Pumpkin Spice Bagel

Pumpkin Spice Bagels (Makes 8)

1/2 cup plus 2 Tablespoons water
3 cups flour (I use 1 cup whole wheat flour and 2 cups unbleached flour)
4 T brown sugar
2 T pumpkin butter
3/4 cup pumpkin puree
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons pumpkin spice
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3 1/2 teaspoons yeast

Place ingredients in bread machine and run on dough cycle. Divide dough into 8 equal balls, shape into bagel. While bagels rise, bring a pot of water with 1 tablespoon sugar to a rapid boil. Working in small batches (2-3 bagels at a time), boil bagels 30 seconds on each side. With a slotted spoon, transfer bagels to a baking sheet covered in cornmeal. *Use a baking stone or pizza stone if you have one - my bagels kept sticking to the metal baking sheet*

Bake at 400 degrees for approximately 15 minutes.

"We just can't get enough of these bagels. George and I eat them with cream cheese and pumpkin butter, while the kids prefer theirs smothered in Nutella (they'll eat anything smothered in Nutella)."

This is the perfect time of year to bake bread, such a natural way to warm up the house, the belly and the soul. The act of making bread really stimulates all the senses.