In a small bowl, dissolve the 2 packets of yeast in the warm (but not hot) water. Set aside for 5-6 minutes, until slightly foamy.
Attach the dough hook to your stand mixer. Add HALF of the flour, then add the yeast mixture, warm milk, molasses, brown sugar, and all of the spices and salt. Mix these ingredients on the medium setting on your mixer. Once the ingredients are combined, slowly add the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time. You want the dough to come together into a large dough ball. The dough should only be slightly "sticky". *This is where you can add a tiny bit more flour, if needed, to reach the right consistency. Turn mixer to medium-high. Mix dough until the dough becomes elastic in consistency. Take it slow. When ready, pour the dough into a bowl that has been sprayed with a non-stick spray or greased.
Cover bowl with a damp dish towel, place in a warm spot, and let dough rise until doubled in size.(usually about an hour).
When dough has doubled in size, punch the dough down. Separate into 8-10 equal-sized dough balls. Poke a hole into the center of each ball. Stretch the hole and the bagel out a bit until you have formed a bagel shape. Set the bagels onto a baking sheet; cover the bagels with a damp dish towel, place bagels in a warm spot, and let the dough rise again until doubled in size again.
Near the end of the second rise, preheat your oven to 415 degrees. Bring a large pot of water to a full boil.
Once bagels have finished rising, carefully put 2-3 bagels at a time into the boiling water. Let them boil until they float to the top ( a couple of minutes). Remove bagels carefully from the boiling water (use a slotted spoon to drain water).
Place the cornmeal into a shallow dish. Dip the bottom of each boiled bagel into the cornmeal, then place each bagel onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet.
Using a pastry brush, brush the top of each bagel with the beaten egg white.
Bake bagels at 415 degrees for about 20-25 minutes, or until the bagels are a gorgeous golden brown. Remove bagels from oven to a wire rack. Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Gingerbread Bagels
Amount Per Serving (1 bagel)
Calories 336Calories from Fat 9
% Daily Value*
Fat 1g2%
Sodium 311mg14%
Potassium 424mg12%
Carbohydrates 72g24%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 23g26%
Protein 7g14%
Vitamin A 10IU0%
Calcium 71mg7%
Iron 4mg22%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.