Brioche Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

What is the best flour for brioche? ›

Flour with a higher protein content will form more gluten, resulting in a chewier brioche loaf. AP flour has 11-12% protein, bread flour has 12-13% protein, and white whole wheat flour has 13-14% protein.

If the kneading is not done correctly and the dough is not kneaded enough or is kneaded too much, this will affect the texture of the brioche. The dough should be left to rise in a warm place, away from any draughts.

Over-kneaded dough can become very hard to work with and produce a more flat and chewy bread. It's vital to stop mixing at the first signs of over-kneading, as a fully over-kneaded dough cannot be fixed.

Plain / all-purpose flour – An interesting fact is that Brioche is fluffier, rises better (about 15% taller) and has a softer crumb when made with plain / all-purpose flour rather than bread flour (ie. high protein flour).

With cold butter only being used when making brioche where temperature control is critical. Softened butter is my go-to for most other bread dough types. Melted butter is something I have always avoided because it would need to be added at the beginning of mixing unlike the softened or cold butter.

Adding sugar weakens the gluten structure, absorbs water, and eventually makes the bread lighter and softer. As a result, sugar improves the bread's taste, structure and texture. Yeast also eats up sugar to produce carbon dioxide, which raises the dough and makes bread fluffy.

Once the dough has developed some strength and elasticity, add one piece of the butter and mix at medium speed until it's fully incorporated into the dough, 1 to 2 minutes. Scrape the bowl if necessary, then continue adding the butter one piece at a time, mixing to incorporate fully before adding the next piece.

The less fat in the dough, the less rich and tender the bake. It is possible to add too much butter to bread dough. Too much butter will result in a very soft, sticky dough that's difficult to shape, and bakes up greasy and dense.

As these are brioche cinnamon rolls, very rich, they should come out of the oven when their internal temp reaches 190–200°F (88–93°C). Start checking that temperature after about 15 or 20 minutes of baking using your Thermapen^® ONE, and if you don't find a temperature lower than the recommended pull temp, they're done!

How do you know if brioche is Overproofed? ›

But when it comes to over proofing, then often the outside will tell a good tale too. As the gluten breaks down the loaf will not be able to keep its shape. It may be flat or if it is proofed and baked in a tin, then the sides of it will start spilling over. It will not rise as it is baking either.

Fat (such as butter) tends to increase the time needed for a bread such as brioche to rise. Make sure to let your brioche dough rise for one hour after kneading. Then let it rest for two more hours after you shape it. Give your brioche some flavor!

Use a high-quality flour with a high protein percentage. Brioche requires gluten to hold its shape despite the large amount of butter in the recipe. The more gluten (protein) you have, the better. In Alberta, all-purpose flour is of great quality and usually has around 13% protein which is perfect for this recipe.

Brioche is a classic French bread distinguished by the addition of butter and eggs, which makes it an “enriched” dough. The high fat content results in a bread with an exceptionally tender crumb, pillowy softness, and rich flavor.

Wheat flour (Bread flour is preferable, but any wheat flour is fine.)

Wheat flour is unique in that it is the only flour that has a large amount of gluten which is important for structure and texture in baking bread.”