Tiger bread, also known as Dutch crunch bread or tijgerbrood and now even giraffe bread, is conspicuously different from its traditional counterparts in that it has a striking crackly crust that resembles the patterns of a tiger’s coat.
Tiger bread has been raging amongst foodies (and their followers) on TikTok, who can’t seem to get enough of this unusual bread’s characteristics. The crunchy crust with soft, pillowy interior is fun to make, attractive to look at and hard to stop munching on, once you get started.
The crust’s crackled texture is created by a special paste applied before baking, made with rice flour, vegetable oil, sugar, and yeast. Because the rice flour doesn’t contain gluten, it doesn’t stretch like ordinary bread dough, and cracks to form this bread’s trademark tiger pattern.
The unique combinations of taste in tiger bread creates a delicious contrast of a slightly sweet flavour and crispy texture that elevates the entire loaf, creating a perfect harmony of golden crust and tender, fluffy bread inside that is simply irresistible.
Although different enough to be eaten on its own with butter, tiger bread is just as versatile as most other breads too. Whether served alongside a warming winter soup or topped with your favourite sandwich fillings, tiger bread has earned its stripes to become a firm favourite in kitchens around the world.
Now it’s time to try it in yours!
Tiger Bread
Ingredients
For the bread
- 500 g bread flour
- 7 g instant yeast
- 10 g sugar
- 10 g salt
- 300 ml warm water
For the paste
- 2 tbsp rice flour
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
Instructions
For the bread
- In a large bowl, combine the bread flour, salt, sugar, and instant yeast
- Gradually add the warm water stirring together until a sticky dough forms
- On a floured surface knead the dough for about 10 minutes until smooth and elastic
- Place the dough back into the bowl and cover with a clean cloth, let it rise in a warm place for about an hour or until doubled in size.
- Preheat your oven to 200 °C
For the paste
- In a small bowl, mix the rice flour with vegetable oil to create a paste
- Gently punch down the risen dough and shape it into a loaf
- Place it on a baking tray lined with parchment paper
- Brush the top of the loaf with the rice flour paste, ensuring an even coating
- Using a sharp knife, make diagonal slashes across the surface of the bread, creating a distinctive tiger stripe pattern
- Bake the bread in the preheated oven for approximately 25-30 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and crispy
- Once baked, remove the bread from the oven and let it cool on a wire rack before slicing and enjoying
Notes
Everything bakes better in stoneware. It's just a law of the kitchen! This stoneware loaf pan evenly distributes heat and draws moisture away from the surface, so you get the perfect bake, every time.
Although it's stone, it's been manufactured to be virtually nonporous, so it won't retain oils, odours or flavours. Best of all, it's microwave and freezer safe and can be used in conventional and convection ovens.
