If you’ve come across the viral Japanese chocolate bread video, it’s not unnatural to crave delicious homemade bread! This week a video circulating online, titled ‘The Best Chocolate Bread’ in Tokyo and Osaka showed a big chocolate dough being made into bread at Osaka’s Sakimoti Bakery.
The cranberry chocolate white bread in the video costs 1050 yen; it is their newest seasonal bread and has chocolate chips and cranberry kneaded into the chocolate-flavoured dough, and each loaf is branded by hand. The bread loaves of bread were being made using old-school bread ovens and had an airy, flakiness in their crumbs.
In case you didn’t know Japan has a thriving baking culture and social media is full of videos about popular Japanese bakeries and modest hideaways in cities like Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe which made some cult items. Japanese bakeries are known for their creativity and innovation and they often introduce new flavours, seasonal ingredients, and modern techniques to keep their offerings fresh and exciting. If you love flavoured bread, here are some other homemade options you can try.
Rosemary and Olive Oil Bread
The perfect homemade bread for picnics or summer brunches, this bread features rosemary, with its fragrant, pine-like aroma, and olive oil, with its rich, fruity notes, which come together to create a bread that is both savoury and aromatic.
The rosemary adds depth to the flavour profile, while the olive oil contributes to the bread's moist texture. This bread pairs beautifully with roasted meats, and soups, or is simply enjoyed on its own with a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of sea salt. Simply combine flour, yeast, rosemary, olive oil, salt, and water; knead until smooth, then let rise and bake until golden.
Cinnamon Raisin Bread:
A classic favourite, cinnamon raisin bread is beloved for its comforting aroma and sweet, spicy flavour. Cinnamon infuses the dough with warmth, while plump raisins add bursts of sweetness throughout. Toasted slices of cinnamon raisin bread are perfect for breakfast, slathered with butter or cream cheese, or transformed into decadent French toast. To bake this bread at home mix flour, yeast, cinnamon, sugar, raisins, salt, milk, and butter; knead, let rise, shape, then bake until golden brown.
Sun-dried Tomato and Basil Bread
Sun-dried tomatoes and fresh basil lend a Mediterranean flair to this flavorful bread. The tomatoes impart a concentrated sweetness and tanginess, while the basil adds a fresh, herbaceous note. This bread is excellent for making sandwiches, bruschetta, or serving alongside antipasto platters. Making it is pretty easy too; you can use cut-up sun-dried tomato in the dough or you can also use a sun-dried tomato peso for a milder flavour.
Jalapeño Cheddar Bread
For those who crave a spicy kick, jalapeño cheddar bread delivers with its bold flavours. Diced jalapeños infuse the dough with heat, balanced by the richness of sharp cheddar cheese. Toast slices of this bread and use them to make gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches or enjoy alongside a bowl of chilli for an extra zing.
Chocolate Swirl Bread
In this delicious and airy bread, rich cocoa swirled throughout the dough creates a beautiful marbled effect, while chocolate chips add pockets of melty goodness. There are a couple of ways to make this recipe, but the easiest hack is to use a smooth chocolate ganache to swirl in the flavour in the dough along with some chocolate chips. This bread can also be used to make heavenly chocolate French toast.
Garlic and Parmesan Bread
Garlic and Parmesan cheese come together to create a savoury bread that's bursting with flavour. To make this bread, infuse roasted garlic in the dough; roasted garlic has a mellow sweetness and it can be complemented by the salty tang of Parmesan. This bread is perfect for serving alongside pasta dishes, soups, or as the base for gourmet garlic bread.