bagels to cool completely before eating, store in an air-tight container.
