Brioche Bread Recipe - I Heart Naptime (2024)

A rich, buttery, and oh-so-soft brioche bread recipe is easy to make and much more cost-effective than buying a loaf! Enjoy it on its own, toasted, or topped with your favorite jam!

I love to bake homemade bread recipes! From homemade bread to whole wheat bread and this French bread, it’s the best fresh out of the oven.

Brioche Bread Recipe - I Heart Naptime (1)

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Why I Love This Recipe

  • Amazing texture. A favorite when it comes to yeast bread recipes, brioche is known for its soft yellow hue and buttery, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
  • Rich and flavorful. Brioche is enriched with butter and eggs with a more tender crust than that of an artisan bread.
  • Better than store-bought. The aromas wafting through your house will have it smelling like a bakery, but the results are better than a store-bought brioche loaf.
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Substitutions and Variations

  • Instead of an egg wash, brush it with maple syrup or honey for a sweet finish.
  • Enjoy a slice of brioche is warm and freshly made with some butter and blueberry jam or strawberry jam!
  • Use it for all kinds of French toast recipes, such as French toast sticks, overnight French toast, and Eggnog French toast.
  • Transform these easy 1-hour cinnamon rolls by using leftover brioche to a little extra fluffy, buttery, soft texture.
  • Use the dough to make brioche buns for sliders and for dessert make bread pudding.

How to Make Brioche Bread

In the bowl of a stand, stir the warm milk, yeast, and sugar together. Proof yeast for about 5-10 minutes until foamy. Using the paddle attachment, add eggs, 1 at a time, then yolks and vanilla. Add dry ingredients to wet and mix for 3 minutes, before adding remaining flour and mixing 5 minutes.

Slowly add butter then use dough hook to knead for 8-10 minutes. Transfer the dough to a greased bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Chill in the fridge for 8 hours or overnight.

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To braid dough, remove dough from refrigerator and on a lightly floured surface roll each dough piece into an approximately 14″ log. Alternately, you can shape it into a loaf.

Place the three logs side by side and braid them together tucking the ends under to make the loaf nice and tidy.

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Braid dough then place in a well greased loaf pan and then place an oiled piece of plastic wrap over top of the pan. This will prevent the dough from sticking and potentially falling. Place in a warm draft free area and let rise until doubled in size or about 1-3 hours.

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Brush the tops with egg wash and bake in a preheated 375°F oven on the middle rack for 28-30 minutes until a deep golden brown color on top. Tap the crust to hear a hollow sound, and then you’ll know your brioche bread is ready to come out of the oven!

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Storing

Keep leftovers at room temperature. Store in a brown bag or an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Freeze the bread for up to 3 months! Wrap the entire loaf or whatever’s left in plastic wrap or foil then transfer it to a freezer bag. Thaw overnight to enjoy the next day.

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Brioche Bread Recipe - I Heart Naptime (11)

Brioche Bread Recipe

5 from 6 votes

↑ Click stars to rate now!

Author: Jamielyn Nye

Rich, buttery and soft brioche bread is easy to make and much more cost-effective that buying a loaf!

Prep Time: 25 minutes mins

Cook Time: 28 minutes mins

Rising Time: 9 hours hrs 30 minutes mins

Total Time: 10 hours hrs 23 minutes mins

Servings: 32 slices (2 loaves)

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Equipment

  • 2 9×5-inch bread pans

Ingredients

  • ½ cup warm whole milk (110°F)
  • 1 Tablespoon + 1 teaspoon instant dry yeast
  • 5 Tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 5 large eggs , at room temperature
  • 1 large egg yolk , at room temperature
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 teaspoons Kosher salt
  • 4 ½ cups bread flour , or all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup unsalted butter , at room temperature

Egg Wash

  • 1 large egg , beaten
  • 1 Tablespoon water

Optional topping: Butter and Jam

    Instructions

    • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, stir the warm milk, yeast, and sugar. Let sit 5 to 10 minutes, or until nice and bubbly. If it doesn't foam, toss it and start over. The milk was either too hot or the yeast was not fresh (check the expiration date to be sure it isn't old).

    • Add the eggs, 1 at a time, until combined. Mix in the egg yolk and vanilla extract.

    • In a separate bowl, whisk 2 cups flour and the salt. Add to the mixer and stir 3 minutes on medium speed.

    • Reduce speed to low and gradually mix in the remaining 2 cups flour until combined. Mix 5 minutes, stopping halfway to scrape down paddle and sides of bowl. Turn off mixer. If the dough is too sticky, add up to 1/2 cup flour and mix on low speed until incorporated. Dough should be soft but not wet.

    • Slowly mix in the butter, 2 Tablespoons at a time. Swap out the paddle attachment for a dough hook and knead 8 to 10 minutes. Dough should be clinging to the dough hook in one ball. *Try window pane test (see notes).

    • Transfer dough to a medium bowl sprayed with nonstick spray. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 8 hours or overnight.

    • Spray 2 9×5-inch bread pans with nonstick cooking spray.

    • On a floured work surface, divide dough into two portions. Shape into loaves and transfer to pans. Cover and let rise 1 to 2 hours, or until doubled in size. In a small bowl, beat the egg and water together to make an egg wash. Brush the tops of the loaves with egg wash.

