Q: 3. What food coloring should I use for rainbow bagels?

For the best and most vibrant results, use gel food coloring . Gel colors are more concentrated than liquid food coloring, so they won't water down your dough, keeping the bagels at the right texture while giving you a rich, bright hue. Liquid food coloring can work, but it may not yield as intense a color and could affect the dough’s consistency.

Question 1

1. Are rainbow bagels sweet or savory?

Accepted Answer

Rainbow bagels are typically slightly sweet, with a texture that’s closer to a soft bread than a traditional chewy bagel. The sweetness comes from the dough itself, which is often lightly sweetened to complement the cream cheese or other toppings. While the bagels themselves are sweet, you can customize the toppings to make them either savory (e.g., smoked salmon, avocado) or sweet (e.g., fruit jam, Nutella).

Question 2

2. Can I make rainbow bagels at home?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can! Making rainbow bagels at home is surprisingly easy, though it does take a little time and patience. You’ll need to prepare the basic bagel dough, divide it into portions, and color each portion with food coloring. After that, you’ll twist the dough into colorful swirls and bake them. Detailed instructions are provided in the blog above.

Question 3

3. What food coloring should I use for rainbow bagels?

Accepted Answer

For the best and most vibrant results, use gel food coloring. Gel colors are more concentrated than liquid food coloring, so they won't water down your dough, keeping the bagels at the right texture while giving you a rich, bright hue. Liquid food coloring can work, but it may not yield as intense a color and could affect the dough’s consistency.

Question 4

4. Can I make rainbow bagels with gluten-free flour?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can make rainbow bagels using gluten-free flour. However, the texture may differ from traditional bagels since gluten-free flours can be more delicate. To achieve a chewy, bagel-like texture, you may need to use a gluten-free flour blend that contains xanthan gum or another binder to mimic the elasticity of gluten.

Question 5

5. Why do rainbow bagels have a different texture than regular bagels?

Accepted Answer

Rainbow bagels often have a slightly sweeter, softer texture than traditional New York-style bagels. This is because they typically have a bit more sugar and a different ratio of ingredients in the dough. The dough is also sometimes enriched with a little bit of butter or oil to give it a softer, more bread-like quality. The result is a light and airy bagel that contrasts with the dense, chewy texture of classic bagels.

Rainbow Bagels

Rainbow Bagels with Cream Cheese