How to Make Tiger Bread or Dutch Crunch Bread from Scratch

[adapted from Baking Mad recipe developed with Allinson flour for the Dough Tree campaign]

Tiger bread also known as giraffe bread, crackle top bread, Dutch crunch, tijgerbrood or Dutch crust. It may be relatively new to UK but in Holland it has been sold since early seventies.

tiger bread recipes UK

Have you ever wondered how tiger bread is made?

The unique cracked crust is made by spreading rice paste on the top of tiger loaf bread prior to baking – easy peasy.

Until yesterday I haven’t even dream about making my own tiger loaf and this is favourite bread of my girls. If I knew it was so simple I would be baking tiger bread and tiger bread rolls every weekend (!)

INGREDIENTS

for the dough

  • 1000 g strong white bread flour (I used Allinson)
  • 2 easy bake yeast sachet / 7 g each (I used Allinson)
  • 1 tbs unrefined golden caster sugar
  • 1 tbs sea salt
  • 2 tbs butter (softened)
  • 600 ml lukewarm water

for the topping (tiger bread paste)

  • 1 easy bake yeast sachet / 7 g (I used Allinson)
  • 1 tbs unrefined golden caster sugar
  • 1 tbs oil (any oil will work here but for the authentic tiger bread taste use sesame seed oil)
  • ½ tsp sea salt
  • 150 g / about a cup of ground rice
  • 12 tbs / 180 ml of lukewarm water

extras

  • a bit more oil (again, sesame oil would be the best) for greasing the bowl, baking and baking tins
  • a bit more flour for the working surface

what is the topping on tiger bread

EQUIPMENT

  • large mixing bowl
  • small mixing bowl
  • measuring jug
  • manual whisk
  • clean kitchen towels (to cover the dough)
  • 2 baking trays for free form loaves (optionally lined with baking paper) or loaf tins (2 large ones or 4 smaller ones)

does tiger bread have cheese on it

METHOD

  1. In a mixing bowl, using your fingers, combine all dry ingredients and softened butter.
    Add also water and stir with a spoon.
  2. Knead the dough for about 10 minutes until the dough is well mixed and springy.
  3. Grease the mixing bowl a bit and place the dough back inside and leave to rise, covered with kitchen towel.
  4. Once the dough has doubled the size (after about 30 minutes) knock it back gently kneading just 5 times to get the air out.
  5. Shape the loaves and leave on greased or lined with baking paper baking trays.  Cover with kitchen towels again and leave to prove until they have doubled the size.
  6. Preheat oven to 200°C (392°F).
  7. In a small mixing bowl whisk until smooth all of the ingredients for the topping.
  8. Use back of the soon to spread the paste on the top of risen loaves.
  9. Place them in the oven and bake for about 35 minutes until golden brown.
  10. Cool down on a wire rack.

Makes 2 large or 4 smaller bread loaves.

how to make tiger bread rolls

NOTES

Add ½ tsp of Marmite, Vegemite or any other brand of yeast extract to the topping mixture for the flavour more resembling tiger bread from UK supermarkets.

Tiger bread bread rolls are made exactly the same way, just divide dough into lots of smaller pieces and place on a baking tray.

If you like you can use food processor, instead of hands, to knead the dough.

Tiger bread is also great to bake with kids – my daughters were very excited to see how the crust was cracking in the oven.

If you are looking for more bread recipes try: Spicy & Smoky 8 Strand Plaited Loaf from Jen’s Food, Coconut Muesli Bread from Recipes from A Pantry, How To Make Cobnut Bread (Hazelnut) from Kavey Eats or Spelt & Wholemeal No-knead Loaf from Fab Food 4 All.

DISCLOSURE: I have been sent by Baking Mad hamper containing Allinson flours, yeast, baking tin and other goodies for the purpose of recipe testing. All opinions expressed here are my own and I retrained full editorial control.

Your thoughts…

  1. Wow, I never knew that there was yeast in the topping of tiger bread, must try this out as my family have developed a liking for tiger rolls recently which I’ve been finding reduced in Tesco lately!

  2. This bread looks stunning! I’m pinning it straight away on my recipes to try board! Thank you for sharing.

  3. Wow, I do love that crackle surface, I’ve never thought to try it at home!!!

  4. Aaaah – so THAT’S how they make the tier stripes! I never knew… Love tiger bread & thanks for sharing!

  5. Looks amazing. I wondered a few times about those stripes :)

    Anca @ ancaslifestyle | UK

  6. Oh my goodness, I need to try this! My stomach is rumbling just looking at it.

  7. This is my favourite type of bread.I am definitely going to try making it myself.

  8. Oh we love tiger bread. Must try this, looks delicious xx

  9. You must definitely give it a try, it is soooo easy!

  10. Oh I so need to make this it looks yummy

  11. Sandra Castle says:

    Oooh! Will definitely give this a go……if I can stop my sourdough addiction long enough!!

  12. Tijani murtaadh adewale says:

    Pls kindly send the full receipe of the tiger bread to me I want to be the first baker to bake it out in Abuja nigeria

  13. hippytea says:

    This looks good, I’ve been trying to find one which mentioned the sesame oil, so many recipes out there don’t say anything about it but it wouldn’t be tiger bread without the sesame! You can smell it a mile off.

  14. Do not know what I did wrong, was a ton weight when I took it out of the oven and it was so stodgy!

  15. This is ace! Thanks for posting. I’ll give it a go soon!

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