Rainbow Bread Recipe

Did you know that Making Rainbows can come to your home or other location and run a birthday party program? Rainbow themed parties are always a hit, and if you’re looking to make something fun, rainbow bread is a simple process. Adding traditional food colouring to food isn’t for everyone and can affect some children so using natural colouring is an option also. You’ll find both Thermomix and regular methods below. 

Ingredients

• 300g water (1  1/3 cups)
• 3 tsp yeast 
• 2 tsp sugar
• 600g bakers flour (4 cups)
• 2 tsp salt
• 2 tsp bread improver (optional)
• 15g oil (1 tablespoon)

Thermomix preparation:

1. In mixing bowl, add water, yeast & sugar. Heat 1 min 30 secs/37C/speed2.

2. Add flour, salt, bread improver (if using) and oil. Knead 6 min/interval setting.

3. Leave dough in mixing bowl and place in a warm place until doubled in size. Tip: put the mixing bowl and lid into the oven (turned off) and leave for 1 hour until the dough doubles in size. Another option: place dough in a microwave with a cup of boiling water or sit the bowl in a heat pack to assist with rising.

4. Once risen, knead for a further 30 seconds – either by hand or using the Thermomix.

5. Roll out the dough and cut into small pieces. You’ll need 3-4 balls, depending on how many colours you are using. Add food colouring to each ball and massage into the dough. This step gets messy and will leave your hands totally stained. Don’t worry, it comes off! Otherwise, you can use gloves with this step.

6. Roll out each ball and place the layers on top of each other.

7. Roll up the layers into a large sausage shape and place in a greased loaf tin. Place in a warm spot for 30 mins or until the dough has risen to the top of the tin.
8. Once risen, place dough in a cold oven and set to 200°C fan forced. Placing dough in a cold oven gives the dough more time to rise as the oven heats up. Cook for 30 mins. Tip: spray the top of the dough with water before baking and this will give the loaf a crusty top.

Regular preparation:

1. Pour luke warm water into a small bowl. Then add the yeast, then salt and sugar. Set aside and let it sit for few minutes.
2. In another bowl, measure the flour, bread improver (if using).
3. Make a well in the centre of the flour and pour in the liquid. 
4. Add the oil in the centre where the liquid is.
5. Mix with a spoon until just combined.
6. Throw a little flour in the bench where you are working. Use hands to form a ball and knead for about 5 minutes. To knead, I fold the dough in half towards myself, and then push down with my palms and repeat.
7. Place in a bowl and allow to rise (ideally somewhere warm) in a bowl for 30 to an hour minutes (cover with a clean tea towel). Tip: put the mixing bowl and lid into the oven (turned off) and leave for 1 hour until the dough doubles in size. Another option: place dough in a microwave with a cup of boiling water or sit the bowl in a heat pack to assist with rising.
8. Once risen, remove the dough from the bowl and knead for a few minutes on a floured surface.
9. Roll out the dough and cut into small pieces. You’ll need 3-4 balls, depending on how many colours you are using. Add food colouring to each ball and massage into the dough. This step gets messy and will leave your hands totally stained. Don’t worry, it comes off! Otherwise, you can use gloves with this step.
10. Roll out each ball and place the layers on top of each other.
11. Roll up the layers into a large sausage shape and place in a greased loaf tin. Place in a warm spot for 30 mins or until the dough has risen to the top of the tin.
12. Once risen, place dough in a cold oven and set to 200°C fan forced. Placing dough in a cold oven gives the dough more time to rise as the oven heats up. Cook for 30 mins. Tip: spray the top of the dough with water before baking and this will give the loaf a crusty top.