Belgian Craquelin (Pearl Sugar Brioche)

Nov 3, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Baking Quick breads Vanilla: Extract Medium

A rich, buttery brioche loaf studded with crunchy pearl sugar that melts into caramelized pockets as it bakes. We use the Belgian brioche meaning of craquelin. Makes 1 loaf in about 4 hr 25 min.

Prep 50 min

Cook 35 min

Cooling 3 hr

Total 4 hr 25 min

Servings 10

Ingredients

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servings

4 cups (500 g)bread flour
¼ cup (50 g)granulated sugar
¼ oz (10 g)instant yeast
1 ¼ tsp (8 g)salt
3 (150 g)eggs
7 tbsp (100 ml)whole milk, lukewarm
⅔ cup (150 g)unsalted butter, softened
1 tsp (5 ml)vanilla extract
3 ½ oz (100 g)pearl sugar (for the dough)
1 (50 g)egg, beaten with a little milk
1 ½ oz (40 g)pearl sugar (for the top)

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Instructions

Mix the flour, sugar, yeast and salt. Add the eggs, milk and vanilla and knead 5 minutes. Add the butter in pieces and knead 10 minutes until smooth, glossy and elastic.
Cover and rise until doubled, about 1.5 hours, then chill the dough 30 minutes to make it easier to handle.
Gently knead in 100 g of pearl sugar at the last moment so it does not dissolve.
Shape into a loaf or round, place in a greased 9 by 5-inch (23 by 13 cm) pan, cover, and rise 60 minutes until puffed.
Heat the oven to 350 F (175 C). Brush the top with egg and scatter the remaining pearl sugar.
Bake 32 to 35 minutes, tenting with foil if the sugar browns too fast, until deep golden and 190 F (88 C) inside.
Cool in the pan 10 minutes, then on a rack.

Tips

Add the pearl sugar last to keep the crunch.
Do not use regular sugar for the topping; it melts away.
Plain craquelin has only sugar; add raisins to make cramique.
Good with hot chocolate.

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Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make belgian craquelin (pearl sugar brioche)?

Plan on 50 minutes of prep and 35 minutes of cooking, plus 3 hours to chill. The recipe makes 1 loaf (10 servings).

How should I store belgian craquelin (pearl sugar brioche)?

Keep wrapped at room temperature up to 3 days; freeze up to 2 months.

Can I make belgian craquelin (pearl sugar brioche) ahead?

Yes. It needs time to chill and set, so it is a good one to make the day before you serve it.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

Yes. This recipe uses 1 tsp vanilla extract (5 ml). Each teaspoon of pure vanilla extract can be swapped for 1 teaspoon of vanilla bean paste, the seeds of half a vanilla bean, or 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla powder. Paste and seeds add the classic dark specks.

A Belgian brioche with pearl sugar worked into and scattered over the dough, usually eaten on special occasions. Serve it with hot chocolate.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 10 servings this recipe makes.

353 Calories / serving

16.1g Fat

44.6g Carbs

7.9g Protein

22.2g Sugar

Whole recipe (10 servings): ~3530 cal · 161g fat · 446g carbs · 79g protein · 222g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.