Pillowy Soft Cloud Brioche Recipe to Bake at Home

Baking this cloud brioche transforms ordinary mornings into extraordinary culinary adventures.

Soft, pillowy textures emerge from a delicate dance of ingredients.

Gentle kneading creates a magical canvas of buttery goodness.

Home kitchens become bakery sanctuaries with each careful fold.

Whispers of warmth and comfort drift through the air as golden layers take shape.

Delicate crumbs promise a sensory journey that melts right on you.

Let’s unlock the secrets of this irresistible bread that beckons with pure deliciousness.

Cloud Brioche That’s Light, Fluffy, And Beautifully Baked

Quick Kitchen Magic: Unlock Brioche Brilliance

• Beginner-Friendly Baking: Perfect for novice bakers wanting to explore enriched bread without complex techniques. The step-by-step process guides you smoothly through each stage, making bread-making feel approachable and fun.
• Time-Efficient Delight: Requires minimal active preparation time with two simple rising periods. Most time is hands-off, allowing you to multitask or relax while the dough develops its luxurious texture.
• Versatile Crowd-Pleaser: Adapts beautifully for multiple occasions like breakfast spreads, brunch gatherings, or elegant dinner parties. Transforms easily between loaf and roll formats to suit different serving needs.
• Sensory Satisfaction: Creates an irresistibly soft, buttery bread with golden exterior that delivers restaurant-quality results right from your home kitchen. The light, pillowy texture promises a melt-in-your-mouth experience that impresses family and guests.

What You’ll Use in Fluffy Cloud Brioche

• All-Purpose Flour: Classic base with strong gluten structure perfect for soft, fluffy bread.
• Bread Flour: Higher protein content creates more elasticity and chewier texture.

• Milk, Lukewarm: Activates yeast and adds richness to the dough, room temperature helps with fermentation.
• Eggs: Provide structure, richness, and contribute to golden color of brioche.

• Granulated Sugar: Feeds yeast and adds subtle sweetness to the bread.
• Salt: Balances flavors and controls yeast development.

• Active Dry Yeast: Essential for bread rising, creates light and airy texture.

• Unsalted Butter, Softened: Creates incredibly tender crumb and rich flavor, must be at room temperature for proper incorporation.

• Egg, Milk: Creates beautiful golden-brown shiny crust on the brioche surface.

Brioche Baking Instructions for a Fluffy Cloud Finish

Step 1: Mixing the Magical Base

In a stand mixer bowl, combine flour, sugar, salt, and yeast.

Pour in eggs and lukewarm milk.

Mix slowly until a rough, shaggy dough starts to form.

The mixture will look uneven and clumpy, but don’t worry – this is totally normal.

Step 2: Butter Transformation

Begin adding softened butter cubes gradually.

Let each cube blend completely before introducing the next.

Knead the dough on medium speed for 8-10 minutes.

Watch the magic happen as the dough becomes smooth, stretchy, and slightly tacky to touch.

Step 3: First Dough Rise

Move the dough into a greased bowl.

Cover with plastic wrap and place in a cozy, warm location.

Allow the dough to expand and rise for 1-2 hours until it doubles in volume.

Step 4: Shaping Your Bread

Gently deflate the risen dough and transfer to a flour-dusted surface.

Shape into a beautiful loaf or create adorable rolls.

Place the shaped dough into a greased loaf pan or on a lined baking sheet.

Step 5: Second Rise

Drape a clean kitchen towel over the shaped dough.

Let it rise again for 45-60 minutes.

The dough should look puffy and feel soft when gently pressed.

Step 6: Creating the Golden Glaze

Whisk an egg with milk in a small bowl.

Carefully brush this mixture over the surface of the brioche, ensuring even coverage.

Step 7: Baking to Perfection

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Bake the loaf for 25-30 minutes or rolls for 15-20 minutes.

Look for a gorgeous golden-brown color and listen for a hollow sound when tapping the bottom of the bread.

Step 8: Cooling and Serving

Transfer the brioche to a wire rack.

Allow it to cool completely before slicing.

Enjoy your homemade bread with butter, jam, or simply on its own.

Brioche Dough Tips for Fluffy Cloud-Like Loaves

• Let butter sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before using, ensuring it's pliable but not melted for perfect dough incorporation.
• Continue mixing until the dough becomes smooth and elastic, which develops gluten and creates that signature brioche texture.
• Choose a draft-free, warm area like near a preheated oven or inside a turned-off oven with the light on to help dough rise effectively.
• Apply egg wash gently with a pastry brush, ensuring even coverage for that gorgeous golden-brown, glossy finish.
• Store cooled brioche in an airtight container or wrap tightly in plastic wrap to maintain moisture and freshness for 2-3 days.

Store Fluffy Cloud Brioche for Later

• Store leftover brioche in an airtight container or sealed plastic bag for up to 3-4 days. Wrap tightly to prevent drying out and preserve softness.
• Place cooled brioche in a freezer-safe bag, removing excess air. Freeze for up to 2 months. Seal carefully to maintain texture and prevent freezer burn.
• Wrap brioche in aluminum foil and warm at 300°F for 5-7 minutes. This technique restores moisture and brings back the fresh-baked texture.
• Warm individual slices for 10-15 seconds. Add a damp paper towel to prevent hardening and maintain softness.

