What would a French Holiday Season be without a few slices of delicious Spiced Bread? Fragrant, sweet and comforting, it is simply a must. This recipe, by French Pastry Chef Michalak, combines sweet honey with bright citrus flavors, and is perfectly spiced. A pure pleasure!
This Honey and Citrus Spiced bread truly stole my heart – but it is no surprise when you know its recipe was crafted by the mind of the talented Christophe Michalak.
If you don’t know him yet, Christophe Michalak is a French pastry chef and TV personality. (if you go to Paris, you have to visit his fantastic pastry shops!). His twist on French pastry classics is always fun, bright and full of pep. Just like this spiced bread!
I am a big fan of spiced breads, and I have surely tried my share of recipes in the past. And although the traditional pure-honey spiced bread recipe (from Bourges, France) is still high on my list of favorites, I must say today’s recipe is now my number one.
Making a well-balanced spiced bread can be a challenge. Half-bread, half-cake, its texture is sometimes too dry, or too rich. The spice mix can be too strong, or conversely, underwhelming. If you respect this recipe, I believe you can achieve a perfectly spiced, perfectly moist loaf.
With plenty of honey, this spiced bread is so moist and has a very tender, yet airy texture. The addition of citrus (orange, lime and lemon) is such a nice twist, making it bright and comforting at the same time.
Cooking notes:
- I have used wildflower honey for this recipe, but I believe any type of honey will work well. Dark honey will result in a darker, deeper-flavored bread.
- Since we are using the zest of citrus, opt for organic citrus.
- If you have some patience, after the loaf is baked and at room temperature, wrap in foil and let it sit for 24 hours. This really helps bring out the honey, spice, and citrus flavors. The loaf will be so much better the next day, and the day after, and the day after.
If you try this Honey and Citrus Spiced Bread, let me know! Leave a comment or share a photo on Instagram tagging @pardonyourfrench or using #pardonyourfrench. I’d love to see what you come up with.
Bon Appétit!
2 comments
Hello,
The spice bread looks so delicious! Is it possible to substitute gluten-free flour for the flour in this recipe?
Mercí,
Anna
Hello, Anna. I have very little experience using gluten free flours for these recipes, but I have heard on several occasions that if you’re able to acquire King Arthur Gluten Free Flour, the results seem to be very, very good. I haven’t used it myself, but it seems to be the preferred brand from many I’ve spoken to. Hope this helps, and happy baking!