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+ servings
A pile of Rainbow Bagels sliced open
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Rainbow Bagels (vegan)

The classic bagel recipe has had a colourful make-over. Find out just how easy it is to make brunch worthy rainbow bagels at home.
Prep Time2 hours 30 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time3 hours
Course: Breakfast, lunch
Cuisine: American
Keyword: bagel seasoning, bicarbonate soda, caster sugar, food colouring, sea salt, strong white bread flour, yeast
Servings: 10 people

Equipment

  • Silicone baking sheet

Ingredients

  • 500 grams strong white bread flour
  • 7 grams fast action yeast
  • 15 grams caster sugar
  • 7 grams salt
  • 300 millilitres water
  • gel food colouring in 5 colours (pink, purple, blue, green and yellow)
  • 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
  • 5 tbsp bagel seasoning or sesame seeds

Instructions

To make the dough

  • Add the flour, yeast, sugar and salt to a large mixing bowl.
  • Slowly add the water to the bowl and bring together into a firm dough - it should not be too wet or sticky.
  • Knead the dough either (1) by hand on a lightly floured work surface for 10 minutes; or (2) using the dough hooks on an electric mixer for 5 minutes, or until the dough is a soft, springy, smooth ball.
  • Cut the dough into 5 equal sized pieces and add 3-5 drops of food colouring to each ball so that you will end up with three distinct balls of coloured dough.
  • Knead the food colouring into the dough either by hand or using dough hooks on an electric mixer.
  • Add more food colouring and continue to knead until you have an even, bright colour.
  • Cover the balls of dough and leave for 1 hour or until each ball of dough has doubled in size.

To shape the bagels

  • Once the dough has risen, break each ball into 10 smaller balls.
  • Take one ball of each colour and roll them into long thin sausages.
  • Plait the thin sausages until you have a long rope.
  • Gently squeeze the ends of the rope together so you have a round, bagel shape and place on a lightly greased baking tray.
  • Repeat until you have used up all of the dough.
  • Cover the bagels and leave them to rise again for another 20 minutes until they have risen and puffed up.

To cook the bagels

  • Pre-heat your oven to 200C/400F/gas mark 6.
  • Bring a pan of water to the boil and add the bicarbonate soda.
  • Carefully place the bagels into the water and let them boil for 30 seconds on either side.
  • Once the 1 minute is up remove the boiled bagel from the pan with a slotted spoon and place back on to the lightly greased baking tray.
  • Sprinkle with bagel seasoning or sesame seeds if desired.
  • Repeat until you have boiled all of the bagels.
  • Place the bagels in the centre of the oven and bake for 20 minutes or until cooked through. (They will be slightly springy to the touch ).
  • Remove from the oven and leave to cool on a wire rack.