Mardi Gras King Cake Bagels (Printable Version)
Colorful bagels inspired by Mardi Gras flavors and vibrant swirls with cinnamon and vanilla glaze.
# What You Need:
→ Dough
01 - 4 cups bread flour
02 - 2 ¼ tsp active dry yeast (1 packet)
03 - 1 ½ cups warm water (110°F)
04 - 3 tbsp granulated sugar
05 - 1 ½ tsp salt
06 - 2 tsp ground cinnamon
07 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
→ Food Coloring
08 - Purple gel food coloring
09 - Green gel food coloring
10 - Yellow gel food coloring
→ Boiling
11 - 2 tbsp honey or sugar
→ Glaze
12 - 1 cup powdered sugar
13 - 2–3 tbsp milk
14 - ½ tsp vanilla extract
→ Decoration
15 - Purple sanding sugar
16 - Green sanding sugar
17 - Gold sanding sugar
# Directions:
01 - Combine warm water and sugar in a small bowl. Sprinkle yeast on top and let sit for 5 minutes until foamy.
02 - Mix flour, salt, and cinnamon in a large bowl. Add yeast mixture and melted butter. Knead by hand or with mixer for 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
03 - Divide dough evenly into three portions. Tint each portion with purple, green, and yellow food coloring, kneading until color is uniform throughout.
04 - Cover dough portions and let rest for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
05 - Roll each colored dough into 12-inch ropes. Twist one rope of each color together, then form into a bagel shape, pinching ends tightly to seal. Repeat for remaining dough.
06 - Place bagels on parchment-lined baking sheet. Cover and let rest for 20 minutes.
07 - Preheat oven to 425°F.
08 - Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add honey or sugar. Boil bagels, 2 at a time, for 1 minute per side. Remove and drain on wire rack.
09 - Place boiled bagels back on baking sheet. Bake for 18–22 minutes until golden brown. Cool completely on wire rack.
10 - Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth. Drizzle over cooled bagels. Immediately sprinkle with purple, green, and gold sanding sugars.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- You get that cinnamon roll meets bagel texture that is basically breakfast magic
- The colors alone make people genuinely excited before they even take a bite
- They are easier to make than they look despite the impressive presentation
02 -
- Wear gloves when working with the colored dough or your hands will stay purple for days
- The water temperature for activating yeast should feel like warm bath water not hot
- Pinch the rope ends together firmly or they will come apart during boiling
03 -
- Use a kitchen scale to divide the dough into three exactly equal portions
- Add lemon zest to the glaze for a bright note that cuts through the sweetness