Dairy Free Brioche Bread

Yes, you can absolutely make dairy free brioche bread that is just as rich, soft, and delicious as regular brioche bread, with a thin and flaky crust and silky crumb!INTERMEDIATE - This recipe requires some experience with bread baking to be able to identify the right consistency of the dough throughout the process.

📝 Ingredients

• 510 g bread flour
• 120 mL warm water (1/2 cup, warm to the touch)
• 120 mL Soy Milk (1/2 cup, or Lactose Free Milk will work too)
• 100 g white sugar (1/2 cup)
• 3 egg yolks (from large eggs)
• 85 g vegan butter (softened (I used Earth Balance baking sticks))
• 2 1/2 tsp instant dry yeast
• 1 tbsp vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1In your mixing bowl, combine ½ cup of the bread flour, water, 2 tbsp of the sugar. Mix until the sugar has dissolved. Then mix in the yeast and let it stand for 30 minutes until it becomes frothy.
2. 2In a separate small bowl, whisk the milk and egg yolks together. Add this milk+yolk mix into the yeast along with the rest of the flour and sugar. Using a spoon, mix the ingredients together, till the flour absorbs all of the liquid.
3. 3Attach the dough hook to your mixer and knead the dough for 15-20 minutes, pausing from time to time to scrape the sides and the bottom to ensure even mixing.
4. 4Add the butter in 3-5 additions, mixing well in between, to make sure each portion of butter is well incorporated before adding the next. Scrape down the sides and the bottom (dough is very soft and sticky), and knead for a further 10 minutes. You may need to increase the speed a little to make sure the butter incorporates full into the dough.
5. 5Cover the bowl with a moist cloth or plastic wrap and let it rise in a warm place until it has doubled in size - about 1 hour (in colder weather, it can take a bit longer).
6. 6While the dough is rising, preheat the oven to 350°F/180°C and grease a loaf pan - I used one that is 9inch long 5 x 5 inches.
7. 7Knock down the dough and carefully transfer it into the bread pan. Let this rise again for about 40 minutes until it has risen to the top of the loaf pan.
8. 8Lower the heat to 300° and bake in the oven for 45-50 minutes, until the bread turns a golden brown. (keep checking the oven every 15 minutes to make sure the bread doesn't get burnt. Cover with foil, if the crust is starting to burn. The bread should sound hollow when tapped on top). The BEST sure-fire way to tell if the bread is done is by using a probe thermometer - insert the thermometer from the side of the bread to the middle (so that noone can tell you've pierced the bread) to check the internal temperature. When it registers at least at 200°F/ 93°C the bread is done.
9. 9Leave it to cool for a few minutes, or until it is cool enough to handle. Then remove from the pan and let it cool to room temperature. The bread may deflate slightly and will be extremely soft when warm.
10. 10Slice and serve.