Citrus Free Classic Brioche
Buttery, golden, and impossibly tender, this brioche is the kind of bread that makes you feel like a proper baker the moment it comes out of the oven. The dough gets its signature richness from a full cup of butter and four eggs, worked slowly into a silky, glossy dough that practically shimmers before it even hits the pan. A long cold fermentation overnight is the real secret here — it firms everything up, deepens the flavor, and makes the dough far easier to shape than a same-day loaf. Those eight dough balls arranged in the pan aren't just for looks; they bake up into perfectly pull-apart portions with a deep mahogany crust that's genuinely hard to resist. For anyone navigating citrus sensitivities, this recipe is naturally free of any orange, lemon, or lime — no zest, no juice, no extracts hiding in the ingredient list. Every component is straightforward pantry staple territory, so there's no need to scrutinize labels or swap anything out. Slice it thick for French toast, serve it alongside eggs, or honestly just eat it warm with a little extra butter — it earns every bit of the effort.
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Learn more →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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