Recipe: Braided Brioche Bread – Soft, Fragrant, and Perfect for a Delightful Treat!

Preparation Time:

• 20 minutes preparation
• 1 hour 45 minutes rising
• 15 minutes baking

Servings: 4-6
Difficulty: Easy

Brioche is a classic French bread that’s wonderfully soft, buttery, and enriched with eggs. It’s versatile and can be enjoyed in both savory and sweet forms. This recipe focuses on a sweet, braided brioche that’s perfect for a light snack or paired with a delicious spread. With ingredients like flour, egg yolks, milk, butter, sugar, and fresh yeast, this brioche promises rich flavor and a fluffy texture. If you don’t have fresh yeast, no worries—you can substitute with dried yeast. Once braided, the brioche gets brushed with egg wash for a beautiful golden crust and sprinkled with sugar for a delightful crunch.

Tips for Success

• Yeast: If using dried yeast, use half the amount of fresh yeast. Make sure it’s active—if it doesn’t foam after 10 minutes, it may be expired.
• Flour Choice: All-purpose flour works well, but if you prefer a chewier texture, try bread flour.
• Butter and Milk: Don’t skimp on these! Full-fat versions enhance the flavor and texture of the brioche.
• Egg Wash: This gives the brioche a shiny, golden crust, so don’t skip this step.

Storing Braided Brioche Buns

Avoid refrigerating your brioche buns. Instead, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap or store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. You can also freeze them individually for up to 3 months; simply thaw at room temperature and reheat in the oven when ready to enjoy.

Ingredients

• All-Purpose Flour: 500g (4 cups)
• Lukewarm Milk: 250ml (1 cup)
• Egg Yolks: 2
• Softened Butter: 60g (¼ cup)
• Sugar: 150g (¾ cup)
• Fresh Yeast: 8g (1 tbsp)
• Egg Wash: as needed
• Sugar: for sprinkling

Instructions

1. Combine Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the lukewarm milk, egg yolks, and sugar.
2. Add Yeast: Use your fingers to crumble in the fresh yeast, whisking until combined.
3. Form Dough: Mix with a fork and then knead by hand until a dough forms.
4. Incorporate Butter: Add softened butter and knead for about 10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
5. First Rise: Cover the dough and let it rise in a warm place for 1 hour, then punch down to release any air.
6. Braid the Dough: Shape the dough into braids, place on a prepared baking sheet, and let them rise again for 30 minutes.
7. Bake: Preheat the oven and bake for about 15 minutes until golden.

Serve these delicate, braided brioche buns with a spread of fruit preserves or melted chocolate for an extra treat. Enjoy!