Okay folks I need Brioche help

[dawminator]

First, let me say that I have never had good experience with baking. So I am in need of serious help.

I want to use this for french toast so I am looking for a good recipe that I can make in loaf form. I can never get my baked goods to rise so tips on that would help as well. I have a few weeks until I need to be ready to go but I want to be practicing in the meantime.

TIA!

[schoenfelderp]

How about trying Jean Louis Palladin's brioche (listed in all of TK's books)?

[smtucker]

Do you own a stand mixer or are you planning to knead by hand?

[chowser]

That's a key question. And, how powerful is the stand mixer? I've had brioche dough tax my Kitchenaid pro. I wouldn't try it on something less.

[dawminator]

I am maybe the one out of 10,000,000 26 year old men who owns his own Kitchen Aide.

[smtucker]

Aha. So then I would highly recommend Joanne Chang's recipe from "Flour." There are numerous postings with this recipe online [search for sticky buns and brioche separately.] The book has three versions with different amounts of richness. If you prefer to have a book in front of you with all of her tips, I bet your library has a copy. Good luck!

[biondanonima]

Someone recently posted this recipe from Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day: http://www.artisanbreadinfive.com/200...

I haven't tried it, but it certainly looks simple/foolproof if nothing else. The recipe lilgi posted sounds great too - that's next on my "to try" list!

[chowser]

I like that recipe--it's not quite a rich as a brioche but it works well for how easy it is. I think it would be great as french toast. Brioche is easy w/ a heavy duty stand mixer but I can't imagine doing it by hand, especially for someone who's not accustomed to a lot of kneading.

[lilgi]

I don't doubt you'll love Claudia's when you try it, and it comes out great every time. Just be ready to have the KA beating for a good 10 to 15 minutes. I haven't tried kneading it for less time to see if I get the same results; I rarely fool around with this one. Let me know how it goes for you.

[biondanonima]

Will do. I have a KA and I'm not afraid to use it!

[lilgi]

That's the spirit! ;D

[lilgi]

This is my favorite recipe. I can practically make this blindfolded and have been making it every weekend since I tried it. You'll get soft but firm texture texture (great for french toast) and tremendous rise; I prefer ap flour to bread flour and only keep the salt to 1/2 teaspoon (not 1 tsp as previously posted):

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/7849...

[dawminator]

What size is the loaf pan you use?

[lilgi]

I use a 9x5-inch loaf pan but I've also made this one with traditional brioche molds.

[dawminator]

Ok let me tell you how miserably I failed on this recipe and hopefully you can provide some guidance. I followed the recipe through all the steps. I put warm milk (about 100 degrees) over 2 teaspoons active dry yeast and let it sit for five minutes. It was kind of lumpy but I poured it into the mixer bowl with the help of a spoon. Next, I added one egg and 1/2 cup of flour and mixed those together. Then I covered it with a layer of flour (1/2 cup). I let it sit for 40 minutes in my apartment which is set at 75 degrees. After that (and i noticed there were cracks throughout) I attached the dough hook and began incorporating the rest of the flour. My dough hook didn't do much good however. Pretty much all it did was push all of the flour to the side of the bowl. I tried using a spoon to push it down but the mixture was too dry. In no way did it ever form anything resembling dough. It just looked like lumpy flour. Did I miss a step? Was there more liquid somewhere that was inadvertantly left from the recipe? I appreciate the help!

[chowser]

To begin with, did the yeast in the milk bubble or just stay lumpy? If the latter, the problem is with the yeast.

[dawminator]

It just stayed lumpy...solution?

[chowser]

How old is your yeast? It might be time to buy more. You can test it but it should start bubbling, lumpy is okay but you want some bubbles. Here is a good pic (and directions on testing):

http://faithfulprovisions.com/2010/09...

This might be the reason your baked goods aren't rising.

[lilgi]

He wrote that the dough cracked which is what is supposed to happen if the yeast is working properly when you make the sponge, so I didn't think there was anything wrong with the yeast.

[chowser]

Thanks--I missed that. I immediately latched onto the part about the yeast mixture being lumpy and not bubbly. I'd be a terrible detective.

[lilgi]

Too funny, I think the same about myself ;)

[dawminator]

First, let me just say that I love this website.

Second, I made my brioche again today and it turned out amazing! This is the first time I have ever gotten anything I have baked to turn out and it was very fulfilling. The crust was golden brown and the inside had a perfect texture and taste. I can't wait to use my egg was and make this into french toast!

Thanks to all of you for helping me out and giving me some much needed baking confidence!

[lilgi]

I'm so glad that you're happy with it! You can caramelize a few slices with sugar and butter in a skillet for a really quick breakfast which is what I do sometimes when I'm rushed to get the boys to school; they really love it this way when I'm not making a custard. Thanks so much for letting us know how it turned out.

[chowser]

"You can caramelize a few slices with sugar and butter in a skillet for a really quick breakfast"

That sounds great, especially as a way to use the bread when it's a day or two old. I've used to dough to make cinnamon/pecan rolls which are great for breakfast but simple toast like that would be delicious.

[dawminator]

I bought it this week actually so I dont think that is it

[lilgi]

Dawminator, the other two eggs were missing from that step, that's why the dough was too dry.
Apologies for the typo, I often have to paraphrase and the last egg is used to glaze the dough before you bake.

[dawminator]

So when do I add the other two eggs?

[lilgi]

The eggs go in with the rest of the dry ingredients before you add the butter. You knead the dough with the hook for about 15 minutes before incorporating the butter a little at a time, then beat with the dough hook on high for another five minutes. Let me know how it turns out for you.

[lilgi]

I knew I had that recipe on there twice and I looked at the first one - missing the 2 eggs in that step there too. Thanks so much for pointing that out, I'll make sure I correct it.