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!
What makes a brioche roll different? ›
9. What makes brioche different to most breads? Brioche is different to most breads because it's made with an enriched dough and tastes a little sweeter. . Because it's an enriched dough, you get that famous brioche texture of soft bread, the classic golden colour and quintessentially rich taste.
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.
Is brioche better for you than bread? ›
How healthy is brioche? 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.
How do you eat milk brioche rolls? ›
Eat the brioche buns plain, or cut them in half with a knife and spread butter and jam over the inside. You can also toast the cut sides of the brioche buns before you eat them.
How do you eat milk brioche? ›
There are several ways to enjoy brioche bread! Eaten for breakfast, it's good with butter, jam, or made into French toast. This is best with a sweet or fruit brioche. Brioche is good paired with soup, used to make sandwiches with meats and/or cheeses.
What pairs well with brioche? ›
How to Serve Brioche for Breakfast: Go Classic with Eggs Royale. A breakfast classic with a magnifique twist. Smoked salmon, spinach and a perfectly poached egg, drizzled in hollandaise sauce and encased in a warm, golden St Pierre Seeded Burger Bun.
What are some fun facts about brioche bread? ›
The name "brioche" comes from the old French word "brier," which means "to crush the dough". Over the centuries, brioches spread to many regions, and there are now over 30 different types of brioche in France, with almost every region having its own specialty.
Brioche is one of the costliest bakery products because of its high proportion of butter and eggs.
Why does brioche collapse after baking? ›
Baking temperature
If the oven is too hot the loaf will be brown and crispy on the outside but doughy in the middle and may collapse as it cools. When bread is baked at too low a temperature it will not rise enough in the oven resulting in a dense and sunken loaf.
How to tell if brioche is bad? ›
Bread has a best-by date instead of an expiration date, but it's best to examine it yourself to determine whether it's safe to eat. Throw away bread if it's moldy or has a strange taste or smell.
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.
What does "brioche" mean? ›
noun. bri·oche brē-ˈōsh -ˈȯsh. : light slightly sweet bread made with a rich yeast dough.
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.
Is a brioche bun a milk bun? ›
Brioche Buns
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.
Is a milk bun brioche? ›
Brioche dough is an enriched bread dough made lots of butter. Milk bread is made with a two step process that begins with a warm paste of flour and water called a tangoing which is then incorporated into the dough.
What is another name for milk bread? ›
The other name for milk bread is 'D pain au lait', a French term translating to 'milk bread'. Although, these types of breads can have different names in varying cultural contexts, and thus may not be completely identical. Challah, pita, and Pullman are distinctly different types of bread.
