Description
This brioche bread recipe yields a rich, buttery loaf that is soft and fluffy, perfect for breakfast, sandwiches, or enjoying on its own. With a few simple ingredients and some patience, you can create this delightful French classic in your own kitchen.
Ingredients
- 4 cups all-purpose flour (or bread flour for better structure)
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 4 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup warm milk (about 110°F or 43°C)
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened and cubed
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough:
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, yeast, and salt.
- In a separate bowl, lightly beat the eggs and warm milk together.
- Gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, mixing until a shaggy dough forms.
- Knead and Incorporate Butter:
- If using a stand mixer with a dough hook, knead the dough on medium speed for about 5 minutes.
- Once the dough comes together, slowly add the softened butter, one cube at a time. Allow each piece to fully incorporate before adding the next.
- Knead for an additional 10 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic.
- First Rise:
- Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled bowl. Cover it with plastic wrap and let it rise in a warm place for about 1-2 hours or until it has doubled in size.
- Shape and Second Rise:
- Gently punch down the risen dough and divide it into two equal portions.
- Shape each portion into a loaf and place them in greased 9×5 inch loaf pans.
- Cover the pans with a clean kitchen towel and let the dough rise again for about 1 hour.
- Bake to Perfection:
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Brush the tops of the loaves with an egg wash (a beaten egg) for a golden crust.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes or until the bread is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
- Cool and Serve:
- Allow the loaves to cool in the pans for about 10 minutes before transferring them to wire racks to cool completely.
Notes
- Storage: Brioche is best enjoyed fresh but can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 2 days. For longer storage, slice and freeze for up to 3 months.
- Variations: Feel free to add chocolate chips or fresh herbs to customize your brioche!
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (approx. 50g)
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: <1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: Brioche bread recipe, homemade brioche, French bread recipe, enriched bread, baking brioche