All you need to know about Brioche

Soft, buttery, and slightly sweet, brioche has been a French bakery staple for centuries.

Originating in Normandy, this rich bread is now making waves beyond its traditional roots, gaining popularity worldwide. From high-end restaurant menus to retail bakery shelves and even fast-food chains, brioche is experiencing a global renaissance, creating new opportunities for bakeries and food manufacturers looking to capitalize on its growing demand.

With over 1,000 new brioche products launched across more than 60 countries, the demand for premium, soft-textured baked goods is sky-rocketing. Consumers are seeking elevated, more premium bakery experiences, and brioche perfectly aligns with trends in indulgence, clean-label recipes, and plant-based alternatives.

Brioche is often mistaken for regular bread, but it is actually a hybrid between bread and a pastry. Unlike standard white bread, which primarily contains flour, water, and yeast, brioche is enriched with eggs, milk, and butter, giving it its light, airy texture and rich, slightly sweet flavor.

To be classified as brioche, a dough must contain between 30-50% butter-to-flour weight.

This high fat content is what gives brioche its signature soft crumb, golden crust, and melt-in-the-mouth texture. It is fermented like bread but has a richness closer to treats like croissants and pain au chocolat.

Besides from the crowd-favorite Brioche de Nanterre, there are many other brioche products that should be put in the spotlight for the International Brioche Day 2025.

• Chocolate Viennois: The chocolate viennois pastry, a luxurious treat originating from Vienna, Austria, is a delightful fusion of rich chocolate and delicate pastry. This exquisite dessert is known for its buttery, flaky layers, which are generously filled with chocolate chips.
• Hot-Cross Bun: Hot cross buns are a beloved traditional pastry, often enjoyed during the Easter season. The buns are typically filled with a delightful mix of dried fruits, such as raisins and currants, and flavored with warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg.
• Truffle Brioche: The truffle is usually known as a little praline treat, with a crispy chocolate layer on the outside topped with cocoa powder, and a smooth filling on the inside. At Puratos, we take this one step further, transforming this tiny bite in a indulgent brioche truffle.
• Maritozzo: Maritozzo is a delightful Italian pastry that hails from Rome, known for its soft, sweet brioche-like dough and its generous filling of whipped cream. Traditionally enjoyed during breakfast or as a mid-morning treat, maritozzo has a rich history and is often associated with romantic gestures, as it was once given by young men to their sweethearts..

Each variation showcases brioche’s adaptability, a crucial factor in its rising popularity worldwide.

With a focus on balanced costs and differentiation, Puratos can help you and your customers to create the perfect taste and texture in brioche recipes. We offer an extensive range of key ingredients: improvers, such as Puraslim, Soft’r Melting and mixes, for example Easy Soft’r Plant-Based Mix, fillings, specialty fats, glazes and sourdough, to name a few.

From French classic brioche to fully plant-based, as well as brioche with a healthier twist, discover a range of innovative recipes and bring not only a touch of France to your product range, but also answer the consumer needs of tomorrow. With Puratos' expertise, bakers and food manufacturers can create delicious and innovative brioche products that stand out in a growing category.

The global brioche market is expected to continue expanding, fueled by:

• New applications: e.g. brioche-based pastries, filled brioche, and gourmet sandwiches.
• Sustainability in baking, with brands adopting clean label and ethical sourcing.
• More premium and customized offerings, catering to both indulgence and health-conscious consumers.

For bakeries and manufacturers, the time to innovate with brioche is now. By learning about consumer preferences and new ingredients, bakers can capitalize on new trends to differentiate themselves in a competitive market.

Would you like to explore our range of ingredients to innovate with? Contact your local Puratos representative to discover solutions, and get expert guidance tailored to your business.