Brioche bread
For a 1-pound loaf:
1/2 cup whole milk
3 tablespoons salted butter, cut into pieces, pieces preferably at room temperature
2 tablespoons + 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
3/4 teaspoon sea salt (Kosher works well too)
1 jumbo egg, preferably at room temperature, lightly beaten
2 cups + 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon granulated dry yeast, NOT rapid-rise (1/2 packet)
Step 1 As directed, cut the butter into pieces.
~ Step 2. In a 1-cup measuring container, heat milk until steaming. This is quickly and easily done in the microwave oven.
~ Step 3. Add the sugar, salt and butter to the milk. Set aside until the butter has melted or is almost melted. If the milk is steaming and the butter is at room temperature, this will only take about 2 minutes.
Using a fork, briefly whisk these wet ingredients together, so they are uniform in color and add them to the bread pan.
~ Step 4. In the same measuring container and using the same fork, lightly beat the eggs. Add/pour the beaten eggs to the wet ingredients already in bread pan.
Always remember: when you are making bread in a bread machine: always add the wet ingredients first!
~ Step 5. Add/shake the flour into the bread pan on top of the wet ingredients. Do not mix or stir!
Step 6. Using your index finger, make a small indentation on top of the dry ingredients (but not so deep that it reaches the wet layer). Add the yeast to the indentation.
Note: It is important to keep the dry yeast away from the wet ingredients until it is time for machine to knead them together, because the liquid ingredients will prematurely activate the yeast.
Step 7. Insert bread pan into bread machine and press down until it is "clicked" securely into place. Close the lid and plug the machine in. Press and select the first cycle for "white bread". Press the loaf control button to select "2-pound loaf". Press the crust control button and select "light crust". Press "start". Depending on the make and model of your bread machine, and the size of loaf you are making, the entire baking process will take about 2 1/2-3 hours. Walk away. Do not lift the lid to check in on the process. The moment the timer signals the bread is done:
Carefully open the lid of the bread machine. Using pot holders or oven mitts, remove the bread pan from the machine, using its handle to lift it from the machine. After cooling in the pan turn the bread pan at about a 30-45 degree angle and gently shake/slide the loaf out onto its side. Turn the loaf upright and place it on a cooling rack to cool completely. If the kneading paddle remains in the loaf after it is removed from the pan, I find it best to cool the loaf completely before removing it.
