Fairy bread holds a special place in the hearts of many Aussies, as it fondly reminds us of childhood birthday parties and picnics with family and friends. Traditionally made with soft white bread, butter, and colourful hundreds and thousands, this sugar-coated treat is undeniably an Australian favourite. But recently, we discovered a delightful twist on this classic snack all the way from the Netherlands – Hagelslag!

A world away from the sunny shores of Australia, the Dutch have been making their own version of fairy bread – and dare we say, it could even rival our own. Intrigued by online comments mentioning this Dutch alternative, we decided to investigate further and learn all about Hagelslag and what makes it so delicious.

Fairy Bread: A Beloved Delight. Source: Kristina Vanni/The Spruce.

What is Hagelslag?​

At its core, Hagelslag shares some similarities with our beloved Aussie fairy bread. It starts off with the same base of soft, sliced white bread generously spread with butter. But here's where things get interesting—instead of topping the bread with colourful hundreds and thousands, Hagelslag uses chocolate strands (also known as hagel) to create a rich, melt-in-your-mouth experience.

These chocolate sprinkles are made from high-quality cocoa, which gives them a delectable, intense flavour that's hard to resist. Our taste buds are already tingling just thinking about it!

What does Hagelslag taste like?​

Taste Food Director Amira Georgy gave Hagelslag a try and reported back on her experience. As an Australian, she was initially sceptical but ultimately won over by the Dutch delicacy.

'I generally don't like when traditional sprinkles have a slightly gritty texture and get stuck in your teeth,' she said.

'However, the Dutch sprinkles actually have a strong chocolatey flavour and softer texture, which means they don't get stuck in your teeth, and they soften and melt as you chew them.'

Where to buy Hagel for Hagelslag​

If reading about this chocolatey concoction has you itching to try it for yourself, you'll be happy to know that it's quite easy to find in Australia. Amira used The Dutch Co brand of 'Hagel' and found it in the international aisle at her local Coles supermarket.

Hagelslag: The Dutch Version of Fairy Bread. Source: Amira Georgy

How to make Hagelslag​

Creating the perfect Hagelslag sandwich is just as simple as making traditional fairy bread, and it's a great way to minimise mess in the kitchen. Utilise the same technique shared by our friends at Australia's Best Recipes: pour the chocolate strands into a rectangular container, slather the bread with butter, and then press the buttered side down into the sprinkles. In a matter of seconds, you'll have a delicious, chocolate-covered slice of bread without the mess.

The ideal Hagelslag formula​

Amira also shared her thoughts on the best bread-to-butter-to-sprinkles ratio for making the perfect Hagelslag sandwich. She suggests using 'three parts sprinkles to two parts butter’, which amounts to 1 tablespoon of butter and 1.5 tablespoons of chocolate strands for every two slices of bread.

Other Unique Bread Toppings in Different Cultures​

Fairy bread is a beloved Aussie tradition, but it's not the only type of sweetened bread topping around. Other countries have their own versions of topping and coating bread with sweet ingredients. From dulce de leche in Chile to Spekulatius in Germany, bread can be laden with various unique and delectable toppings.

Chile​

In Chile, bread is often dipped in a thick caramel-like syrup called 'Dulce de Leche’. This sweet milk-based syrup is made from scratch and consists of only two ingredients – milk and sugar – making it an easy and cost-effective way to add a unique sweetness to the bread.

Germany​

In Germany, Spekulatius are used as a topping for bread. They are biscuits made with spices like nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves and are traditionally used to flavour milk as well as to top bread.

Sweden​

Finally, in Sweden, a form of bread known as 'Vetebröd' is often found topped with 'Vört', a type of malt spread made from boiled wort and syrup and then sweetened with sugar and lightly spiced with cinnamon.

Key Takeaways

• Dutch fairy bread, called hagelslag, is similar to the Australian version but uses chocolate strands instead of colourful hundreds and thousands.
• Hagelslag has a softer texture and a strong chocolate flavour, making it delicious and easy to eat.
• The Dutch Co brand of 'Hagel' can be found in the international aisle at Coles supermarket.
• To make fairy bread, use the ratio of three parts sprinkles to two parts butter, pressing the buttered bread into a container of sprinkles to create a neat, thick layer.

Whether you're hosting a gathering or looking for a new treat to indulge in, give Hagelslag a try or the other unique bread toppings and see how it compares to the classic Aussie fairy bread you know and love. Who knows, it might just become your new favourite snack! So, let's raise a toast to our friends in the Netherlands for sharing their delicious take on a beloved classic.

Do you share a love for fairy bread as well, or does your culture have a unique bread topping? We're curious to learn about your favourite treats, so please share them with us!

 

[Thecheesequeen]

My aunt once made this for me, using chocolate sprinkles, when I was growing up in Scotland. I didn’t like it! And I certainly didn’t like fairy bread, although my children did while they were young.

