Bagels were a staple in my house growing up. They’ve always been a favorite for easy weekend breakfasts as well as brunch with friends and family. Homemade bagels are surprisingly easy to make and you be creative with the flavors. Since pumpkin is the star ingredient of fall cuisine it makes a perfect seasonal bagel that you won’t find in many shops.
If you’ve ever made soft pretzels, the process for preparing homemade bagels is quite similar. You combine ingredients, kneed the dough, let it rise, shape your bagels, let it rise again, and finally you boil and bake them. As with most bread recipes there are many steps but none of them are difficult. The outside has a wonderful crunch and the inside is soft and chewy. The spice levels hit all the right notes. Pumpkin powder is optional, but I love using it. It’s all-natural and enhances both flavor and color. Enjoy these pumpkin bagels!
Pumpkin Bagels
Ingredients
- 1 cup warm water
- 1/5 ounce active dry yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons)
- 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar, plus 1/2 tablespoon
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
- 1 1/2 tablespoons pumpkin pie spice
- 3 tablespoons Pumpkin Powder (optional, for color and flavor)
- vegetable oil
Instructions
- Whisk/sift together flour, salt, pumpkin pie spice and pumpkin powder (if using).
- In a stand mixer, whisk the water, yeast and 1.5 tbsp sugar. Allow it to proof for 3-5 minutes.
- Add the pumpkin puree and mix using a dough hook, then begin to slowly add the flour mixture. Mix for 5 minutes or until smooth, alternating between slow and medium speeds as you add flour. You want to mix it until the dough is no longer sticky. After 5 minutes if the dough is sticky, you can incorporate another 1-2 tablespoons of flour (or a combination of flour and pumpkin powder).
- Form the dough into a ball and place in a lightly greased, large bowl. Cover and allow the dough to double in size, around 1 hour.
- Remove the dough and punch it down. Divide into equal pieces, 2-4 oz each depending on how big you like your bagels. Form each piece of dough into a ball. Roll each ball into a 4-5 inch log. Join the ends and roll them together. Repeat with the the rest of the dough. Place on a lightly greased surface and let rest until risen but not doubled, 20-30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and bring 12 cups of water to a boil with the remaining sugar. Grease a sheet tray and set aside.
- In batches, boil the bagels for around 20-30 seconds per side.
- Place the bagels on the prepared sheet tray. Bake for 5 minutes, flip, and bake for 30-35 minutes.
- Allow to cool before serving.
Please read my full post for additional recipe notes, tips, and serving suggestions!
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nmetzler says
I was just thinking that I should make bagels at some point. I’ve made just about every other bread item… but never these. Will have to try them!
downhomesouthjersey says
Congratulations on your Versatile Blogger Award! Please check out my latest post for your blog review and acceptance steps. Congrats again and thank you so much for participating. It’s been an honor to spend some time meandering through your posts.
christinajane says
Funny, if you mention canned pumpkin here in NZ you’ll get some crazy, somewhat disgusted looks. We’ve never had it available and the thought of it is.. just strange! We’ve always had to make our pumpkin puree from a whole pumpkin, so until I realised you could buy it in a can I could not understand why so many Americans put pumpkin in their sweet stuff!! I understand now – I would too if we had it in the supermarket. Is it pure pumpkin? Or what else is in it? I cannot imagine what these would taste like, but they look beautiful in the picture. Perhaps I should introduce New Zealanders to this wonder..
Savory Simple says
Canned pumpkin is plain roasted puree unless you purchase canned pumpkin pie filling, which is sweetened and has assorted spices. Just like with canned tomatoes, they’re sealed while fresh so there’s nothing to be grossed out by. It’s a tried and true method of preservation! I like roasting and pureeing pumpkin maybe once per season and after that I get lazy.
Karina says
Love the idea of a pumpkin bagel! Never made bagels before, but I may just have to give this version a try
Heather Zuber-Harshman says
These bagels look tasty and perfect for this time of year. Have you tried using some whole wheat flour instead of just AP flour? It’s better if I work whole wheat into recipes for my husband’s health. Many times it works fine, other times not so much.
Savory Simple says
I haven’t tried whole wheat flour but I say go for it! I think they’ll still be delicious.
threeblondesandatomas says
these look so yummy! i’ve never thought of making bagels before, but it doesn’t sound too difficult, i may have to try it sometime!
thefauxmartha says
I’ve been dying to try my hand at bagels. These look super yum! Maybe this will be my first?!
sweetlab says
I’ve never made bagels before. That will surely change thanks to this recipe!
thesmartcookiecook says
I’ve never seen pumpkin bagels before, but that sounds freakin delicious! i would just love to slather one of these in butter.
The Orange Bee says
I think I’ll do these to have on hand as I’ll have guests for the entire week of Thanksgiving. Gotta be delish with cream cheese on the side!
thesquarerootofapplepie says
At work we retard the bagels in a cooler for about 2-4 hours before boiling and baking,
we also don’t let it proof before forming (no punching down).
Have you ever made bagels that way?
http://www.thesquarerootofapplepie.wordpress.com
Savory Simple says
This was my first time making bagels so I have yet to try any other way. Sounds like a note-worthy technique!
Alyson says
Bagels are on my long to-make list. These look good! I’ll have to move them up.
Wendy says
Wow. These look amazing. What is pumpkin pie spice, I wonder… Off to Google it.
Just discovered your blog, by the by, and I’m loving it. :)
Savory Simple says
Pumpkin pie spice is a fabulous all-purpose spice mixture this time of year. Cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, etc…
ourtinyearth says
I can’t wait to try this! You have some amazing ideas! Thank you for all of your wonderful recipes!
thepreggersplan says
Those look amazing! I have been making pumpkin everything lately (fall is the perfect season for it, right?). I will definitely be adding this to my “Things I Must Make” list!