Thursday, June 30, 2011

Mini Brioche

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I love shopping. And like most women, while I do enjoy shopping for shoes, bags and clothes, it really isn't an that important to me. Well, okay, that's not entirely true. I admit have way too many shoes. Actually, let me rephrase that - I HAD way too many pairs of shoes. Just last week, I gave away more than 30 pairs. I figured I wear only about 5 pairs regularly, and I felt good about clearing out all that storage space. But as I said, shopping for clothes and accessories is not really an obsession for me. It's not hard for me to walk past a store that's having a huge shoe sale. But it is REALLY hard for me to walk past a book sale! Oh SO hard!

And not too long ago, I gave in to the temptation and walked into a book sale. It was a huge room full of second-hand books at throwaway prices! I was like a kid in a candy store. Actually, MY kid would be happier in a fruit store, but that's not really relevant, is it? So, getting back to the sale. I thoroughly enjoyed browsing through the hundreds of books (though they were a little dusty) and I found some real gems. One of the books I was most excited about was a lovely Julia Child cookbook that I got for a steal! You wouldn't believe me if I told you how cheap it was!

What was really funny, was that while I was reading through the recipe, I could hear Julia Child's voice reading it out in my head. Creepy, no? I think I have watched way too much of her show! LOL!


This is the first recipe that I made from this book, and it turned out awesome! Don't be fooled by the name of this recipe. It may be a 'basic' brioche recipe, but it is truly delicious! I have posted it with some minor modifications I made. I made only half the recipe, and I got 6 regular mini brioche buns, and 1 medium sized loaf topped with white poppy seeds. I am sure with this recipe, you can do a lot of things. Stuffed buns, rolls, knots, twists, herbed loaves - whatever you can imagine! I hope you try this recipe.


Basic Brioche 
(adapted from a Julia Child recipe)
Ingredients
1 tbsp active dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/4 cup whole milk
3 1/2 level cups all purpose flour
1 3/4 tsp salt
2 tbsp sugar
4 large eggs

Method
1. Sprinkle the yeast over the warm water in a small bowl, and set aside until frothy and creamy.
2. In a saucepan, melt the butter along with the milk. Set this aside.
3. In a large bowl or the bowl of your mixer, combine 2 1/2 cups of flour, the salt, the sugar and the eggs. Beat for about a minute until combined.
4. Pour in the warm butter and milk mixture, and continue beating for another 3 minutes.
5. Touch the sides of the bowl to make sure the mixture is not too hot before adding the yeast. The mixture should be barely warm.
6. Mix for another 2-3 minutes until well combined.
7. Add the remaining flour, a little at a time, and continue mixing. If your dough is still too sticky, add more flour, a little at a time. I didn't need to add any more flour. It was just perfect.
8. Keep the mixer running until the dough is smooth, elastic and springy. I kneaded the dough for about 20 minutes with in my mixer.
9. Form the dough into a smooth bowl, and transfer to a clean, greased bowl. Cover with greased clingwrap and a tea towel.
10. Set in a warm place until tripled in volume. This took about 2 1/2 hours for me. If you find your dough is rising too fast, and this can happen when it's too hot, place the bowl in the refrigerator for a few minutes every now and then during the rising time.
11. After 2 1/2 hours, knock down the dough and knead briefly.
12. Shape as desired, and set aside to rise again. I made 6 mini brioches in my silicone muffin tray, and 1 loaf of bread topped with white poppy seeds. Let the dough rise for about 45 minutes.
13. Brush the top with a basic egg wash (1 egg + 1 tbsp water), and bake at 400 until the crust is golden brown and the base sounds hollow when knocked. (The mini brioches I made took about 20 minutes, and the loaf took about 30.)


We ate this for dinner within a couple of hours of baking it. I really thought I would have some bread over for the next morning so I could make some cinnamon French toast, but it was all gone in a jiffy. I had family over, and I guess it is a good sign when something disappears so quick! It was buttery, rich, flavorful and even my husband who isn't a big fan of bread (can you believe that?!), asked for more! The crust was crisp, and the inside was soft and feathery.


I made a hearty Beef and vegetable stew, and it was really good with the freshly baked Brioche. I wish I had taken pictures of the stew, because it turned out great! I really ought to be more disciplined with taking photographs. I made some really yummy Crunchy Top Lime Muffins earlier this week, to take on our Mini-Vacation, but again - no pictures! I will get down to making both these dishes again soon, and I will post the recipes.

For now, I hope you enjoy Julia's Brioche.
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31 comments:

Three-Cookies said...

I'd been planning to brioche in ages, this one look simple enough. I will bookmark. The amount of butter required is the same as water and milk combined - this adds to the deliciousness!

Nami @ Just One Cookbook said...

Beautiful Brioche!  Inside is SUPER fluffy!  Looks delicious as usual.  ;-)

Maris Callahan said...

They look so perfect!

Lizzy said...

Oh, man, your brioche looks FANTASTIC!  I love bread...and you baked it perfectly...brava, my friend!

ping said...

That single brioche picture is just sooo adorable! You and I are in the same book ... I mean, boat. There's a huge bookstore close to my home selling excess copies at a third of the shelf prices, hard covers included, I have to restrain myself each time I visit. I wonder if there's a bookaholics anonymous. 

theharriedcook said...

