Braided swirl bread not only looks beautiful but tastes delicious as well! Have it for breakfast or dessert paired with cool vanilla ice cream; either way, we guarantee you’ll love this recipe. It’s always fun to make your bread, and it makes a great bonding opportunity with your family, too!

Maybe you try to eat healthily for the most part. You can still reward yourself with homemade braided swirl bread that you can enjoy for days to come. Plus, the chocolate hazelnut cream in the middle makes an effort worth it.

Here’s how to make homemade braided swirl bread with chocolate cream:

Is your sweet tooth calling your name?

Kitchen supplies you’ll need:

  • Baking sheet
  • Parchment paper
  • Kitchen towel
  • Food processor
  • Large bowl
  • Whisk
  • Spatula
  • Baking table or large cutting board
  • Rolling pin
  • Knife
  • Bread pan
  • Large pot
  • Pastry brush

braided swirl bread
Ingredients for hazelnut spread:

  • 1 cup hazelnuts
  • 1 tbsp cocoa powder
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup

Ingredients for braided swirl bread dough:

  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tbsp instant yeast
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup warm milk
  • 1/2 cup softened butter

Ingredients for coconut glaze:

  • 3 tbsp coconut oil
  • 2 tbsp coconut sugar

Directions:

  1. Place the hazelnuts on the baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Roast at 350 degrees F for 10-12 minutes. Once they’re done, wrap a kitchen towel around them to wring out excess moisture.
  2. Next, please place them in your food processor along with the cocoa powder. Pour in the maple syrup and mix until ingredients are thoroughly blended. Set aside.
  3. Then pour the all-purpose flour, instant yeast, salt, and brown sugar into your large bowl. Whisk thoroughly.
  4. Create a small depression in the middle of the flour mixture to place the egg in. Add the warm milk and use a small spatula to mix up only the milk and egg.
  5. Now knead the dough for your braided swirl bread, folding it over vertically and horizontally several times.
  6. Next, add the softened butter and continue kneading the dough for about five more minutes.
  7. Sprinkle some flour on a large cutting board or baking table to transfer the dough too. Sprinkle more flour on the dough and knead it for 5-10 minutes longer until you form a ball shape.
  8. Add a little more flour to the table and dough, and get out your rolling pin. Transfer some of the flour onto the rolling pin, rolling it until you get an oval shape. Flip it over and roll the other side.
  9. Now, use a spatula to spread the hazelnut mixture onto the dough. Leave about 1/2-1 inch of space along the edges.
  10. Next, roll the dough and hazelnut spread widthwise, so it forms a long, cylindrical shape. It should resemble a skinny sub sandwich. Pat it down along the sides and top to even it out.
  11. With a large knife, cut down the middle of the dough, so you have two “ropes.”
  12. Pinch the top of each rope together, then braid them three times. Pinch the bottoms of each half together, then pat down the tops and sides to compress it, so it fits in your bread pan.
  13. Line the bread pan with parchment paper, place the dough inside, and cover with a kitchen towel. Let it rise for approximately one hour.
  14. After the dough rises, bake it at 375 degrees F for 30-40 minutes, until golden brown.
  15. In a large pot, cook the coconut oil and coconut sugar on low heat. Stir until blended, and just when it starts boiling, remove from the heat.
  16. Use your pastry brush to coat the top of the braided swirl bread in the coconut oil/sugar mixture. Top the bread with crushed hazelnuts, almonds, or whatever topping you prefer. Enjoy!

braided swirl bread
Baking tips for making the best braided swirl bread you’ve ever had:

  • We gave the simplified version for braiding bread; most involve three different “ropes” instead of two. However, if you’re a beginner, you’ll probably want to stick with the basic version before moving on to 2.0.
  • You can use any dough you prefer to make braided bread. In fact, you can even buy pre-made dough at the store to reduce the prep on days you’re short on time.
  • If you have a bigger baking sheet, you can braid the dough directly on it if you prefer. This way, you don’t have to move the dough and risk it breaking or stretching when it’s done.
  • Feel free to make any glaze you want – we just went with coconut because it pairs well with chocolate and hazelnut. Other popular, yummy glaze ideas include vanilla, pumpkin, or maple.
  • Not a fan of almonds? Other toppings that you may enjoy include crushed walnuts, coconut or chocolate shavings, or hazelnuts.
  • The bread stores best in the fridge for several days, but you can also freeze it for up to two months.
  • If you want to cut down on the sugar, use substitutes like stevia, monk fruit, or erythritol.
  • Want to make a vegan version? Popular egg substitutes include flaxseeds, applesauce, tofu, or even sweet potatoes! For the butter, use vegan butter, coconut butter, or yogurt.

Final thoughts on making this delicious braided swirl bread with homemade chocolate cream

Indeed, baking your own bread takes you back to the old days where life seemed to move much slower. Before restaurants and fast food came into existence, people had to bake and cook for themselves. In these crazy times, baking this braided swirl bread can help you reconnect to yourself and uplift your spirits. There’s nothing like some good ol’ baking therapy to help you feel better, especially when you get to indulge in your creation afterward.

Many people today like to save time and opt for takeout or pre-baked goods instead. While that’s totally understandable, it doesn’t beat something you poured love and elbow grease into. We sincerely hope you enjoy baking this bread; let us know how you liked it!