Essential Brioche Dough
 
Makes 1 Brioche Loaf, 1 Brioche à Tête, 6 Brioche au Sucre
Ingredients
  • ⅓ cup (80 grams) warm whole milk (110°F/43°C to 115°F/46°C)
  • 2 ¼ teaspoons (7 grams) instant yeast
  • 3 tablespoons (36 grams) granulated sugar, divided
  • 2 ⅓ to 2 ⅔ cups (291 to 333 grams) all-purpose flour, divided
  • 2 teaspoons (6 grams) kosher salt
  • 2 large eggs (100 grams), lightly beaten and room temperature
  • ½ cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, cubed and room temperature
Instructions
  1. In a small bowl, stir together warm milk, yeast, and 1 teaspoon (4 grams) sugar. Let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes.
  2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, whisk together 1⅓ cups (166 grams) flour, salt, and remaining 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons (32 grams) sugar. Add yeast mixture and eggs. Using the paddle attachment, beat at low speed until combined, about 1 minute. With mixer on low speed, gradually add 1 cup (125 grams) flour, beating until a shaggy dough forms; scrape sides of bowl.
  3. Switch to the dough hook attachment. Beat at medium-low speed until dough is smooth, elastic, and slightly tacky, 4 to 6 minutes; add up to remaining ⅓ cup (42 grams) flour, 1 tablespoon (8 grams) at a time, if dough is too sticky. With mixer on medium-low speed, add butter, 1 tablespoon (14 grams) at a time, beating until combined after each addition (6 to 7 minutes total). Beat at medium speed until a smooth, elastic dough forms, 10 to 12 minutes. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface; knead 5 to 8 times, and shape into a smooth round.
  4. Lightly oil a large bowl. Place dough in bowl, turning to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm, draft-free place (75°F/24°C) until doubled in size, 45 minutes to 1 hour.
  5. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  6. Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface, and lightly punch down dough. Flatten dough into an 8x6-inch rectangle, and transfer to prepared pan. Cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or up to overnight.
Notes
Unlike softened butter, room temperature butter is soft enough to easily incorporate into your dough and should provide no resistance when pressed with a finger. If you’d like to use an instant-read thermometer, room temperature typically sits around 70°F (21°C).
Recipe by Bake from Scratch at https://staging.bakefromscratch.com/brioche-loaf/