Austrian bread recipes

Living in Scotland, I missed Austrian breads and that’s the reason why I started this blog! Over the years I’ve built up a nice collection of Austrian bread recipes – different bread types and styles – including traditional family recipes.

Here’s a selection of recipes to get you started –

Typical Austrian rye breads (“Schwarzbrot” i.e. black bread)

Experiment with Brotgewürz (bread spice mix) to give your Austrian black breads their authentic flavour.

Authentic Austrian bread rolls and “Kleinbrote” (small breads)

Seasonal Austrian baking treats

Austrian sweet bread recipes

I’m adding Austrian bread recipes frequently, so check back in if you haven’t found what you’re looking for or leave a comment with a request!

Hefezopf (Striezel) Recipe

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My friend Mariel and I decided to have a friendly Challah versus Hefezopf (Austrian: Striezel) bake-off this weekend. Challah versus Hefezopf / Striezel Challah (Hebrew for ‘loaf’) is a traditional leavened and plaited Jewish bread eaten on Sabbath and holidays. Striezel (in Austria) or Hefezopf (in Germany) is also a plaited yeast bread. What makes … Read more

Rye Bread Rolls Recipe – Austrian Schusterlaberl

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Schusterlaberl (also Schusterloaberl or Schusterlaibchen) which translates as ‘shoemaker loaves’ are fragrant Austrian rye bread rolls and have always been a favourite of mine. The smell of these freshly baked rye rolls is mesmerising and brings back childhood memories of stepping into the village bakery (now unfortunately closed) in Gilgenberg. Rye Bread Rolls Recipe (Schusterlaberl) Full of nostalgic feelings, I’ve … Read more

Vinschgerl Recipe – South Tyrolean Flatbreads

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Vinschgerl (also sometimes Vintschgerl) are rustic palm-sized flatbreads which originate in South Tyrol. Blue fenugreek (Brotklee, Schabziger Klee, trigonella caerulea) adds a very distinctive, slightly spicy flavour to these delicious breads and the flat shape ensures that there is a lot of surface for the strong crust to form. Vinschgerl Recipe Ingredients – Makes 12 Vinschgerl … Read more

Walnut bread recipe in four variations

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Having been home in Austria for Christmas, I brought back a big pack of shelled walnuts from the trees in my parents’ garden. A good time to experiment with walnut bread! Try my walnut bread recipe below – a sourdough walnut loaf using white wheat and wholegrain rye flour. My walnut bread is a slightly … Read more

Hausbrot – Traditional Austrian Bread Recipe

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At home in Austria for the week, I was keen to bake some traditional Austrian Schwarzbrot (black bread) with my family. It was a good team effort! My grandmother provided the recipe for Hausbrot, my mum prepared the rye sourdough and got the various ingredients ready and I did the dough work. There are many different recipes for Austrian Hausbrot … Read more

Salzstangerl – My favourite Austrian Kleingebäck

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Kleingebäck or Kleinbrote are the German words and classifications for small breads weighing 250g or less. In Austria, Switzerland and Germany there is a huge variety of Kleingebäck – every region and, in fact, every bakery will have their own selection. Kleinbrote are usually eaten for breakfast or as part of the Jause (Austrian German … Read more

Bread Spices (Brotgewürz) – The taste of real Austrian rye breads

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My bread baking journey with The Bread She Bakes is firmly rooted in the delicious flavours of Austrian rye breads I missed so much when I moved to the UK. A lot of dark breads in Austria, Germany (particularly in the South), Switzerland and South Tyrol are made with Brotgewürz (bread spices) which are both great for the taste … Read more