Grandmother’s Milk Bread Recipe
Milk bread is a classic of French baking, and grandmother’s recipe is often the best. With its slightly sweet crumb and golden, crispy crust, milk bread is perfect for accompanying breakfast or making delicious sandwiches. Here’s how to make this traditional recipe with ease.
Ingredients:
- 500 g of flour
- 70 g of sugar
- 10 g of salt
- 20 g of baker’s yeast
- 250 mL of milk
- 100 g of softened butter
- 1 egg
Preparation:
- In a bowl, mix the flour, sugar, and salt.
- Dissolve the baker’s yeast in a bit of warm milk and pour it into the flour mixture.
- Add the remaining milk and the egg, and knead the dough for about 10 minutes until it is smooth and elastic.
- Incorporate the softened butter in pieces and continue kneading for another 5 minutes until the butter is perfectly incorporated.
Variations:
You can customize this recipe by adding chocolate chips or raisins to the dough. You can also sprinkle the milk breads with pearl sugar before baking to give them a nice crunch.
Tips and Tricks:
- To make kneading the dough easier, you can use a stand mixer with a dough hook.
- To achieve an even softer crumb, replace part of the milk with cream.
- For a shinier crust, brush the milk breads with a bit of milk before baking.
FAQ:
How long do milk breads last?
Milk breads usually keep for 2 to 3 days in an airtight container. If you want to keep them longer, you can freeze them and reheat them in the oven or toaster before enjoying.
Can baker’s yeast be replaced with baking powder?
No, baking powder cannot be used as a substitute for baker’s yeast in this recipe. Baker’s yeast is necessary to raise the dough and give the milk bread its airy and soft texture.
Can plant-based milk be used instead of cow’s milk?
Yes, you can absolutely use plant-based milk (such as almond, soy, or oat milk) instead of cow’s milk in this recipe. This will give the milk bread a slightly different flavor, but the result will be just as delicious.
