This best brioche recipe yields a rich, buttery dough that can be shaped into rolls for a morning snack served with jam, or used in savory dishes.
Preparation Time
40 mins
Cooking Time
25 mins
Total Time
1 hr 5 mins
Calories
228 Calories
Recipe Instructions
Step 1
Dissolve yeast in warm water in a small bowl. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
Step 2
Lightly grease a large bowl with vegetable oil, place dough in the bowl, and turn to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
Step 3
Punch down dough, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 6 hours to overnight.
Step 4
Bake loaves in the preheated oven until the tops are deep golden brown, about 25 minutes. Cool in the pans for 10 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.
Step 5
Make egg wash: Beat egg yolk and cold water in a small bowl. Brush on the tops of loaves.
Step 6
Gather all ingredients.
Step 7
Stir together flour, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Make a well in the center, then add eggs and yeast mixture; beat well until dough comes together. (Tip: Add 1 to 3 tablespoons of additional warm water, 1 tablespoon at a time, only if needed to help the dough come together.)
Step 8
Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and supple, about 8 minutes.
Step 9
Flatten dough and spread it with 1/3 of the butter.
Step 10
Knead butter into dough.
Step 11
Repeat this step twice to incorporate remaining butter, allowing dough to rest for a few minutes between additions of butter, about 20 minutes total.
Step 12
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly grease two 8x4-inch loaf pans.
Step 13
Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide dough into 2 equal pieces, form into loaves, and place into the prepared loaf pans.
Step 14
Cover with greased plastic wrap and let rise until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.