Sweet and fragrant, the fougasse from Aigues-Mortes is a traditional brioche from the Camargue region, sweetened and flavored with orange blossom. We discovered it during a weekend getaway with friends in this beautiful town. I didn't get to eat any myself, but it was devoured in no time. Traditionally enjoyed at Christmas, this local specialty is now appreciated year-round by both tourists and locals. So, as soon as I got home, I decided to recreate it, in a gluten-free version: why deprive myself? Ultimately, it retains all its charm and authenticity, but like any brioche, it requires a good dose of patience. Fougasse is perfect for breakfast, dessert, or an afternoon snack, but it's best enjoyed the same day to preserve its soft texture. Its oval or rectangular shape is a reminder of the artisanal origins of this unique brioche bread. Easy to make at home, it's sure to delight everyone. Here is the recipe that will allow you to rediscover the flavors of the South, without compromising on your gluten-free diet.

Fougasse from Aigues-Mortes: orange blossom brioche, revisited without gluten

France

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Preparation time 20 mins Cooking time 20 mins Rest time 2 hrs Total time 2 hours 40 minutes

Difficulty: Intermediate Servings: 6 Special regime:

Suitable for gluten-free use

Cooking method: Traditional

Ingredients

Servings

• 250g of gluten-free flour mix specifically for bread/ brioche
• 50g sugar + 2 tbsp for sprinkling
• 1 sachet of gluten-free baker's yeast or 1/2 cube of fresh yeast.
• 2 eggs
• 70 ml of lukewarm milk
• 50g of melted butter
• 2 tablespoons of orange blossom water
• a mixture of 10g of melted butter and 1 tbsp of orange blossom water (for finishing)
• 15g of butter cut into very small pieces
• 1 pinch of salt

Preparation

1. Dissolve the yeast in the lukewarm milk and let it rest for 10 minutes.
2. In a bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, salt, eggs, melted butter and orange blossom water.
   

3. Add the yeast-milk mixture and knead until you obtain a soft (sticky but homogeneous) dough. Add more flour if necessary. 

4. Cover and let rise for 1 hour 30 minutes in a warm place.

5. Spread the dough into an oval or rectangular shape on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Let it rise for another 30 to 45 minutes.

   
6. Preheat the oven to 180°C.

7. Make a few shallow holes in the dough with your fingers. Place small pieces of butter in the holes and sprinkle with sugar. 

   

8. Bake for 10 minutes, then brush with the melted butter/orange blossom mixture. Return to the oven for another 10 minutes or until the fougasse is golden brown. 

1. Enjoy it warm or cold, but quickly!

   

Keywords: sweet fougasse, gluten-free recipe, Camargue fougasse, orange blossom brioche, Provençal dessert, soft fougasse, gluten-free sweet bread, Aigues-Mortes specialty, Southern Christmas brioche, traditional Gard recipe

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