Pumpkin Spice Bagels

Here is a re-post for all you pumpkin lovers out there!

These wonderful Pumpkin Spice Bagels were created using a pumpkin bagel recipe and tweaked a little to use whole wheat and lots of yummy spices. A friend and I made these to give out to a few ladies we visit as a little festive treat for the Thanksgiving season.

For those of you who know me... I like to bake with whole wheat flour. It is more nutritious and healthier for you. I love eating baked goods, so I figure I better bake them as healthy as possible as to not load up on simple carbs and sugars. With that said, all recipes can be tweaked to use white flour if that is what you choose.

Oh and by the way... Bagels are not as hard to make as some will make them out to be. They really aren't that difficult to make, they are just a little... well... INVOLVED is the best word for them I think. The active time in making bagels is higher than in making a regular old loaf of bread. There are multiple steps... but it really isn't that hard.

So here we go:

1/2 c + 2 tbsp warm water

3 1/4 c whole wheat flour

1/4 c gluten

1/2 c brown sugar

1 1/2 c pumpkin

3 1/2 ts yeast

1 1/2 ts cinnamon

1/3 ts ground cloves

1 1/2 ts nutmeg

3/4 ts allspice or pumpkin pie spice

Directions:

1) Mix all ingredients together using a kitchen mixer or bread machine (if using bread machine add all wet ingredients first, then all dry with the yeast being last). Do not add extra flour.

Dough will be very sticky.

2) Let dough sit for 10-15 minutes, covered in greased bowl.

3) Grease your hands and the counter and divide into 8 balls and cover, let sit for 10 minutes.

4) Poke a hole in each ball to form a bagel. Cover and again let sit for 15 minutes.

5) While bagels are rising for the last time, boil a large pot of water on high.

6) Plop 3 bagels at a time into the boiling water and boil for 3-5 minutes, flipping them about every 30 seconds.

7) Drain with slotted spatula and place on greased cookie sheet.

8) Bake at 400 for about 25 minutes.

Let cool and enjoy the spicy goodness of your HOMEMADE Pumpkin Spice Bagels! They go great with cream cheese!!! I love bagels.... so watch out for more wonderful bagel recipes!

Variations:

-Use 3 cups white flour and 2/3 c pumpkin, if omitting the wheat and gluten.

-Use apple sauce instead of pumpkin for an Apple Spice Bagel

-Have extra butternut squash left over?? Substitute straight up for the pumpkin for the exact same taste!

-Play with the spices. Don't have nutmeg? Use more cinnamon, or omit it all together. You don't have to have all these exact things to make these taste good. You get the idea.