Brioche

Tags: #french #bread #butter #eggs #rich Serving: 1 loaf Total time: 6 hours (including chilling)

Rich, buttery French bread with a tender crumb and golden crust, perfect for breakfast or dessert.

Ingredients

• 500g bread flour
• 10g salt
• 50g granulated sugar
• 10g active dry yeast
• 125ml warm milk
• 4 large eggs
• 300g unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 egg yolk for egg wash
• 15ml cream for egg wash

Steps

1. Dissolve yeast in warm milk with pinch of sugar
2. Let stand 5 minutes until foamy
3. Mix flour, salt, and remaining sugar in bowl of stand mixer
4. Add yeast mixture and eggs
5. Mix with dough hook on low speed until combined
6. Increase speed and knead 10 minutes until smooth
7. Gradually add softened butter, mixing until incorporated
8. Continue kneading 5 minutes until silky and elastic
9. Place in buttered bowl and cover
10. Rise at room temperature 2 hours until doubled
11. Punch down and refrigerate overnight
12. Shape chilled dough into loaf and place in buttered pan
13. Cover and rise 2-3 hours until doubled
14. Preheat oven to 180°C
15. Brush with egg wash
16. Bake 35-40 minutes until deep golden brown

Notes

The dough will be very sticky before chilling. Cold butter incorporates better than melted butter.