Roti Gambang / Gambang Bread – Indonesian Traditional Bread

By Sharanya

For August ssshhhh..... secretly cooking. I was paired with Amirta Iyer. We has to cook dishes from Indonesian Cuisine. As there are many dishes were Non vegetarian , I decided to make this bread.

Roti Gambang / Gambang Roti is the traditional bread of Indonesia. This bread originated from Betawi ( Jakarta ) , which was rooted back to Dutch colonial era. This bread is known as tea or coffee mate.

Though this is a bread, it has the crunchiness of the cookie too. I followed the recipe from here. I skipped the egg yolk which was used in original recipe. I used Butter instead of Margarine.


250 g Java red sugar, grated (you can substitute with palm granulated sugar)

125 dry fine bread crumbs

1/4 tsp vanilla powder/vanilla extract

3 Tbsp water, for brushing

Boilthe Java red sugar with the water until dissolved and become a syrup consistency. Let it cool.

In a bowl , mix together flour , bread crumbs , milk powder , salt , baking soda , baking powder , cinnamon , vanilla. Add in egg yolk , if using.

Pour the sugar syrup and knead well for ten minutes.

Add in the butter and knead again . Cover the bowl with cling wrap and let it rest for 30 minutes.

Divide the dough into equal parts about 12 will come.

Shape the dough ballsinto oval shapes and arrange in the baking tray.

Brush with water on top of the bread and sprinkle sesame seeds on top.

Bake on a preheated oven @ 200 * C for 20 - 30 minutes.

These breads tastes good with flavor of Java sugar.