Rainbow Bagels

They’re here! Rainbow Bagels. AKA Gaygels?

How magical are these bagels?? Ordinary bagels are cool and all, but rainbow bagels bring it to another level. I bring you: the elusive double rainbow. Now available in bagel form.

I know. As I mentioned back when I made rainbow challah bread, I love rainbows. They are just so happy! Shavuot is coming up, a holiday where we celebrate receiving the ten commandments. Some people call this the Rainbow Covenant. We also eat dairy on Shavuot, so slather one of these puppies in cream cheese and call it a celebration!

What Are Rainbow Bagels?

Rainbow bagels are exactly what they sound like: classic New York-style bagels made with dough dyed in every color of the rainbow, then twisted together so each bagel is a swirl of color. They’re boiled and baked just like a real bagel, so they’re chewy and delicious, not just a pretty face. They’re a showstopper for Shavuot, Pride, birthdays or any day that could use a little more magic.

Why You’ll Love Them

• A total showstopper that makes everyone smile.
• A real, chewy bagel under all that color.
• So fun to make with kids (hello, edible rainbow science).
• Customizable colors for any holiday or celebration.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Flour
• Yeast and sugar
• Warm water
• Oil and salt
• Gel food coloring (gel gives the most intense colors)

How to Make Rainbow Bagels

First, make your dough. Combine 1 cup warm water with the yeast and 1 tablespoon sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer and let it sit for 10 minutes until it bubbles and foams. Add the flour, oil, salt and remaining water. Mix on low with a dough hook for 5 minutes, then knead by hand another 2 to 3 minutes until smooth. If the dough is sticky, add a little flour.

Place the dough in a large oiled bowl and let it rise in a warm place for 60 minutes until doubled. Divide the dough into 6 portions and dye each one with gel food coloring. This takes some work to get a uniform color, but it’s worth it! Keep dough you aren’t using covered so it doesn’t dry out.

Then roll out each ball and place in rainbow order (ROYGBIV! Minus the indigo.)

Twist together to make a psychedelic rainbow twisted glorious dough masterpiece.

Divide your masterpiece into 8 pieces. Make a hole in the center of each ball and stretch to form the bagel hole. Set the bagels aside and let rise for 10 minutes, covered.

Now time to boil and bake! Boiling gives bagels that crunchy outside and soft inside. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F and prepare a cooling rack. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and boil the bagels 3 to 4 at a time for 30 seconds on each side. Let them dry on the rack, then bake for 15 minutes on a parchment-lined sheet until golden.

Eat! They are especially awesome right out of the oven. Be prepared to have the most magical day ever! The perfect snack before you ride off into the sunset on your unicorn.

Tips for the Best Rainbow Bagels

• Use gel food coloring, not liquid, for vivid colors without watering down the dough.
• Keep unused dough covered so it doesn’t dry out and crack.
• Don’t skip the boil. It’s what makes a bagel chewy.
• Work fairly quickly once the dough is colored so it stays soft and pliable.

Serving & Storage

Rainbow bagels are best the day they’re made, ideally slathered with cream cheese or piled with lox and schmear. To keep them longer, freeze in a bag once cooled and toast straight from frozen.

Rainbow Bagels FAQ

What are rainbow bagels?

Rainbow bagels are classic bagels made from dough dyed in rainbow colors and twisted together, then boiled and baked like any bagel. They’re chewy and delicious, just extra colorful.

How do you color bagel dough?

Divide the risen dough into portions and knead gel food coloring into each one. Gel dye gives the brightest, most saturated colors without making the dough sticky.

Why do you boil bagels?

Boiling sets the crust and gives bagels their signature chewy outside and soft inside. Skip it and you basically have bread rolls.

Can you freeze rainbow bagels?

Yes! Cool them completely, then freeze in a bag. Toast straight from frozen whenever the rainbow craving hits.

What do you eat on rainbow bagels?

Cream cheese is the classic, especially for dairy-loving Shavuot. Lox, butter or your favorite schmear are all delicious too.

Are rainbow bagels hard to make?

They take a little patience for the coloring and shaping, but the dough itself is straightforward. The wow factor is more than worth the effort.

Prettyyyyy!

Rainbow Bagels

Amy Kritzer

Rainbow Bagels! For the most magical start to your day ever.

4.50 from 4 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 1 hour hr

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Course Bread, Breakfast

Cuisine Jewish

Servings 8

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 2 cups warm water divided (110 degrees)
• 1 packet 2 1/3 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 6 cups all-purpose flour plus more if needed
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon vegetable or canola oil plus more for greasing the bowl
• Food coloring

Instructions

 

• First, make your dough. Combine 1 cup warm water with the yeast and 1 tablespoon sugar in the bowl of your stand mixer and let sit for 10 minutes until it bubbles up and foams.
• Then add flour, oil, salt and remaining water to the mix. Mix on low with a dough hook for 5 minutes. Then knead by hand for another 2-3 minutes until you have a smooth dough. If dough is a little sticky, add a little flour.
• Then place the dough in a large bowl greased with oil and let rise in a warm place for 60 minutes until doubled in size. Divide dough into 6 portions and dye each one with food coloring. This will take a lot of work to get a uniform color but it’s worth it! Keep dough you aren’t using covered so it doesn’t dry out.
• The roll out each ball and place in rainbow order (ROYGBIV! Minus the indigo.)
• Twist together to make a psychedelic rainbow twisted glorious dough masterpiece.
• Then divide your masterpiece into 8 pieces. Keep dough you aren’t using covered so it doesn’t dry out. Make a hole in the center of each ball and stretch to make the bagel hole. Set bagels aside and let rise for 10 minutes, covered.
• Now time to boil and bake! Boiling your bagels gives it that crunchy outside and soft inside. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Prepare a cooling rack. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and boil bagels 3-4 at a time for 30 seconds on each side. Let bagels dry on cooling rack. Then bake for 15 minutes on a parchment paper lined cooking sheet until golden.

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