Hokkaido Milk bread is one of the softest and freshest tasting milk bread ever. This has a very nice oven spring and the bread is very spongy and tastes incredible even when toasted plain!
Ingredients
- 3 + More Cups Bread Flour
- 1/4 C Sugar (60g)
- 2 1/4 Tsp Active Dry Yeast
- 1 Tsp Fine Sea Salt (4g)
- 1 Egg
- 1/2 C Whole Milk (120g)
- 4 Tbsp Unsalted Butter
Egg wash
- 1 Egg
- 2 Tbsp Milk
Instructions
- In a small heavy pot, whisk flour, milk together until smooth. Heat over medium-low flame and cook, stirring often, until thickened . When it’s ready, the spoon will leave tracks on the bottom of the pot. Transfer into a bowl and tightly cover the surface with plastic wrap. Set aside to cool to room temperature.
- Make sure all ingredients are at room temperature . Warm the milk to 110° F or just warm to touch. Mix in 1 tbsp sugar and sprinkle the yeast on top . Set aside for 5 minutes for the yeast to become active.
- Take the flour in a big bowl . Make a well in the middle add the cooled dough ,yeast, sugar and the beaten egg.Stir with a wooden spoon until all the flour is moistened .Cover with a plastic wrap or a wet towel and let the dough rest for 20 minutes .
- Uncover , transfer to a lightly floured surface . Sprinkle the salt on top and knead gently for 5 minutes . Add a couple of tablespoons more of the flour if the dough is too sticky. Add the softened butter 1 tablespoons at a time and knead gently to incorporate well. As you need the dough becomes very soft and pliable . Transfer the dough to a buttered bowl. cover and let it rise for an hour or so till doubled in volume.
- Take most of the flour in the stand mixer’s bowl. Add the egg , activated yeast, and tangzhong to it. Fit the paddle attachment and set the machine to the lowest (stir) and mix for about 1 minute until all the flour is moistened.
- Change to the dough hook and knead for 1 minutes. If the dough is too sticky add the remaining flour slowly while kneading. Once the dough begins to pull away from the sides of the bowl (1 to 2 minutes) add the softened butter and sugar and salt. Keep kneading for 3 to 4 more minutes until the dough looks glossy.It should feel slightly warm and supple when touched.
- Transfer the dough to a buttered bowl. cover and let it rise for an hour or so till doubled in volume .
- Generously butter the bread pan or line it with parchment paper.
- Punch down the dough and divide into 4 equal size portions . Form each portion into a ball.
- Working with one ball at a time . Roll it out into rectangle . Fold the opposite sides quarter way in to meet at the middle . Roll this from one end to form a log . Pinch to close . Transfer the log into the buttered bread pan seam side down .Repeat with the other balls and arrange logs neatly in the pan .Cover and let rise for 30 to 45 minutes in a warm place,until it has more than doubled and peeking out over the top of the pan.
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF(175ºC).Make the egg wash by mixing the egg and milk and beating well .Brush the top of the bread with egg wash and transfer to the preheated oven .Bake for 30 to 40 minutes . Check and adjust temperature at 25 minutes to prevent over browning.
- Cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack and let cool for at least 1 hr before slicing.
