To start your day right, these brioche braids are ideal to serve for breakfast. Soft and fragrant, delicious to eat plain, or filled with jam or spread as desired.
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Affordable
- Rest time: 2 Hours 30 Minutes
- Preparation time: 20 Minutes
- Portions: 4
- Cooking methods: Oven
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: All seasons
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup bread flour
- 1 tbsp fresh yeast
- 2 1/2 tbsp sugar
- 1/2 cup milk (lukewarm)
- 1 egg
- 2 tbsp butter (at room temperature)
- 1 packet vanillin
- 1/2 orange zest (or grated lemon zest)
- 1 pinch salt
Tools
- Stand Mixer
- Baking Tray
Steps
For this recipe, you can either use a stand mixer or knead by hand. I used the stand mixer with a dough hook. Take the bowl of the stand mixer or a mixing bowl, and pour the flour inside. Make a well and place the crumbled yeast, butter, egg, sugar, vanillin, and grated orange or lemon zest in the center. Start the stand mixer at speed 1, and as soon as the ingredients begin to combine, add a pinch of salt and pour in the lukewarm milk gradually.
Let the stand mixer work until the dough is well-hooked (5-7 minutes). Take the dough out of the bowl and knead it briefly by hand to form a smooth and homogeneous loaf. Then place it in a second bowl, cover with a cloth, and let it rise for 2 hours, or until it doubles in size.
After the time has passed, deflate the dough by working it again and divide it into 12 balls of 35 grams each. Then work each ball of dough into strings about 4 inches long. Take 3 and join them at one end, then braid to form a braid, and close the second end as well. Arrange the braids well spaced on a baking tray lined with parchment paper, then let them rise for another 30 minutes. Cover them with the cloth to prevent them from drying out.
If you prefer a glossy surface, brush the braids with the egg yolk mixed with a tablespoon of milk. Alternatively, you can skip brushing and decorate with powdered sugar when ready and cool, as I did. In any case, bake the brioche braids at 350°F for about 20/25 minutes.