    • Preheat the oven to 375°F and place the rack in the middle of the oven.

    • Bake 28 to 30 minutes, or until deep golden color. Tap on the crust to hear a hollow sound. Cover with foil the last 10 minutes if it's browning too fast.

    • Cool 10 minutes in pan before removing from the pans to a cooling rack. Slice once slightly cooled. Enjoy with butter and jam, if desired.

    Notes

    Thermometer: Using a thermometer is an easy way to make sure the temperature of your water is just right. It should feel like warm bath water, around 105°F.

    Stand mixer: Although you can knead by hand, using a KitchenAid stand mixer with a dough hook saves you time and energy. It’s a game changer for making homemade bread!

    Window pane test: After the dough has kneaded 8 minutes, you should be able to stretch it without it tearing and it should be fairly translucent. If it tears before stretching 1 to 2 inches, knead an additional 1 to 2 minutes. Check again.

    Storage: The bread will keep in an airtight container or brown bag on the counter up to 5 days .

    Freeze: Let the loaves cool completely then wrap in foil or saran wrap. Place in a freezer bag. Freeze up to 3 months. Thaw the night before serving.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 141kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 56mg | Sodium: 162mg | Potassium: 45mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 242IU | Vitamin C: 0.002mg | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 0.4mg

    Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.

    Course: bread

    Cuisine: American

    Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!

    Brioche Bread Recipe - I Heart Naptime (2024)

    FAQs

    Why does brioche need to sit overnight? ›

    Overnight Proof: By letting the dough rise slowly in a cold environment, it not only develops more depth of flavor, but also gives you more flexibility with the timing of baking the loaf. Cold brioche dough is also much easier to work with!

    What makes brioche bread different from other breads? ›

    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.

    Is brioche bread healthy? ›

    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.

    What is the translation of brioche a tete? ›

    The French name of this brioche à tête refers to the shape (tête means head). One of the most recognizable forms of brioche, it's noted by a smaller dome (the head) atop the larger round loaf. It's often simply called a Parisienne.

    Can you leave bread dough overnight before baking? ›

    For deeper flavour (and convenience), most doughs can be put in the fridge for their second rise and left to prove overnight. This sounds wrong, given that doughs rise fastest in warm conditions, but it really does work. Put the dough in the fridge straight after shaping, covered with oiled cling film.

    Can I let dough rise overnight on the counter? ›

    Yes! If a recipe calls for proofing bread dough overnight in the refrigerator, it can be proofed on the counter at a warmer temperature for a shorter period. Rather than placing the dough in the refrigerator overnight, leave it covered on the counter for 1 to 4 hours until it's ready to bake.

    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.

    Why is brioche bread so expensive? ›

    Brioche is one of the costliest bakery products because of its high proportion of butter and eggs.

    What does the word "brioche" mean in French? ›

    Translation of brioche – French–English dictionary

    a sticky bun.

    Is brioche inflammatory? ›

    “Brioche contains a high amount of carbs and fat, making it a less than ideal bread,” Richards cautioned. “The carbs are from refined flour which means it will spike blood glucose as well as cause inflammation.”

    Which bread is anti-inflammatory? ›

    Refined grains, such as the grains found in white bread and white pasta, are known to increase inflammation across the whole body. Sourdough bread and rye bread are both good options for an anti-inflammatory diet. The best sourdough and rye bread varieties to reduce gut inflammation are those made from whole grains.

    What is Rosca brioche? ›

    Nuestra deliciosa Rosca Brioche es un exquisito pan de levadura, relleno de queso crema y cobertura de glaseado especial de la casa. *El glaseado viene aparte. Impuestos incluidos. Envío calculado al finalizar la compra.

    What is a brioche Parisienne? ›

    Brioche Parisienne, also referred to as "brioche à tête," has a unique shape with a smaller "head" on top of a larger round loaf. This delicious brioche gained fame in the 18th century and remains a cherished favorite in Paris.

    What is another name for brioche bread? ›

    Brioche is considered a Viennoiserie because it is made in the same basic way as bread but has the richer aspect of a pastry because of the addition of eggs, butter, liquid (milk, water, cream, and, sometimes, brandy) and occasionally sugar.

    Does brioche need to be refrigerated overnight? ›

    You can store your brioche buns in a plastic bag or airtight container at room temperature for up to five days. Be sure to remove as much air as possible from the container or bag to preserve freshness.

    Why do you need to proof brioche in the fridge? ›

    Cold proof your dough: According to Martin, letting the dough proof in the fridge overnight provides extended fermentation time, which in turn develops more flavor. This step is extra-helpful since most brioche doughs are made without a preferment for flavor.

    What is the purpose of allowing the dough to sit overnight? ›

    Clara shares: “I make a lot of crusty hearth breads and sourdoughs. These benefit from an overnight fermentation (rise) in the refrigerator to score cleanly and make the bread recipe fit around my schedule.” A touch of dryness from refrigerating uncovered free-form loaves helps with scoring.

    Why does brioche take so long to rise? ›

    (Click here to read about why it takes this long. In short, it's because the high amount of butter in this dough inhibits the formation of gluten that occurs when we knead dough which makes breads rise.

    References

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