Milk brioche rolls are a delectable, soft, and rich pastry, perfect for breakfast or as a snack. These rolls are characterized by their golden-brown exterior, which has a slightly crisp texture, and a soft, fluffy interior that melts in your mouth. The key to their delightful flavor and texture is the use of high-quality milk, which adds a creamy richness.
The dough for these rolls is made using a traditional brioche recipe, which includes a generous amount of butter, giving them a tender, rich crumb and a buttery taste. The dough is carefully kneaded to develop gluten, which contributes to the rolls’ soft, airy texture. After kneading, the dough undergoes a slow fermentation process, often in a cool place, which allows the flavors to develop fully.
Once the dough has risen and doubled in size, it’s divided into small portions and shaped into smooth, round rolls. This shaping process is crucial as it ensures the rolls bake evenly and have a uniform appearance. Before baking, the rolls are often brushed with an egg wash, which gives them a shiny, golden finish.
In the oven, the rolls bake until they reach the perfect balance of a crispy exterior and a soft, fluffy interior. The aroma of butter and freshly baked bread fills the air as they cook. These milk brioche rolls are best enjoyed warm, straight out of the oven, where their buttery and milky flavors are most pronounced. They can be served plain, or with a variety of spreads like jam, honey, or even more butter for an indulgent treat. The contrast between the golden crust and the light, airy center makes each bite a delightful experience.
Milk brioche rolls are versatile and can be adapted to various flavors. Some variations include adding ingredients like chocolate chips, dried fruits, or nuts into the dough, or even filling the rolls with sweet or savory ingredients. Regardless of the variation, these rolls remain a favorite for their rich flavor and luxurious texture.
Ingredients:
For the Brioche Dough:
- 4 cups (500g) bread flour
- 1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar
- 2 1/4 teaspoons (7g) active dry yeast
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup (180ml) warm whole milk
- 3 large eggs, at room temperature
- 10 tablespoons (140g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 egg yolk for egg wash
- Sesame seeds or poppy seeds (optional)
Instructions:
Making the Brioche Dough:
- Activate the Yeast:In a small bowl, combine the warm milk and a pinch of sugar. Sprinkle the yeast over the milk and let it sit for about 5-10 minutes until it becomes frothy.
- Combine Dry Ingredients:In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, combine the bread flour, sugar, and salt.
- Mixing the Dough:Add the activated yeast mixture and eggs to the dry ingredients. Mix on low speed until the dough starts to come together.
- Incorporate Butter:Cut the softened butter into small cubes and gradually add them to the dough, mixing on medium speed. Continue mixing for 10-15 minutes until the dough is smooth, elastic, and pulls away from the sides of the bowl. It might be sticky but avoid adding more flour.
- First Rise:Transfer the dough to a lightly greased bowl, cover it with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel, and let it rise in a warm place for 1-2 hours, or until it has doubled in size.
Shaping and Baking:
- Preheat the Oven:Once the dough has risen, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Divide and Shape:Punch down the risen dough to release excess air. Divide the dough into equal-sized portions, shaping each into a smooth ball. Place them on the prepared baking sheet, leaving some space between each roll to allow for rising.
- Second Rise:Cover the shaped rolls loosely with a clean kitchen towel and let them rise again for about 30-45 minutes, or until they double in size.
- Egg Wash and Topping:In a small bowl, beat the egg yolk. Gently brush the risen rolls with the egg wash. If desired, sprinkle sesame seeds or poppy seeds on top for added flavor and texture.
- Bake:Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes or until the rolls are golden brown on top and sound hollow when tapped on the bottom.
- Cooling:Once baked, transfer the rolls to a wire rack to cool completely before serving.
These milk brioche rolls are wonderfully soft and rich, perfect for enjoying fresh out of the oven or using for sandwiches. Enjoy the delightful taste and texture of these homemade rolls!
FAQs
The Difference Between Milk Bread and Other Breads
There are also no eggs in most yeast breads. When it comes to milk bread vs. brioche, the texture and look are similar, though brioche uses more eggs in the dough and has a sweeter taste.
