One of the many reasons why we love bread is that it can be incredibly versatile, and milk bread is probably the best example. Milk bread is known for its fluffy and soft texture, with a little bit of sweetness here and there. The best one we’ve tasted? It's definitely this Kirby's milk bread recipe.
Perhaps what makes this Kirby's milk bread recipe is the tangzhong method. Originating from Japan, it’s basically a roux made with bread flour and water, though here and there you might notice that milk is also used. The roux is an essential part of the recipe, making your milk bread light, soft, and somehow sweet.
Just like bread itself, this milk bread recipe is versatile too. It can be used to make sandwiches, toast, and much more.
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Ingredients
1. The roux
- Bread flour — ⅓ cup.
- Water — 1 cup.
2. The bread
- Bread flour — 2 ½ cups.
- Instant yeast — 2 tsp.
- Sugar — 3 tbsp., plus 2 tsp.
- Salt — ½ tsp.
- Milk — ½ cup.
- Butter — 3 tbsp.
- Eggs — 2 pcs., large.
Instructions
- For the roux, add the flour and water to a mixing bowl. Whisk until smooth.
- Transfer the mixture to a pan and stir well.
- Cook until the temperature reaches 150 degrees.
- Cover the mixture and chill for a few hours.
- For the milk bread, combine the flour, yeast, sugar, and salt in another bowl.
- Combine the milk, the roux, and one egg in another bowl. Mix well.
- Create a hole in the middle of the dry batter, and pour the wet mixture into it.
- Mix with your hands until smooth. Add the butter.
- Stretch the dough until it is no longer sticky.
- Shape the dough to give it a ball-sized form and transfer it to a bowl. Cover and let it rise.
- Place the dough on your work surface and cut it into equal parts. Shape each part into a ball.
- Cover the balls and let them rest for between 30-45 minutes.
- Roll each dough into an oval size.
- Let the pieces rise again, which should take an hour.
- Place the dough into a baking sheet.
- Beat the other egg and brush it on top of your dough pieces.
- Bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
Substitutions
- Bread flour — Well, since we’ll be doing the milk bread Kirby recipe, it only seems logical to go with bread flour. All-purpose flour makes a great substitute for bread flour. Bread flour is richer in protein, which makes it easier for the dough to rise.
- Instant yeast — As you know, you can’t make bread without breaking some instant yeast. The same goes for many dishes including cinnamon rolls and pizza as well. Instant (or active) yeast is an integral part of our Kirby milk bread recipe. It could be replaced with any other leavening agent, such as baking powder, at a 1/1 ratio, though it won’t give your milk bread the same effect. Sourdough starter will do fine too. A cup of that one will be enough to replace two teaspoons of instant yeast.
- Milk — If you must substitute, buttermilk could be considered. It has a high acidic content, especially compared to whole milk, so it’ll help the dough rise. Your milk bread will have a softer texture. Greek yogurt works great too, as long as you go with plain yogurt instead of flavored yogurt.
Variations
- Sweeter — If you want to make the milk bread sweeter, you could increase the amount of sugar. Honey or maple syrup would provide an extra level of sweetness.
- Savory — Let’s lift this recipe up a semitone. Herbs, spices, and maybe even cheese would be great. Garlic, for example, would be great, providing that you don’t go overboard with it. Rosemary and thyme are a great pairing in this Kirby's milk bread recipe too, as well as sage and basil.
Equipment
- Measuring spoons and cups.
- Whisk.
- 3 mixing bowls.
- Saucepan.
- Baking sheet.
- Oven.
Storage
- Feel free to store your leftover Kirby milk bread at room temperature in an airtight container, if you’re planning to eat it within a day or two.
- You could also store the leftover milk bread in your fridge for up to a week.
Tips
- The ingredients — The ingredients used in this milk bread recipe should be at room temperature. This will help the dough come together more easily. We especially recommend taking the butter and milk out of the fridge an hour or so before you start.
Kirby's Fluffy Milk Bread Recipe
Ingredients
The roux
- ⅓ cup bread flour
- 1 cup water
The bread
- 2 ½ cups bread flour
- 2 tsp. instant yeast
- 3 tbsp. sugar plus 2 tsp.
- ½ tsp. salt
- ½ cup milk
- 3 tbsp. butter
- 2 pcs. eggs large
Instructions
- For the roux, add the flour and water to a mixing bowl. Whisk until smooth.
- Transfer the mixture to a pan and stir well.
- Cook until the temperature reaches 150 degrees.
- Cover the mixture and chill for a few hours.
- For the milk bread, combine the flour, yeast, sugar, and salt in another bowl.
- Combine the milk, the roux, and one egg in another bowl. Mix well.
- Create a hole in the middle of the dry batter, and pour the wet mixture into it.
- Mix with your hands until smooth. Add the butter.
- Stretch the dough until it is no longer sticky.
- Shape the dough to give it a ball-sized form and transfer it to a bowl. Cover and let it rise.
- Place the dough on your work surface and cut it into equal parts. Shape each part into a ball.
- Cover the balls and let them rest for between 30-45 minutes.
- Roll each dough into an oval size.
- Let the pieces rise again, which should take an hour.
- Place the dough into a baking sheet.
- Beat the other egg and brush it on top of your dough pieces.
- Bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
Video
Notes
- The ingredients — The ingredients used in this milk bread recipe should be at room temperature. This will help the dough come together more easily. We especially recommend taking the butter and milk out of the fridge an hour or so before you start.
Nutrition
FAQ
There are a few things that make milk bread different from other types of bread. First, milk bread is made with milk, which gives it a richer flavor and a softer texture. Additionally, milk bread is often made with a bit of sugar, which gives it a sweeter taste than other types of bread.
Many people find Japanese milk bread to be especially delicious due to its soft, fluffy texture. Additionally, the milk used in the bread lends it a rich, slightly sweet flavor that is very pleasant to eat.
There are a few possible explanations for why milk bread is called milk bread. One possibility is that the bread is made with milk, which helps to give it a softer texture. Another possibility is that the name comes from the traditional method of preparing the bread, which involves soaking the bread in milk overnight. Whatever the origin of the name, milk bread is a delicious and versatile type of bread.
Hokkaido milk bread gets its name from the fact that it uses a special type of milk called Hokkaido milk. This milk is said to have a higher fat content than regular milk, which gives the bread a richer flavor and softer texture.
Milk bread is a soft, white bread made with milk, while brioche is a richer, sweeter bread made with eggs and butter.
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