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This homemade brioche bun recipe is super light & fluffy. Stuff them with pulled pork, slather them with peanut butter & jelly, or snack on ‘em straight! 

brioche buns on a cooling rack

This brioche bun recipe is easier to make than you think! Instead of buying buns at the store, try your hand at making them homemade. I like to make a couple of batches and have them on hand for a last minute BBQ (hello, meaty sandwiches!).

Note: You can make these buns by hand or use a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment.

What is Brioche Bread?

Made with eggs and butter, this brioche bread recipe has a rich and beautiful yellow color to it. Hailing from France, this bread is similar in flavor to the croissant with much less work. Slightly sweet and buttery, brioche works well with both sweet and savory recipes.

How to Make this Brioche Bun Recipe

Making this brioche bread recipe only requires 6 ingredients and the help of stand mixer (although you can make these buns by hand).

  • Build the Dough Foundation: Using the bowl of a stand mixer or a large bowl and a spoon, combine the warm whole milk, active dry yeast, sugar, and two cups of all-purpose flour. Stir by hand or whisk the ingredients over medium speed, cover the bowl, and allow the mixture to rest for 30 minutes at room temperature. 
  • Add in the Eggs: In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs together. Add the eggs and melted unsalted butter to the dough mixture, followed by the remaining flour in small portions. 
  • Knead the Brioche Dough: Knead the dough by hand on a floured work surface or with your mixer until it becomes elastic (about 10-15 minutes).
  • Allow the Dough to Rise: Next, cover the dough and let it rise for about an hour.
  • Divide the Dough: Divide the dough into even pieces and flatten them out into round shapes. 
  • Give the Dough a Final Rise: Place the dough pieces on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, cover them with a towel, and allow them to rise for 30 minutes. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs and water together and brush the tops with the egg wash. 
  • Bake the Brioche Buns: Lastly, bake the brioche buns in the oven for about 25 minutes, or until the bread is golden brown. Eat them warm or allow them to cool on a wire rack on the counter. Enjoy!

Hot Tip: Make dividing the dough a million times easier by using a dough scraper (also commonly called a bench scraper) versus a knife or your hands.

Broken apart Brioche Bun

Tips for Making this Brioche Bun Recipe

A couple of foolproof tips will help you nail this brioche bun recipe and get the fluffiest rolls possible.

  • Make sure the temperature of your milk is right. 110 ℉ is the ideal temperature to help with rising and activating the yeast. 
  • Use eggs to get that bakery-worthy, shiny top. Brush the tops of your buns with whisked eggs to add a nice glossy top! You can also sprinkle some sesame seeds on top for a nice crunch and pretty presentation.
  • Quality flour goes a long way. Great quality flour goes a long way. We like to use Bob’s Red Mill of Oregon. These flours have a higher protein content, yielding baked goods richer in flavor.
  • Allow the dough to “proof” itself. “Proofing” is the process of letting the bread dough rise. Specifically, it refers to the specific time that the fermentation process needs to take place. Simply put, don’t take shortcuts. Your yeast needs enough time to expand your bread and create enough carbon dioxide bubbles to make it rise into fluffy goodness. The fermentation process also allows for the yeast to create a natural alcohol that gives the bread its flavor and aroma. 
  • Make sure the dough is the perfect texture. Soft and sticky dough is totally normal! In fact, it is what makes the buns taste so good.
Brioche bread dough starter in a bowl
Brioche dough in a bowl
Dough for brioche buns
Brioche Buns on a baking sheet

Ideas for Serving 

You can use this brioche bun recipe for homemade hamburger buns for grill night and serve the burgers alongside some crispy air fryer french fries or air fryer potato wedges. If you’re looking for something more fresh, use the brioche burger buns to make deli sandwiches for a picnic. They are also great for serving alongside a piping hot bowl of minestrone soup. 

Storing Brioche Buns

We love making a large batch and storing these buns for a rainy day. Double, triple or quadruple the recipe!

  • Room Temperature: These buns have a propensity to get a bit stale, so make sure to store them in a plastic storage bag or airtight container at room temperature. They will keep for up to 3 days when stored properly. 
  • Freezing: When kept in an airtight container or plastic freezer bag, these buns will stay good for up to two months frozen. To thaw them, simply place them on the counter for a couple of hours until soft.

Hot Tip: Bring your buns back to life by zapping them for a few seconds in the microwave or for a few minutes in the oven.

FAQ

What makes brioche buns different from traditional bread?

Brioche bread has fluffy, airy sweet layers of dough. Traditional bread is made with water, flour, yeast and salt. This results in a lighter, more mild flavor dough. Brioche, on the other hand, is made with eggs, butter and milk.

What are the key ingredients in homemade brioche buns?

They key ingredients in any recipe for brioche buns are flour, butter, yeast, milk, and a ton of eggs. In fact, the eggs are what make a brioche a brioche and can be credited for that beautiful yellow hue to the bread.

What are some good toppings for brioche buns?

If you want to spruce up your brioche buns, some good toppings include a dusting of flour or a sprinkle of flakey kosher salt, sesame seeds, poppy seeds or flax seeds.

Other Simple Bread Recipes

Recipe

Brioche Buns

Homemade Brioche Buns

Print Pin
Servings
18 servings
Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 25 mins
Total Time 45 mins
Recipe contributed by: Natalya Drozhzhin
This homemade brioche bun recipe is great for everything from hamburger buns to dinner rolls. You’ll love the fluffy texture and the beautiful yellow color!

Ingredients

For Brushing the Tops

  • 1 egg
  • 3 tbsp water
US Units – Metric

Instructions

  • Using a stand mixer or spoon, combine the warm milk (about 110 °F) with yeast, sugar, and two cups of flour. Whisk the ingredients together. Cover the bowl with a towel and set it aside in a warm place for about 30 minutes.
    Brioche bread dough starter in a bowl
  • In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs together. Add the eggs and melted butter to the dough mixture. Whisk in the remaining flour in small portions.
    Bowls with dough starter for brioche bread
  • Knead the dough by hand or with your mixer until it becomes elastic (about 10-15 minutes).
    Brioche Bread dough in a bowl
  • Cover the dough and let it rise for about an hour.
    Brioche dough in a bowl
  • Divide the dough into 18-24 pieces (depending on the size you prefer). Form a flattened, round shape out of each dough piece.
    Dough for brioche buns
  • Place the dough pieces on a lined baking sheet. Cover them with a towel and allow them to rise for 30 minutes. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs with water and brush the tops of the buns with the mixture.
    Brioche Buns on a baking sheet
  • Bake the brioche buns at 350°F for about 25 minutes, or until the bread is golden brown. Enjoy!
    Brioche Buns
Note: The dough texture should still be soft and slightly sticky. You may need to add more flour, depending on the brand you use.
Nutrition Facts
Homemade Brioche Buns
Amount Per Serving
Calories 319 Calories from Fat 108
% Daily Value*
Fat 12g18%
Saturated Fat 7g35%
Cholesterol 90mg30%
Sodium 38mg2%
Potassium 110mg3%
Carbohydrates 45g15%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 13g14%
Protein 8g16%
Vitamin A 414IU8%
Calcium 49mg5%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Posted April 29, 2020

About Author

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Natalya Drozhzhin

Natalya founded Momsdish to demonstrate that placing a homemade meal on the table is not hard at all. Natalya makes cooking easier and approachable, by simplifying the ingredients, while still producing the same great taste.