What to eat with milk brioche rolls? ›
When we talk about the common pairings, we're most often thinking of the savory taste chocolate hazelnut spread brings to the buttery brioche, or the fruity taste that your favorite jam brings to our tongues. You can probably add salted butter and honey to the list!
Why are brioche rolls so good? ›
A brioche roll is a form of enriched dough. That means that it's made the same way as a regular roll of bread, but lots of butter and eggs are added to it. This gives it a richer flavor with a tender crumb and soft texture.
What is brioche bread best used for? ›
It also works with both sweet and savoury dishes, so the possibilities are endless. You can typically look to use brioche bread in any recipe you'd use normal bread. For example, it really elevates dishes such as bread and butter pudding, grilled or toasted sandwiches, and even burgers and hot dogs.
Is brioche better for you than bread? ›
Brioche contains a higher protein content than plain white bread due to the inclusion of eggs, which is beneficial for health. However, due to the higher butter content in brioche, brioche contains more fat and more calories than other kinds of bread.
Which is healthier sourdough or brioche? ›
The fermented starter that sourdough originates from is beneficial for gut health. In addition, sourdough rolls contain less, or in some cases no, butter and saturated fats compared to other rolls like brioche rolls.
Are brioche rolls healthy? ›
“Brioche contains a high amount of carbs and fat, making it a less than ideal bread,” Richards cautioned. “The carbs are from refined flour which means it will spike blood glucose as well as cause inflammation.”
Are brioche and milk buns the same? ›
Milk buns are perfect for burgers with a more delicate flavour combination, as they don't overpower the burger. Think chicken burgers or simple hamburgers. The brioche bun used to be a real novelty on the burger scene, but has since become a staple. Brioche buns are buttery and sweet - also heavy in both eggs and milk.
What is brioche traditionally served with? ›
In France, brioche is typically served for breakfast and afternoon tea. Think warm slices of brioche with butter (because, well, you know, there's just not enough butter in brioche as it is! 😂) and a good smear of homemade jam. Traditional that may be, but in my world the applications of brioche are much broader!
What is a fun fact about brioche bread? ›
The most authentic and classic brioche comes from Normandy, a region of northern France famous for the quality of its butter. Interestingly, in very authentic brioche recipes, 400g of butter per kilo of flour is required. The name "brioche" comes from the old French word "brier," which means "to crush the dough".
The butter ratio is very high—often half to three-quarters butter to flour—and the bread is usually kneaded three times, as opposed to twice as in ordinary bread making. Brioche has a tender golden crumb and a slightly sweet flavour.
Which is better challah or brioche? ›
Both breads are rich, eggy yeast breads, but brioche is definitely richer. (Butter will do that). Challah, by the way, is often a braided loaf. Both make excellent French toast and bread pudding.
Why is brioche more expensive? ›
Brioche is one of the costliest bakery products because of its high proportion of butter and eggs.
What does "brioche" mean? ›
noun. , plural bri·och·es [bree, -oh-shiz, -osh-iz, b, r, ee-, awsh]. a light, sweet bun or roll made with eggs, yeast, and butter.
What can be made from brioche bread? ›
You can use your loaf to make everything from sandwiches and burgers to bread pudding and croutons (depending on how stale it is). There's something for everyone in this collection of our best recipes with brioche.
What is another name for milk bread? ›
Other names for it are Hokkaido milk bread, shokupan, and pai bao. Shokupan translates to "eating bread" or "food bread" or "plain bread"; in Japan the style is considered the standard bread of the country, where it is a common breakfast meal or eaten as a snack. It is carried in many bakeries in Asian countries.
Is brioche a milk bun? ›
The brioche bun, which originates from France, is heavy in both eggs and milk. It is also known as the “sweet” bun, due to its high use of butter and sweeteners – including sugar. Before becoming a “burger bun”, the brioche was mostly used within desserts and sweet-tasting dishes, such as French toast and pudding.
What is another name for brioche bread? ›
Brioche is considered a Viennoiserie because it is made in the same basic way as bread but has the richer aspect of a pastry because of the addition of eggs, butter, liquid (milk, water, cream, and, sometimes, brandy) and occasionally sugar.
