Hojicha Matcha Swirl Bread
This Hojicha Matcha Swirl Bread combines three doughs — plain, hojicha-flavored, and matcha-flavored — in a visually striking swirl. The recipe uses tangzhong, a cooked flour-water paste, which lends a soft, tender crumb and helps keep the bread moist. The hojicha and matcha powders give subtle, earthy tea flavors that contrast with the neutral base dough. Dividing and kneading the dough with the tea powders allows a distinct flavor layer and color in each portion, yielding a beautiful marbled loaf that can be sliced for breakfast or tea-time snacks.
Ingredients
Tangzhong:
- 25 g bread flour or all-purpose
- 120 ml water
Dough:
- 125 ml almond milk or any plant-based milk, warm
- 50 g granulated cane sugar
- 6 g active dry yeast
- 350 g bread flour or all-purpose
- pinch of sea salt
- 120 g Tangzhong from above
- 60 g avocado oil
- water extra for spraying
Hojicha dough:
- 15 g hōjicha powder
Matcha dough:
- 8 g matcha powder
Instructions
Make the tangzhong:
- In a small sauce pot, combine bread flour and water and bring to a simmer over medium heat.
- Whisk until the mixture turns into a thick paste, about 2-3 minutes. (It will look like glue).
- Remove from heat, cover, and cool completely.
Make the dough:
- Pour the milk into a small bowl and microwave until lukewarm, but not too hot.
- Add in the sugar and yeast. Stir to combine and set aside for 5 minutes, until bubbly.
- In a stand mixer bowl fitted with a dough hook, add in the flour, salt, tangzhong, yeast mixture and avocado oil. Knead until the dough is shiny and smooth, about 6-7 minutes.
- Have 3 separate bowls ready, slightly oiled.
- Divide the dough into 3 equal portions, one for each flavour: plain / hojicha / matcha.
- Take one portion of dough for the "plain" and place it into 1 bowl.
- For the hojicha dough, add in the hojicha powder along with a few spritzes of water to moisten the tea powder. Use your hands to knead the hojicha into the dough until it is well incorporated. (You will need to add more spritzes of water to achieve the right consistency, as hojicha powder absorbs moisture).
- For the matcha dough, add in the matcha powder along with a few sprays of water to moisten. Repeat as with the hojicha dough, by kneading in the matcha until incorporated.
- Cover each bowl of dough and leave to proof in a warm area, until almost doubled in size.
- Prepare an 8" by 4" loaf tin with parchment paper.
- Roll out the plain dough into a 8" by 8" square, being careful not to roll it too thin.
- Repeat with the hojicha and matcha dough so that you have 3 doughs of the same size.
- With the plain dough on the work surface, spray a light misting of water on the top and layer the hojicha dough on top.
- Spray the top of the hojicha dough with another light misting of water and place the matcha dough on it.
- Start at the bottom and roll all 3 layers together into a log, like a jelly roll.
- Seal the end seam by pinching it closed and place it seam side down into the loaf pan (8" by 4").
- Cover with plastic wrap and leave it to proof in a warm location until the dough rises about 1" past the top of the loaf pan.
- Towards the end of the proofing time, preheat oven to 350°F/177°C.
- Bake at 350°F/177°C for 38-40 minutes, or until it reaches 190°F/88°C on an instant-read thermometer.
- Cool completely on a wire rack before slicing.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 12 Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 178
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 178kcal | 9% |
| Carbohydrates | 27g | 9% |
| Protein | 4g | 8% |
| Fat | 6g | 9% |
| Saturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Sodium | 15mg | 1% |
| Potassium | 36mg | 1% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 4g | 8% |
| Vitamin A | 34IU | 1% |
| Vitamin C | 1mg | 1% |
| Calcium | 18mg | 2% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.