I teased you all on Facebook and Instagram earlier this week with a rough camera shot of these gluten free vegan cranberry orange bagels straight from the oven so I think it’s only fair that I don’t make you wait any longer. Friends, can we chat for a second? I want to be honest with you. I have been skirting around the gluten-free vegan bread issue for a very long time now because my experience has been full of utter failures. You can’t just combine gluten-free flour, water, and yeast together and expect to get good results–sadly it just doesn’t work like that. You end up with a very dense, very not tasty food item that is trying to act like bread. I remember the first time I tried my hand at making gluten-free vegan bread. Ooof. Bricks. I even tried creating a gluten-free vegan bagel recipe about 2 years ago which I am still getting some-what good reviews on them (I reiterate some-what) however there were a few issues with them: They were heavy (like, physically heavy), yeasty, dense, and they weren’t pretty. They were close just not close enough and when we are talking bagels they need to be close enough, you know what I mean?

So when I created this gluten-free vegan bread loaf with not only GREAT success by me but by the majority of all of you who made it and commented back to me, I got bit by the bread bug. My fear of it all dissipated because I figured out the damn science behind it all and I got back to work in the kitchen. This time bagels were on the mind because let’s be real, bagels are always on the mind. Am I right or am I right?

Friends, this recipe was serendipitous because I got it in ONE attempt. That rarely happens for a recipe that is of this caliber. These gluten-free vegan bagels are light (like, it doesn’t feel like you are holding rocks in your hand), airy, they have the most chewy bite, and they taste so close to the real thing I cannot even believe it. Did I mention that they are xanthan gum free too? I already had breakfast this morning but I’m heating one up right now just because I want to eat another one…and just because I can. Slather them with some non-dairy Greek yogurt or even make a spreadable cashew cream cheese (use whatever add-ins you think would pair nicely with cranberries and orange).

Update: They still taste JUST as great once frozen and then re-heated!

Gluten-Free Vegan Cranberry Orange Bagels ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4.7 from 3 reviews Author: Fork & Beans

Prep Time: Prep Time: 1 hour

Cook Time: Cook Time: 30 mins

Total Time: Total Time: 1 hour 30 mins

Yield: Yield: 5 1 x Print Pin Description Gluten, egg, dairy, soy, nut, AND xanthan gum-free! Scale 1x 2x 3x Ingredients Wet mixture: 1/2 c. warm water

c. warm water 1 1/2 tsp . dry active yeast

. dry active yeast 1 tsp . granulated sugar

. granulated sugar 3 Tbsp . ground white chia seeds (or black–there is no flavor difference)

. ground white chia seeds (or black–there is no flavor difference) 2 tsp . apple cider vinegar

. apple cider vinegar 1/4 c. orange juice

c. orange juice 2 tsp . orange zest

. orange zest 1/4 c. dried cranberries Dry mixture: 2 c. Cara’s Gluten-Free Flour Blend

c. Cara’s Gluten-Free Flour Blend 1 Tbsp . brown sugar

. brown sugar 1 tsp . baking powder

. baking powder 1/2 tsp . baking soda

. baking soda 1/4 tsp . salt

. salt 1/8 tsp . cinnamon For “egg wash” 1 tsp . cornstarch + 3 tsp . water – whisk until fully combined Other ingredients: Cornmeal for dusting

2 pieces of parchment paper

pieces of parchment paper 1 Tbsp . granulated sugar

. granulated sugar 1 tsp . baking soda

. baking soda 4 c. water

c. water baking sheet

Large slotted spoon (to pull out and drain bagels from boiling water)

pastry brush (to coat the bagels with the “egg wash”) Instructions In a small bowl, whisk together the water, yeast, and granulated sugar. Allow to froth for 10 minutes. Add the remainder for of the wet mixture ingredients and allow to sit another 5 minutes for the chia seeds to expand. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients for the dry mixture. Pour the wet mixture and stir with a wooden spoon for 2 minutes. Create 5 even balls of dough, roll in between your hands to create a smooth dough and then flatten slightly to make into 4″ bagel shapes–these fit the size of the palm of my hand (What you are looking for in your dough: When you shape the bagel, it will be a little sticky but should be easy to work with. Also it should stay intact when left alone. It might spread mildly but shouldn’t lose shape). Using your thumb create a hole in the middle and place on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet lightly covered in corn meal. Cover and allow to rise 45 minutes in a warm, non-drafty area in your kitchen. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. In a medium saucepan get the water to a rapid boil. Turn heat down to medium heat and add 1 Tbsp. granulated sugar and 1 tsp. baking soda and stir until dissolved. The sugar creates a little gloss in the crust and the baking soda creates a barrier that keeps the water from absorbing into the bagel. Drop one bagel at a time into the boiling water, allowing it to sit in the pot for 30 seconds on each side (making a total of 1 minute per bagel). Please note that boiling the bagels prior to the baking them enables a chewy texture on the inside while nicely coating the exterior crust. When you take the bagels out of the water, make sure you have drained the water from them and place on a baking sheet lined with a clean piece of parchment paper. Lightly sprinkle the tops with cornmeal and then brush with the “egg wash” mixture. Bake for 20-23 minutes and allow to cool before cutting. Notes Before eating: Slice in half and toast until browned along the edges. Serve with non-dairy cream cheese or topping of choice.

To store: slice in half, place a piece of wax paper in between each bagel, and store in a bag or container of choice. Nutrition Serving Size: 5

Calories: 175

Sugar: 5g

Sodium: 365mg

Fat: 0.7g

Trans Fat: 0g

Carbohydrates: 38g

Fiber: 5g

Protein: 3g

Cholesterol: 0mg

With a crusty outside and a soft inside, there gluten free vegan cranberry orange bagels are waiting to be slathered with cream cheese!

Oh and let me know how they turn out for you!