Are you a bread lover, dreaming of trying out all the delicious breads and pastries made by different countries around the world? Well you’re in luck – below we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 most delicious and must-try breads and pastries originating from all over the globe!
Cinnamon Scrolls
Cinnamon scrolls are a staple pasty bread snack enjoyed by many countries in the west. While the term scrolls is unique to Australia, cinnamon scrolls are also thoroughly enjoyed in countries such as the U.S. under the name ‘cinnamon rolls’.
Perfect as a quick breakfast meal or a snack accompaniment to tea and coffee, cinnamon scrolls possess the perfect balance between sweet and spicy. Usually glazed with icing sugar or topped with cream cheese, cinnamon scrolls can be enjoyed in many ways around the world!
Naan Bread
Naan bread is a type of flatbread originating from West Asian cuisines such as those in India, Indonesia and Myanmar. Rather than a breakfast meal or snack, naan bread is usually served as a main course of a heavier meal, as it is traditionally used to scoop up other foods or filled with stuffings.
Naan bread can be made in a number of ways, each resulting in a distinct and memorable flavor. Its dough can be made from milk or yogurt, and it can be brushed with ghee or butter or served plain. In western iterations of naan bread, the bread can also be made with garlic or filled with cheese.
Hot Cross Buns
Hot cross buns are traditionally sweet and spicy bread originating from the United Kingdom. Hot cross buns were traditionally eaten on Good Friday, however are now enjoyed all-year-round by bread lovers in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, India, and some parts of the U.S.
Similar to cinnamon scrolls, hot cross buns contain cinnamon and spice mixes to produce its herby flavor. Sultanas and raisins are also often added to the dough to add a bit of a fruity taste to the mix. In the UK, hot cross buns are also often served with jams and butter for tea time.
French Baguettes
Everyone has seen or tried a french baguette once in their lifetime and honestly, what isn’t there to love? Delicious both plain and with savory toppings, french baguettes are known for their crusty exterior and soft and fluffy interior.
Usually made around 65cm long, french baguettes are a real treat to buy and slice up for meal preparation yourself. Iconic and the perfect complementary bread, french baguettes are enjoyed not only in France but widely around the world.
Focaccia
Focaccia is an Italian oven-baked flatbread, similar in texture to beloved pizza bases. It can be served as a side dish or used as sandwich bread. It has countless variations – from bakers using cornflour, to preferring an oily surface – and is topped most often with cheese, sauce, or ham.
As the focaccia has evolved over time, the bread also now has sweetened versions with cream, fruits, and other condiments.
Pineapple Buns
Pineapple buns are a unique bread snack served in Hong Kong and other Chinese cities. Unlike the name suggests, pineapple buns do not contain pineapple nor taste of the fruit, rather it is named after the fruit due to its shape and bright yellow color.
Pineapple buns are a sweet, top-crusted, and soft bun sold at most bakeries in Hong Kong, and are also enjoyed as breakfast or snack bread. Although usually eaten plain with a side cup of milk tea, Hong Kongers can also enjoy the pineapple bun with a thick slab of butter in the middle, or with other spreads like condensed milk and peanut butter.
Pretzel
Pretzels are a bread snack loved by people from many backgrounds all over the world. Originally from Europe, pretzels can be enjoyed in a number of ways and with different variations and flavors.
Although the traditional version is simply baked bread shaped like three rings and topped with sesame seeds, pretzels are now enjoyed in snack and crisp versions, coated with a sugary glaze and even covered with almond flakes. Pretzels like churros are also commonly enjoyed at theme parks in the U.S.
Challah
Most similar in taste to brioche bread, challah bread is known for its rich flavor and spongy texture – due to its use of egg yolks and honey. A type of Jewish bread with Eastern European origins, challah bread was traditionally made for Shabbat and other major Jewish holidays. In rituals, a small set of dough is set aside as an offering before the rest is made into challah bread.
One of the most memorable features of the challah bread is its unique braided and bumpy appearance. Almost like a large batch of buns baked together, challah is made as a large loaf and cut into smaller pieces for large groups of people to enjoy.
Kurtosh Kalach
A unique blend of bread, pastry, and cake, kurtosh or kürtőskalács is widely enjoyed around the world. Made simply with flour, sugar, milk, butter, eggs, yeast and salt, kurtosh is a baked good from Hungarians from Transylvania. Although traditionally a festive treat, kurtosh is now enjoyed all year round and is a sweet spit cake served usually as a dessert.
Kurtosh is made from yeast dough, of which a strip is uniquely spun around its trunk and rolled in granulated sugar. It is then roasted until baked in a golden-brown color. The crust of kurtosh is usually crunchy and crispy, while its trunk’s insides are soft and fluffy. Kurtosh can be served plain, or with cinnamon and grounded walnut.
Pao de Queijo
Representing Brazil is Pao de Queijo, a delicious cheese bread that is soft and elastic in texture, made with starch, eggs, salt, vegetable oil, and cheese. Having been made since the 1700s, Pao de Queijo is most commonly enjoyed in Brazil, although is growing in popularity worldwide as well in East Asia and the U.S.
Pao de Queijo is unique in that it can be made gluten free with tapioca starch and has many variations, from chocolate flavors to variance in the type of cheese used to make it.
You will never go wrong trying one or more of these delicious bread and pastries mentioned above. Make sure to add them to your food bucket list and enjoy these tasty bread whenever you can!
