Ginger Free Classic Brioche
Rich, pillowy, and impossibly buttery, this classic brioche is the kind of bread that makes you feel like a proper baker the moment it comes out of the oven. The deep mahogany crust and soft, pull-apart domed top are genuinely stunning, and the flavor is even better than it looks. Every ingredient here is straightforward — flour, butter, eggs, milk, yeast, sugar, and salt — so there's nothing to second-guess or swap out for those avoiding ginger, which can sneak into spiced breads, flavored loaves, and store-bought enriched doughs more often than you'd expect. The overnight cold fermentation is the real secret weapon, firming up all that butter and building a complex, slightly tangy depth that a same-day loaf just can't match. Patience during the proofing stages pays off in a crumb that's feathery and tender without being dense or greasy. Slice it thick for French toast, serve it alongside a weekend brunch spread, or honestly just eat it warm with good butter and call it a meal.
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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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