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Freshly baked brioche loaf with a golden crust and soft texture.

Brioche

A buttery, soft bread that captures the essence of Southern kitchens, perfect for any gathering or just a cozy breakfast.
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Prep Time 2 hours
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 25 minutes
Servings: 16 slices
Course: Breakfast, Snack
Cuisine: American, Southern
Calories: 200
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Wet Ingredients
  • 2/3 cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup milk (plus 1 tablespoon)
  • 1 large egg For the dough and egg wash
Dry Ingredients
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 4 cups all-purpose flour (or a combination of 1/2 cup cake flour and 3 1/2 cups bread flour) Using a mix gives a tender crumb.
  • 1 tablespoon active dry yeast (or instant yeast) If using active dry yeast, proof in warm water first.
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
Toppings
  • 1 beaten egg with 1 teaspoon water (for egg wash)
  • 1 tablespoon sugar dissolved in 1 tablespoon hot water (for simple syrup)

Method
 

Prepare the Dough
  1. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, add the heavy cream, milk, egg, and sugar.
  2. Add the cake flour and bread flour, followed by the yeast and salt.
  3. Set the mixer to 'stir' and mix for about 15 minutes, pausing occasionally to gather the dough together.
  4. If the dough clings to the bowl, sprinkle in more flour until it releases but still holds onto the bottom.
  5. If kneading by hand, do so for an additional 5-10 minutes.
First Proof
  1. Cover the dough with a damp towel and let it rise in a warm spot until doubled in size, about 1-2 hours.
Prepare for Baking
  1. Grease two loaf pans or one loaf and one round baking pan.
Shape the Dough
  1. Gently knead the dough in the mixer for another 5 minutes.
  2. Turn the dough onto a floured surface and divide it in half.
  3. Shape each half into rectangles and cut each into three pieces for loaves or eight pieces for rolls.
  4. Arrange the pieces in the prepared pans and let them proof for another hour.
Bake the Brioche
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Brush the risen dough with the egg wash and bake for 23-25 minutes, until golden brown.
  3. Optionally, brush the warm brioche with the simple syrup to add shine.

Notes

Brioche is delicious on its own or toasted with butter and preserves. It can also be frozen for longer storage.