Yeast Breads: Brioche Buns

Brioche buns are sweet and delicious. They're also as easy to make as any other bun. They do take a few more ingredients than your standard bread recipe, and they have a slightly longer rise time, but they're worth it.


Ingredients


For the Bread
⅔ cup milk
4 eggs
½ cup butter (do not use margarine)
3 tbsp sugar
1½ tsp salt
1 tbsp cornmeal
3¾ cups all purpose flour
2 tsp bread machine or quick rise yeast


For the Wash
1 egg + 1 tbsp of water
2 tbsp coarse salt (optional)

Preparation


To streamline to entire process and make everything a little easier, we're using quick rise or bread machine yeast. Place the milk in a large bowl and whisk in eggs. Melt butter and add to egg mixture. Place all remaining bread ingredients into the egg mixture and mix until a loose dough forms. Do not add the "wash" ingredients.


Turn this loose dough out onto a floured surface and knead for 10 minutes. You want the dough to become smooth and elastic, but you also don't want to overwork the dough. Pay attention to how the dough feels in your hands. It should be soft and pliable and spring back to its original shape when worked gently.


Once you've kneaded the dough, lightly oil a bowl. Place the dough in this bowl and cover with a damp cloth. Set bowl aside in a warm location. The dough must rise until at least doubled in size. Because this is brioche dough, it will need 90 minutes, perhaps even a little longer. Never rush brioche dough.


Once it has sufficiently risen, uncover and punch down the dough to remove all air bubbles. Divide dough into 12 equal portions. Shape each portion into a smooth-topped bun and place on a prepared baking sheet. Cover with a damp cloth once again and set aside to rise until doubled in size. This time the rise will take at least 60 minutes.


Heat oven to 350°F. Whisk together the egg and the water from the "wash" ingredients. Brush this wash over the tops of the buns. Sprinkle with coarse salt, if desired. Bake for 22 to 25 minutes, until buns are browned on top and sound hollow when tapped.


Remove buns from baking sheet immediately and cool on wire racks. This recipe makes 12 buns.


You can use these buns as sandwich buns, dinner rolls, or even as burger buns. They're versatile and tasty.