Dutch Sweet Bread - Fries Suikerbrood

This sweet bread is also known as Frisian Sugar Bread, named after the Friesland (or Frisia) region in Holland, where it's so popular. I thought the idea of nib sugar and cinnamon filling was brilliant, so I didn't hesitate at all and tried it.

The big advantage of the Dutch sweet bread is that it's a lot easier to make than the Romanian one. Lumps of sugar melt and form little pockets filled with flavourful and delicious caramel. The dough has a somewhat simpler texture, similar to bread texture - probably this is why it's called 'sugar bread'.

As I said, I thought it was a great idea to use lumps of sugar as filling. For an enhanced taste, I recommend brown sugar cubes. They are my favourites and I always have them in my kitchen.

Ingredients
Milk
250 ml
Active dry yeast
10 g
or 25g fresh yeast
Sugar
1 tbsp
Vanilla Extract
1 tbsp
Salt
0.5 tsp
Egg
1 piece
plus 1 egg for brushing the top
Butter
50 g
softened, room temperature
White flour
450 g
Zahar cuburi
150 g
brown, preferably
Cinnamon powder
1 tbsp
Step by step
Step 1

Combine warm milk, 1 tbsp sugar and dried yeast in a large bowl.

Let stand for 10 minutes until the yeast is frothy.

Dutch Sweet Bread - Fries Suikerbrood - Step 1
Step 2

After that, add vanilla extract, salt and 1 egg.

Dutch Sweet Bread - Fries Suikerbrood - Step 2
Step 3

Then the softened butter, mix to combine with a spoon or a spatula.

Dutch Sweet Bread - Fries Suikerbrood - Step 3
Step 4

Finally, mix the flour in.

Dutch Sweet Bread - Fries Suikerbrood - Step 4
Step 5

Stir, at first with a spatula or a spoon, until the dough starts to come together.

Dutch Sweet Bread - Fries Suikerbrood - Step 5
Step 6

Turn the dough out onto the work space and knead until smooth, soft and not sticky anymore.

Dutch Sweet Bread - Fries Suikerbrood - Step 6
Step 7

Return dough to the bowl, cover with a towel and let rise for about 1 hour at room temperature.

Dutch Sweet Bread - Fries Suikerbrood - Step 7
Step 8

Meanwhile, I suggest preparing the filling - crush the brown sugar cubes with a knife or a hammer (in which case wrap them in a towel).

Dutch Sweet Bread - Fries Suikerbrood - Step 8
Step 9

Add 1 tbsp cinnamon and mix.

Dutch Sweet Bread - Fries Suikerbrood - Step 9
Step 10

After the dough has risen, remove from the bowl and cut into 2 equal parts - for 2 smaller sugar breads. 

If you have a large baking pan, don't cut and make a single loaf.

Dutch Sweet Bread - Fries Suikerbrood - Step 10
Step 11

Roll out with your hands each piece of dough into a 25x30cm rectangle. Use also the lenght of the baking sheet as a reference point.

Dutch Sweet Bread - Fries Suikerbrood - Step 11
Step 12

Sprinkle with the crushed sugar and cinnamon mixture, as much as you can.

Dutch Sweet Bread - Fries Suikerbrood - Step 12
Step 13

Roll the sheet up into a sweet bread loaf.

Dutch Sweet Bread - Fries Suikerbrood - Step 13
Step 14

Place the loaf into the parchment lined dish.

Dutch Sweet Bread - Fries Suikerbrood - Step 14
Step 15

Repeat the procedure with the second loaf. Reserve some sugar cubes for a garnish. At the end, spread the sugar cubes over the top, you can have less than you see in the pictures.

Let rise for about 40-50 minutes at room temperature or until doubled in size.

Dutch Sweet Bread - Fries Suikerbrood - Step 15
Step 16

After that, brush with eggwash. I tried brushing with milk, but I didn't like it.

The milk made the crust drier after baking and the sweet breads took longer to bake.

Dutch Sweet Bread - Fries Suikerbrood - Step 16
Step 17

Bake in the preheated oven at180 degrees C for about 45 minutes or until they brown nicely.

Dutch Sweet Bread - Fries Suikerbrood - Step 17
Step 18

Remove from the oven and allow them to cool in the dish for 30 minutes.

Dutch Sweet Bread - Fries Suikerbrood - Step 18
Step 19

After that, carefully pull the parchment to lift out the sugar breads onto a cutting board or a platter.

Dutch Sweet Bread - Fries Suikerbrood - Step 19
Step 20

Cover with a towel and let cool completely for about 3-4 hours.

Dutch Sweet Bread - Fries Suikerbrood - Step 20
Step 21

After that, you can serve the sugar bread with great pleasure.

Enjoy!

Dutch Sweet Bread - Fries Suikerbrood - Step 21
Quantity: 2 pcs (2 pieces)
Prep time:
180 min
Difficulty: easy
Ready in: 180 min