Rainbow Bread

I've seen a few pins floating around pinterest of this beautifully colored rainbow bread and tucked the idea away for St. Patrick's Day for my girls.  I knew I needed to do something fun to jazz up their lunch, but I don't like to experiment with new bread recipes when I don't have the time.  So, I improvised... I used my favorite bread recipe and did it my way :)  Luckily it turned out just perfect (well other than that pesky air bubble that formed right in the middle of the loaf...  next time it'll be perfect!  Either way, the girls loved it!  They both kept commenting that it was the coolest bread they'd ever eaten. 

 

Rainbow Sandwich Bread
3 cups white flour
2 1/4 tsp instant yeast
1/2 tbsp salt
3 tbsp sugar
1/4 cup dry milk
1/2 cup potato flakes
3 tbsp softened butter or oil
1-1 1/8 cup warm tap water

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook measure flour, yeast, salt, sugar, dry milk, and potato flakes.  Mix for 30 seconds to combine.  Add the butter/oil, and about 7/8 cup warm water.  Mix for about 30-60 seconds, adding more water a tablespoon at a time if dough is too dry.  If the dough is too wet, add flour one tablespoon at a time until desired consistency is achieved.  The dough should be wet enough to leave a little residue on the sides of the bowl.  Mix for 4 minutes. 

Divide dough into 6 equal portions.  With each portion add 3 drops of food coloring (or more to get the color you desire) and knead the coloring into the dough.  It will take about 5 minutes per portion to get it mixed in.  Flatten out each piece into a 2 inch by 6 inch rectangle and stack them all together starting with purple on the bottom, then blue, green, yellow, orange, red. 

Using a rolling pin, flatten dough and roll to about 1/2 inch thick.  Starting at one end, roll the dough to form a loaf.  Place it in your pan that has been lightly greased with butter or cooking spray and cover.  Let it raise until it has doubled in size.

Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.  When dough has risen to double the size bake for 25 minutes.  Remove from the oven and let it cool in the pan for 10 minutes.  Then remove from pan and cool completely on a wire rack. 

Makes 1 5x9 inch loaf.