Basic Brioche

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
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Updated on 12/28/22
Basic brioche

The Spruce
Prep: 45 mins
Cook: 35 mins
Total: 80 mins
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
175 Calories
14g Fat
9g Carbs
3g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Amount per serving
Calories 175
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 14g 18%
Saturated Fat 8g 40%
Cholesterol 101mg 34%
Sodium 264mg 11%
Total Carbohydrate 9g 3%
Dietary Fiber 1g 2%
Protein 3g
Calcium 32mg 2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Bake a rich, buttery brioche for special guests or a family weekend. This classic French bread, with its slightly sweet flavor and tender texture, makes wonderful toast or sandwich bread; use any leftovers for French toast or bread pudding.

The lengthy kneading process calls for a heavy-duty stand mixer with a dough hook. Be prepared for starts and stops with this recipe; the dough must rest and rise at a few different times, with six hours or up to overnight in the refrigerator.

The traditional brioche à tête uses a round fluted pan with an extra ball of dough perched in the center, resulting in a little "cap" on the decorative loaf. But you can bake it in a regular bread pan just as well or make a braided loaf for the visual "wow" factor.

Ingredients

  • For the Dough
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
  • 1/3 cup milk (warmed to 100 F to 110 F)
  • 3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour (divided, plus more for kneading)
  • 6 large eggs (divided)
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 8 ounces​ unsalted butter (room temperature)
  • For the Egg Wash
  • 1 egg

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Basic Brioche ingredients

  2. In the bowl of an electric stand mixer, combine the yeast with the warm milk and let it stand for a few minutes or until it turns bubbly. With the paddle mixer attachment, stir in 1 cup of flour and 1 egg.

    Basic Brioche
     The Spruce

  3. Remove the bowl from the mixer and sprinkle 1 cup of flour over the mixture. Cover with plastic wrap and let it stand in a warm place for 25 to 40 minutes, or until the surface of the flour has a cracked appearance.

    Basic Brioche
     The Spruce

  4. Lightly beat the remaining 5 eggs.

    Basic Brioche
     The Spruce

  5. Using the dough hook of your stand mixer, mix ​in the sugar, salt, the beaten eggs, and the remaining 1 3/4 cups of flour. Mix on low for a minute or two, then increase the speed to medium and continue to mix for about 15 minutes, or until the dough starts wrapping itself around the dough hook. Add more flour, a few teaspoons at a time, as necessary to coax the dough from the sides of the mixing bowl. The dough should be shiny and feel a little bit sticky.

    Basic Brioche
    The Spruce

  6. Turn the mixer to low and add the butter, 2 or 3 tablespoons at a time. After you incorporate all of the butter, increase the speed to medium and beat the dough for about 3 to 4 more minutes, again adding small amounts of flour as needed to coax the dough from the sides of the mixing bowl. It should be smooth and appear somewhat shiny.

    Basic Brioche
     The Spruce

  7. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface, knead it a few times by hand, and gather it into a ball. Place the ball in a large oiled bowl, turning it to grease both sides.

    Basic Brioche
     The Spruce

  8. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and set the dough in a warm place to rise until it doubles in size, about 2 hours.

    Basic Brioche
     The Spruce

  9. Place a sheet of parchment paper on a large baking sheet and sprinkle it generously with flour. Spread the dough out on the parchment, sprinkle it with more flour, and cover it with a sheet of parchment and a towel. Put it into the refrigerator to rest for at least 6 hours or overnight.

    Basic Brioche
     The Spruce

  10. Generously grease two large (about 9x5x3-inch) loaf pans. Shape the chilled dough into two large loaves, cover each with a towel and let them rise in a warm place for about 1 to 2 hours, or until the dough reaches about 1/2 to 1 inch above the pans.

    Basic Brioche
     The Spruce

  11. Heat the oven to 375 F.

  12. Whisk together 1 egg and 2 teaspoons of water. Gently brush the loaves with the egg wash.

    Basic Brioche
     The Spruce

  13. Bake the loaves for 30 to 35 minutes, or until they turn golden brown and sound hollow when tapped. The internal temperature should register from 190 F to 205 F, for softer and crustier loaves, respectively.

    Basic Brioche
     The Spruce

  14. Cool the loaves on a rack for about 45 minutes before serving.

    Basic Brioche
    The Spruce

  15. Enjoy!

Tips

  • Store brioche tightly wrapped in plastic at room temperature for up to two days.
  • To freeze brioche, wrap a cooled loaf tightly in plastic wrap, then cover it with foil and freeze it for up to four to six weeks. Thaw it at room temperature, still wrapped.
  • To reheat brioche, put it in a 325 F oven until the outside turns crisp, about 15 minutes for a loaf. Or, wrap a few slices in foil and heat them just until warm, about 5 minutes.