Dutch Crunch Bread (Tiger Brood)

Dutch Crunch Bread or Tigerbrood is a soft and chewy bread inside covered with a crunchy layer which looks like Tiger’s skin. Here is how to make a perfectly baked Dutch Crunch Bread Recipe at home.

I just love the smell of freshly baked breads and when the smell wafts through the entire house, its just so therapeutic.

Especially on weekends, there is a different joy in enjoying your favourite cup of beverage with a freshly baked bread or a muffin.

Therefore, it is a custom at my house to bake something or other on a Saturday morning so that all of us can lazy around and enjoy the delicious bakes.

Baking breads are my absolute favourite! Varieties of bread flavoured with different herbs and filled with delicious fillings, I find a different level of joy in baking them.

So I thought of sharing a bread recipe, which is regular at home.

It’s Dutch Crunch Bread Recipe, also called as Tiger Brood.

A soft yet chewy bread which has a crunchy layer on the top that looks similar to tiger’s skin.

It has become everyone’s favourite at home, since we had it for the first time at one of the gourmet bakeries in San Francisco.

When I returned, I knew that this recipe has to be made at home and to my surprise it came out just perfect.

So, if you are also looking for a unique and easy bread, learn how to make Dutch Crunch Bread recipe.

If you like baking breads at home, you can even try some of my other favourites – Moist Mexican Cornbread,  Olives Garlic Focaccia Bread and Banana Pecan Bread.

What is Dutch Crunch Bread?

Dutch Crunch Bread, is a simple bread which is soft from inside and has a crispy layer on the outside which looks like a tiger skin.

A mixture is applied on the top of the dough to get this texture, making it different from other breads.

Dutch Crunch Bread Ingredients

How to give the tiger like effect to the Dutch Crunch Bread?

Giving a tiger like effect on this bread is not as difficult as you think!

Just make a thick mixture of rice flour, yeast, salt, sugar and a little water.

Apply this thick paste on the raised dough and when the bread is popped into the oven, this rice paste cracks open and gives a tiger like effect to the bread. Interesting, right?

So whenever you are planning to bake your next white bread at home, do not forget to try this trick and give your bread a tiger like effect.

Why is it called Dutch Crunch?

This bread is popularly served in some part of Netherlands, thus the name “Dutch” and as it has a crackling and crispy top layer due to the rice flour paste, the name has “Crunch”.

Thus, this tiger brood bread is also called as Dutch Crunch.

How to use Dutch Crunch Bread?

The best way to eat this Dutch Crunch bread is by cutting it into half from the middle and slashing a generous amount of fresh butter on it.

Yummy, this is my favourite tea time snack ever!

You can turn this Dutch Crunch Bread into a delicious hamburger or use it to make a sandwich as it is firm and can easily hold the filling for a generous bite.

You can even serve as a side with a heavy soup such as Instant Pot Cauliflower Soup, Easy Slow Cooker Potato Soup, Cream of Mushroom Soup and Pumpkin Curry Soup.

Even serve it as a side along with your favourite Salad, Pasta and Risotto.

Dutch Crunch Bread Recipe Step By Step

In a large mixing bowl, combine yeast, sugar, milk and water. Stir and let it sit for 5 minutes, till mixture starts to bubble a bit.

Add vegetable oil, salt and 1/2 cup flour in the yeast mixture. Mix with a spatula or use a stand mixer until combined. Add the remaining flour, little by little, until the dough pulls away the sides of the bowl.

Turn out the dough on a lightly floured surface and knead for 5-6 minutes until it is smooth and elastic. If using a stand mixer, knead the dough on medium speed for 5-6 minutes.

Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl and cover and keep in a warm place for an hour or until it doubles in size.

Once the dough has risen, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and divide into 7-8 equal portions.

Shape each into a ball and keep on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cover the baking tray with a kitchen towel and let the balls rise for 15 minutes.

Mix all the ingredients of the dutch crunch topping in a bowl and mix vigorously. The consistency of the topping should be like stiff royal icing, spreadable but not runny. Add more rice flour or water if necessary. Keep aside for 15 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 190 degrees. Coat the top of each ball with a thick layer of topping using your fingers ( a thin topping will not crack properly )

Bake the bread for 30-35 minutes, till the crust appears well browned. Remove from the oven and serve warm with some butter on the side.

Dutch Crunch Bread Recipe

5 from 1 vote

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Dutch Crunch Bread Recipe

Dutch Crunch Bread or Tigerbrood is a soft and chewy bread inside covered with a crunchy layer which looks like Tiger's skin. Here is how to make a perfectly baked Dutch Crunch Bread Recipe at home.

Course Bread

Cuisine Continental

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 40 minutes

Servings 10 people

Calories 526 kcal

Author Neha Mathur

Ingredients

For the buns

• 1/4 cup Warm water
• 1 cup Warm Milk
• 2 and 1/4 tbsp Active Dry Yeast
• 2 tbsp Granulated Sugar
• 4 cups All Purpose Flour
• 3 tbsp Vegetable Oil

For the dutch crunch topping

• 1 cup Rice Flour
• 1/2 tsp Salt
• 1 tbsp Oil
• 1 tbsp Sugar
• 1 tbsp Active Dry Yeast
• 3/4 cup Warm Water

Instructions

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine yeast, sugar, milk and water.

2. Stir and let it sit for 5 minutes, till mixture starts to bubble a bit.

3. Add vegetable oil, salt and 1/2 cup flour in the yeast mixture.

4. Mix with a spatula until combined.

5. Add the remaining flour, little by little, until the dough pulls away the sides of the bowl.

6. Turn out the dough on a lightly floured surface and knead for 5-6 minutes until it is smooth and elastic.

7. If using a stand mixer, knead the dough on medium speed for 5-6 minutes.

8. Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl and cover and keep in a warm place for an hour or until it doubles in size.

9. Once the dough has risen, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and divide into 7-8 equal portions.

10. Shape each into a ball and keep on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

11. Cover the baking tray with a kitchen towel and let the balls rise for 15 minutes.

12. Mix all the ingredients of the dutch crunch topping in a bowl and mix vigorously.

13. The consistency of the topping should be like stiff royal icing, spreadable but not runny.

14. Add more rice flour or water if necessary.

15. Keep aside for 15 minutes.

16. Pre heat the oven to 375 Degrees F (190 degrees C).

17. Coat the top of each ball with a thick layer of topping using your fingers ( a thin topping will not crack properly )

18. Bake the bread for 30-35 minutes, till the crust appears well browned.

19. Remove from the oven and serve warm with some butter on the side.

Recipe Notes

You can use a sourdough bread recipe to make this bread too. 

 

Nutrition Facts

Dutch Crunch Bread Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 526 Calories from Fat 90

% Daily Value*

Fat 10g15%

Saturated Fat 5g31%

Sodium 973mg42%

Potassium 128mg4%

Carbohydrates 92g31%

Fiber 3g13%

Sugar 6g7%

Protein 14g28%

Calcium 22mg2%

Iron 4.2mg23%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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