Homemade Pumpkin Spice Bagels: Soft, Spiced, and Perfect with Maple Cream Cheese Spread
There’s something so satisfying about making your own bagels, especially when they’re filled with fall flavor from the first bite. These pumpkin spice bagels come out soft and chewy, with a warm, earthy flavor that makes them perfect for slow mornings or cozy brunches.
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Why You’ll Love These Pumpkin Spice Bagels
I’ve always liked baking recipes that feel hands-on without being complicated, and these bagels are exactly that. The dough comes together easily, and shaping each one by hand adds a rhythm to the process that I find really satisfying.
The texture is everything you’d want in a bagel: soft on the inside with that signature chew. The pumpkin and warm spices come through without being too sweet, which makes them easy to enjoy any time of day. I usually stir together the maple cream cheese spread while the bagels are baking. It only takes a minute, but it makes the whole thing feel more complete. If pumpkin is on your mind, these cozy fall cookies are the perfect sweet follow-up.
Pro Tip: Boil Before You Bake
Boiling the shaped bagels for just a minute or two helps create that signature chewy crust. It also sets their shape so they don’t puff out like dinner rolls in the oven. Don’t skip this step – it’s what makes a bagel a bagel.
Small Variations That Go a Long Way
You can swap the oats for sesame or pumpkin seeds if you want something a little more savory. A dash of extra cinnamon in the dough will bring out more spice, and if you like it sweeter, increase the maple syrup in the cream cheese spread. Toasted leftovers the next day are just as good, maybe even better.
If you’re planning a seasonal menu or just want more cozy options to start the day, you’ll find plenty of inspiration in this full collection of Fall Breakfast Ideas, everything from baked goods to savory skillet recipes.
More Fall Baking Ideas
- This chocolate pumpkin patch brownie cake is fudgy, festive, and almost too pretty to cut into. The candy-coated strawberry pumpkins make it a perfect centerpiece for fall parties and holiday tables.
- These apple oatmeal raisin cookies are soft, chewy, and perfectly spiced, making them a timeless favorite. With their cozy flavor and just the right amount of sweetness, they’re the kind of cookie you’ll want to bake again and again.
- These apple cider cookies are soft, warmly spiced, and finished with a rich brown sugar glaze that melts into every bite. They’re perfect for cozy fall weekends, bake sales, or anytime you want your kitchen to smell like cinnamon and cider.
- Pumpkin cottage cheese donuts are the ultimate high protein fall treat. Baked, fluffy, and rolled in cinnamon sugar, each donut has 7g of protein for a cozy snack or dessert you’ll crave all season.
- Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls are the ultimate cozy bake, soft and gooey with warm spiced apples. A rich caramel glaze takes them over the top. Serve them fresh from the oven for weekend brunch – these always disappear fast.
Tried these Pumpkin Spice Bagels? Let me know how they turned out, and if you made any fun swaps or tweaks. I’d love to hear how you made them your own. Please don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave a comment.
Equipment
Ingredients
For the Pumpkin Spice Bagels
- 1 cup warm water about 110°F
- 2¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- 1½ teaspoons salt
- 4-4½ cups bread flour
- 1 egg for egg wash
- Rolled oats for topping
For the Maple Cream Cheese Spread
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Pinch salt
Instructions
Make the dough:
- In a large bowl, combine the warm water, active dry yeast, and brown sugar. Stir and let sit for about 5 minutes, until foamy.
- Add pumpkin puree, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, ground ginger, ground cloves, and salt. Gradually add 4 cups of bread flour until a dough forms.
- Knead on a lightly floured surface for 8-10 minutes, adding extra flour as needed, until the dough is smooth and elastic.
Rise and shape:
- Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl. Cover and let rise in a warm spot for about 1 hour, or until the dough has doubled in size.
- Punch down the dough and divide into 8–10 equal pieces. Shape each piece into a ball, then poke a hole in the center and stretch gently to form a ring.
- Place shaped bagels on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Cover and let rest for 15-20 minutes.
Boil and bake:
- Preheat the oven to 400℉. Bring a large pot of water to a gentle boil.
- Boil the bagels for 1-2 minutes per side, then transfer back to the baking sheet.
- Brush each boiled bagel with egg white and sprinkle generously with rolled oats.
- Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until golden brown. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
Prepare the Maple Cream Cheese Spread:
- In a bowl, beat the softened cream cheese, maple syrup, ground cinnamon, and a pinch of salt until smooth and creamy.
- Spread the maple cream cheese on sliced bagels or serve in a bowl for easy spreading at the table. Enjoy warm or toasted.
Notes
- For a shinier finish, use a whole egg wash instead of egg white.
- Rolled oats add a rustic look but can be skipped or swapped for seeds.
- The maple cream cheese spread keeps in the fridge for up to 5 days.
