Recipes

Brioche Loaves

Well worth the effort, this rich and buttery French egg bread is heavenly.

Serves:
12
Prep Time:
10 min
Cook Time:
40 min

Ingredients

Dough

  • ½ cup ( 125 mL ) homogenized milk, warmed
  • ¼ cup ( 60 mL ) granulated sugar, divided
  • 1 package active dry yeast (2 1/4 tsp/12 mL)
  • 4 eggs, at room temperature
  • 4 cups ( 1 L ) all-purpose flour, divided
  • 1 1/2 tsp ( 7.5 mL ) salt
  • ¾ cup ( 175 mL ) unsalted butter, at room temperature, cut into 12 cubes

Assembly

  • 1 egg
  • 1 tbsp ( 15 mL ) milk

Instructions

Dough

  1. In bowl of stand mixer, combine milk, 1 tsp (5 mL) sugar and yeast; let stand for 8 to 10 minutes or until foamy.
  2. On low speed, beat in eggs, 1 cup (250 mL) flour, remaining sugar and salt until combined. Add remaining flour; beat on low to medium speed for 8 to 10 minutes or until dough comes away cleanly from side of bowl.
  3. Beat in 1 cube of butter at a time, making sure each cube is incorporated before adding the next one; beat dough for about 5 minutes or satiny and glossy.
  4. Transfer to greased bowl; cover with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature for 1 ½ hours. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or up to 24 hours.
  5. Let stand at room temperature for 2 to 2 ½ hours or until doubled in volume. Divide dough into 8 portions and roll into balls. Divide balls evenly between 2 greased 8- x 4-inch (1.5 L) loaf pans. Cover with lightly greased plastic wrap; let stand at room temperature until doubled in volume.

Assembly

  1. Preheat oven to 375˚F (190˚C). Beat egg with milk; brush evenly over loaves. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until golden brown and instant-read thermometer registers 190˚F (90˚C) when inserted in centre of dough. If loaves brown too quickly, tent with foil. Let cool in pans on rack for 10 minutes. Remove from pans; let cool completely.

Notes

Use leftover bread for French toast or bread pudding.