What to Serve with Fluffy Cloud Brioche

• Savor Sweet Wine Harmony: Pair this fluffy brioche with a delicate Moscato d'Asti, its light bubbles and honey notes complementing the bread's rich, buttery texture.
• Create Decadent Spread Delight: Top warm brioche slices with high-quality salted caramel or French lavender honey, enhancing its luxurious softness and bringing out subtle sweet undertones.
• Match Creamy Cheese Magic: Serve alongside a mild triple-cream brie or tangy goat cheese, allowing the brioche's delicate crumb to beautifully contrast with smooth, creamy cheese flavors.
• Brew Perfect Coffee Companion: Enjoy with a smooth, medium-roast cappuccino or French press coffee, whose subtle caffeine warmth balances the brioche's rich, buttery profile and brings out its delicate sweetness.

Fluffy Cloud Brioche Baking Twists

• Gluten-Free Brioche: Replace wheat flour with a blend of gluten-free flour mix and almond flour for a celiac-friendly version. Add xanthan gum to improve texture and binding.
• Dairy-Free Alternative: Substitute milk with almond or oat milk and use coconut oil instead of butter. Maintain the same mixing and rising techniques for a similar soft texture.
• Whole Wheat Health Boost: Swap half the white flour with whole wheat flour for added nutrients and a slightly nuttier flavor. Consider adding ground flaxseed for extra fiber and richness.
• Vegan Brioche Challenge: Use aquafaba instead of eggs, coconut cream in place of milk, and plant-based butter alternatives. Add a bit of nutritional yeast for depth of flavor and golden color.

FAQs

• What makes brioche dough different from regular bread dough?

Brioche dough contains a high butter and egg content, which creates a rich, tender, and soft texture compared to traditional bread doughs. This extra fat makes brioche more luxurious and slightly sweet.

• Why is the dough kneaded for such a long time?

Extended kneading develops gluten and helps incorporate butter evenly, creating a smooth, elastic dough that results in the signature fluffy and light brioche texture. The long kneading process also helps create structure and strength in the dough.

• How do I know if my brioche dough is properly developed?

The dough should become smooth, elastic, and slightly sticky after kneading. When you stretch a small piece, it should form a thin, translucent “windowpane” without tearing, indicating that gluten has been fully developed.

• Can I make brioche by hand without a stand mixer?

While possible, a stand mixer makes the process easier. Kneading by hand requires significant arm strength and patience to achieve the same smooth, elastic consistency. If kneading manually, expect to spend 15-20 minutes working the dough thoroughly.

Fluffy Cloud Brioche Recipe

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4.5 from 16 reviews

• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Heavenly cloud brioche transports taste buds to French bakery bliss with its pillowy texture and golden exterior. Delicate layers melt effortlessly, inviting you to savor each buttery, light-as-air bite of pure culinary comfort.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 4 cups (500g) bread flour
• 4 large eggs (room temperature)
• 3/4 cup (170g) unsalted butter (softened, cut into cubes)

Sweeteners and Seasonings:

• 1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt

Leavening and Liquid Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon instant yeast
• 1/4 cup (60ml) whole milk (lukewarm)

Egg Wash:

• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon milk

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Instructions

1. Craft a pillowy base by blending flour, sugar, salt, and yeast in a stand mixer’s bowl, integrating eggs and lukewarm milk until a rough texture emerges.
2. Methodically introduce softened butter, one cube at a time, allowing complete absorption between additions. Knead the mixture until a silky, slightly tacky consistency develops, approximately 8-10 minutes.
3. Relocate the dough to a generously greased container, envelop with plastic wrap, and nestle in a warm environment for 1-2 hours, observing the volume double.
4. Deflate the dough with a gentle punch, transfer to a flour-dusted surface, and mold into a loaf or individual rolls. Position in a greased pan or on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
5. Drape a pristine kitchen towel over the shaped dough, permitting a secondary rise for 45-60 minutes until the surface appears puffy and responsive to gentle touch.
6. Whisk egg and milk together, creating a glossy wash to enhance the brioche’s exterior appearance and golden sheen.
7. Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Gently brush the egg mixture across the dough’s surface, then bake until a rich amber color emerges and tapping the bottom produces a hollow resonance—approximately 25-30 minutes for a loaf, 15-20 minutes for rolls.
8. Transfer the freshly baked brioche to a wire rack, allowing complete cooling before slicing or serving to preserve its delicate texture.

Notes

• Always use room temperature ingredients to ensure smooth and consistent dough mixing, preventing lumpy textures.
• Knead the dough thoroughly to develop gluten, creating that signature light and airy brioche texture with a tender crumb.
• Avoid overproofing by watching the dough’s rise; it should double in size but not collapse, which can lead to dense bread.
• For dairy-free alternatives, substitute milk with almond or oat milk and use coconut oil instead of butter, maintaining the rich flavor profile.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: French

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 330
• Sugar: 8 g
• Sodium: 150 mg
• Fat: 20 g
• Saturated Fat: 12 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 30 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 7 g
• Cholesterol: 90 mg