I never noticed that :) I like the way you think! It is a fairly simple recipe to follow and I was very pleased with the results.. I hope it works well for you! Thanks for stopping by!

theharriedcook said...

Thank you, Nami, for your encouraging words! :) Thanks for stopping by...

theharriedcook said...

Thank you, Maris! :)

theharriedcook said...

Your comments are so encouraging! :) Thank you, Lizzy!!! 

theharriedcook said...

A kindred spirit :) I wish I could find my way to that book store close to your home! We should form a bookaholics anonymous. My husband will push me join, because he is always complaining that I spend too much on books! :) Thanks for stopping by!

Manu said...

These brioches look like they cam out from a Parisian boulangerie!  They look perfect!  So buttery and soft in the inside and so golden and crisp on the outside!!!  Great job Marsha!!! :-))))

Kitchen Belleicious said...

Oh Yeah Oh Yeah Oh Yeah! I have always wanted to do homemade brioche but never knew what recipe to try because I have seen so many different ways. I trust you and this looks amazing. Doing these next week- no doubt about it

Inside a British Mum's Kitchen said...

Oh I SO agree!! Bookshops are letal for me! But what a great buy you got! and these are the most delicious looking brioche - really perfect!
Mary

Terris @ Free Eats said...

Marsha, your brioche is really stellar!  Great job and the pictures are great too.  I can't think of a more pleasing comfort meal than brioche and beef stew.  Yum.  You have one lucky family. 
Oh, and I totally get that about the photos.  I made a really delicious coffee cake the other day and my family was so impatient to eat it that I thought, oh well, I guess I'll make it again next week.  Now I'm dragging my feet about that!

theharriedcook said...

You are so kind, Manu! :) Your comment makes me feel so good! I am not sure they tasted as good as a Parisian boulangerie, (because I've never eaten in one), but they tasted pretty darn good! :) Thanks for stopping by!

theharriedcook said...

Thanks! I sure hope it turns out great for you :) It is Julia Child's recipe after all. Can't be all bad. Thanks for stopping by!

theharriedcook said...

Ah, so you know what I mean! :) Yes, this was a great buy and I was happy with the brioche! Thanks for your thoughtful comment, and for stopping by, Mary!

Hester Casey - Alchemy said...

Beautiful fluffy brioche - Julia would be proud!  I'd be happier to give away my shoes than to give away my cookbooks too. I cannot resist book sales either. My latest find is a 1937 edition of The Main Cookery Book.

theharriedcook said...

Oh yeah... I hear you! Twice this week I had blog-worthy dishes that I didn't photograph.. and that's only this week :) Thanks for your kind words about the brioche :) I was pretty pleased with it! Thanks for stopping by...

theharriedcook said...

That book sounds like a great find! I love old cookbooks... they seem more trust-worthy, somehow :) Thanks for your sweet comment! :) 

feedthebf said...

I've always wanted to make brioche, but never get a chance to.  These mini brioches look great - definitely bookmarking =)

theharriedcook said...

Thank you, Peggy! :) And thanks for stopping by...

elisabeth@foodandthriftfinds said...

Marsha-Your mini brioche looks amazing! After all, you got the recipe from the best!!!!...and you still managed to make it your way. I love the little button tops on them and the beautiful egg-wash finish.
I will have to try this "tried and true" recipe, for sure...although I'm not much into yeast dough baking, but this is way too tempting, fluffy, and delicious!
BTW-I sent you my address in e-mail.
Hapyy 4th of July!
xoxo

Roxana GreenGirl said...

Yes! Yes! Yes! One of the moms from my community  brought to one of out weekly meetings brioche and she told us they are made from Julia's child book but when I asked for the recipe she said she's going to be give it to me to out next meeting. Well, the next meeting she didn't show up, then i didn't go and long story short, I still don't have the recipe until I read your post. I'm so excited. I have Julia's brioche recipe. Can't wait to try it!! Thanks Marsha

Jill Colonna said...

Marsha, I never watched Julia Child and don't have her books yet after watching that film, Juliette & Julia, I can just imagine her via Meryl Streep.  Good classic brioche recipe and your mini brioches look so beautiful with the little caps on top.  Quite something to get your husband to eat them if he doesn't eat bread. Woohoo!  Sounded lovely with your stew, as well.  Fantastic!

Magic of Spice said...

I am terrible in a book store...I have to be dragged out :) These brioche wonderful!

theharriedcook said...

Thank you, Elisabeth! :) I got your address, and passed it on :) Thanks for stopping by!

theharriedcook said...

Great! I'm so glad I was able to help you find the recipe :) I hope you try it and that it works out for you! Thanks for stopping by, Roxana! :)

theharriedcook said...

:) Her voice never leaves your head, Jill! Check out the real Julia on youtube! :) The brioches turned out pretty good! :) Yeah, I was patting myself on the back after he finished his meal :) Haha... Thanks for stopping by!

theharriedcook said...

:) Just like me! :) Thanks for your comment and for stopping by!

anahi said...

how many mini brioches did u get from this recipe? did you weight them? how much are they suppose to weight?

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