 

[Nelida RTAMBOLERO]

Fairy bread holds a special place in the hearts of many Aussies, as it fondly reminds us of childhood birthday parties and picnics with family and friends. Traditionally made with soft white bread, butter, and colourful hundreds and thousands, this sugar-coated treat is undeniably an Australian favourite. But recently, we discovered a delightful twist on this classic snack all the way from the Netherlands – Hagelslag!

A world away from the sunny shores of Australia, the Dutch have been making their own version of fairy bread – and dare we say, it could even rival our own. Intrigued by online comments mentioning this Dutch alternative, we decided to investigate further and learn all about Hagelslag and what makes it so delicious.

View attachment 20469

Fairy Bread: A Beloved Delight. Source: Kristina Vanni/The Spruce.

What is Hagelslag?​

At its core, Hagelslag shares some similarities with our beloved Aussie fairy bread. It starts off with the same base of soft, sliced white bread generously spread with butter. But here's where things get interesting—instead of topping the bread with colourful hundreds and thousands, Hagelslag uses chocolate strands (also known as hagel) to create a rich, melt-in-your-mouth experience.

These chocolate sprinkles are made from high-quality cocoa, which gives them a delectable, intense flavour that's hard to resist. Our taste buds are already tingling just thinking about it!

What does Hagelslag taste like?​

Taste Food Director Amira Georgy gave Hagelslag a try and reported back on her experience. As an Australian, she was initially sceptical but ultimately won over by the Dutch delicacy.

'I generally don't like when traditional sprinkles have a slightly gritty texture and get stuck in your teeth,' she said.

'However, the Dutch sprinkles actually have a strong chocolatey flavour and softer texture, which means they don't get stuck in your teeth, and they soften and melt as you chew them.'

Where to buy Hagel for Hagelslag​

If reading about this chocolatey concoction has you itching to try it for yourself, you'll be happy to know that it's quite easy to find in Australia. Amira used The Dutch Co brand of 'Hagel' and found it in the international aisle at her local Coles supermarket.

View attachment 20468

Hagelslag: The Dutch Version of Fairy Bread. Source: Amira Georgy

How to make Hagelslag​

Creating the perfect Hagelslag sandwich is just as simple as making traditional fairy bread, and it's a great way to minimise mess in the kitchen. Utilise the same technique shared by our friends at Australia's Best Recipes: pour the chocolate strands into a rectangular container, slather the bread with butter, and then press the buttered side down into the sprinkles. In a matter of seconds, you'll have a delicious, chocolate-covered slice of bread without the mess.

The ideal Hagelslag formula​

Amira also shared her thoughts on the best bread-to-butter-to-sprinkles ratio for making the perfect Hagelslag sandwich. She suggests using 'three parts sprinkles to two parts butter’, which amounts to 1 tablespoon of butter and 1.5 tablespoons of chocolate strands for every two slices of bread.

Other Unique Bread Toppings in Different Cultures​

Fairy bread is a beloved Aussie tradition, but it's not the only type of sweetened bread topping around. Other countries have their own versions of topping and coating bread with sweet ingredients. From dulce de leche in Chile to Spekulatius in Germany, bread can be laden with various unique and delectable toppings.

Chile​

In Chile, bread is often dipped in a thick caramel-like syrup called 'Dulce de Leche’. This sweet milk-based syrup is made from scratch and consists of only two ingredients – milk and sugar – making it an easy and cost-effective way to add a unique sweetness to the bread.

Germany​

In Germany, Spekulatius are used as a topping for bread. They are biscuits made with spices like nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves and are traditionally used to flavour milk as well as to top bread.

Sweden​

Finally, in Sweden, a form of bread known as 'Vetebröd' is often found topped with 'Vört', a type of malt spread made from boiled wort and syrup and then sweetened with sugar and lightly spiced with cinnamon.

Key Takeaways

• Dutch fairy bread, called hagelslag, is similar to the Australian version but uses chocolate strands instead of colourful hundreds and thousands.
• Hagelslag has a softer texture and a strong chocolate flavour, making it delicious and easy to eat.
• The Dutch Co brand of 'Hagel' can be found in the international aisle at Coles supermarket.
• To make fairy bread, use the ratio of three parts sprinkles to two parts butter, pressing the buttered bread into a container of sprinkles to create a neat, thick layer.

Whether you're hosting a gathering or looking for a new treat to indulge in, give Hagelslag a try or the other unique bread toppings and see how it compares to the classic Aussie fairy bread you know and love. Who knows, it might just become your new favourite snack! So, let's raise a toast to our friends in the Netherlands for sharing their delicious take on a beloved classic.

Do you share a love for fairy bread as well, or does your culture have a unique bread topping? We're curious to learn about your favourite treats, so please share them with us! B.,bake at 160 degree for 1020 mins let it cool.can in nice cup of coffee

Backhoe (Phils.)my older cousin using one or two old bread spread of butter/ margarine evenly sprinler w/ darksugar arrange in baking tray