Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
Brioche buns on a baking sheet.

The Best, Easiest No-Knead Brioche Buns


5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.9 from 151 reviews

Description

If you have Bread Toast Crumbs, this is essentially 2/3 the light brioche recipe in the book with the sugar cut back by a bit more.

To create a warm spot for your bread to rise, turn your oven on for one minute, then shut it off. That brief blast of heat will create a cozy place for your bread to rise.

As always: for best results, use a digital scale to weigh the ingredients. 

Water: Some people find this dough very wet and tricky to work with. If you live in a humid area, I would consider cutting some of the water back. If you are measuring with cups, hold 1/3 cup water. If you are using a scale, hold 75 g. You can always add the water back in when you are mixing if it seems dry. Reference the photos above and the video for how sticky/wet the dough should appear. 

If using active dry yeast: Whisk the egg with the water. Add the heated milk-butter mixture. Stir to combine. The mixture should be lukewarm. Sprinkle the yeast over top and let stand for 15 minutes or until it gets foamy; then proceed with the recipe. 

A Fun Variation: After brushing with the buns with the eggwash, sprinkle the buns with seeds or everything bagel seasoning. 


Ingredients

  • 4 cups (512 g) all-purpose or bread flour
  • 2 teaspoons (10 g) kosher salt
  • 2 teaspoons (8 g) instant yeast, see notes above if using active dry yeast
  • 2 tablespoons (28 g) sugar
  • 1 1/3 cups (300 g) cold water, or less, see notes above
  • 1 egg
  • 1/3 cup (78 g) milk
  • 4 tablespoons (57 g) butter
  • for the egg wash: 1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon water

Instructions

  1. Whisk together the flour, salt, yeast, and sugar.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the cold water and the egg.
  3. Heat the milk and butter together until the butter is melted. Pour this hot mixture into the cold water-egg mixture. The combined mixture should be perfectly lukewarm. Add it to the flour bowl and stir with a spatula till you have a sticky dough ball. Drizzle a teaspoon or two of olive oil over the dough and rub to coat — this prevents a crust from forming on the dough during the rising. 
  4. Cover bowl and let rise in a warm area (see notes above) for 2 to 3 hours or until doubled. Alternatively, stick bowl in the fridge immediately and let it rise overnight or for 12 to 18 hours.
  5. Cover a work surface lightly with flour. Deflate dough, turn out onto work surface, and divide into 8 to 10 equal portions (use a scale and weigh each roll if you want perfectly even rolls: about 128 g each for 8 rolls and 102 g for 10 rolls). Using as much flour as necessary, roll each portion into a ball, and place on a parchment-lined sheet pan or two. I have an extra-large sheet pan (15x21x1) that I use to fit all 8 or 10 rolls on at once. (Note: If you refrigerate the dough, you can deflate it immediately after taking it out of the fridge … no need to let it come to room temperature first.)
  6. Let rise until the rolls puff and feel light to touch — 30-45 minutes roughly.  Preheat the oven to 425ºF.
  7. Brush rolls with egg wash. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until golden all around. Transfer rolls to wire rack to cool completely.
  • Prep Time: 3 hours
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Category: Bread
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: French, American