Black Pepper Free Classic Brioche

Total time11 hr 15 min

Prep time40 min

Cook time35 min

4.5

(18)

Rich, pillowy, and impossibly buttery, this brioche is the kind of bread that makes you feel like a serious baker the moment it comes out of the oven. The deep mahogany crust and soft, pull-apart rolls are pure showstopper material, whether you're serving it at brunch or slicing it thick for French toast the next morning. For anyone navigating a black pepper sensitivity, this recipe is a genuine gift — brioche is one of those rare breads that needs absolutely none, relying instead on butter, eggs, and a slow cold fermentation to build all the flavor it needs. That overnight rest in the refrigerator is the real secret here, firming up the enriched dough and coaxing out a depth that tastes like it took far more effort than it did. The technique of adding softened butter piece by piece gives the crumb its signature feathery, tender texture that you simply cannot get from a standard loaf. A little patience with the proofing and a watchful eye during the bake are all that stand between you and a bakery-worthy result right in your own kitchen.

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Ingredients

10 servings

For the dough

¼ cup whole milk, warmed to 110°f (43°c)
2 ¼ tsp active dry yeast (1 standard packet)
2 tbsp granulated sugar, divided
3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
1 tsp fine salt
4 large eggs, at room temperature
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch pieces, softened to room temperature

For the egg wash

1 large egg
1 tbsp whole milk

Instructions

1
Combine the warm milk, yeast, and 1 tbsp of the sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer. Stir briefly and let stand for 5–10 minutes, until foamy and fragrant.
2
Add the flour, salt, remaining 1 tbsp sugar, and the 4 room-temperature eggs to the yeast mixture. Mix on low speed with the dough hook until a shaggy dough forms, about 2 minutes, then increase to medium speed and knead for 8–10 minutes, until the dough is smooth, pulls cleanly away from the sides of the bowl, and passes the windowpane test — a small piece stretched between your fingers should stretch thin enough to see light through without tearing.

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