Go Back
+ servings
Japanese Milk Bread

Japanese Milk Bread Loaf

5 from 1 vote
Print Pin
Prep: 45 minutes
Bake: 25 minutes
Proofing Time: 4 hours
Servings: 1 loaf

Ingredients

Tangzhong

  • 15 g Bread Flour ~2 tbsp
  • 80 g Whole or 2% Milk ⅓ cup

Dough

  • 315 g AP or Bread Flour 2¾ cups
  • 25 g Granulated sugar 2 tbsp
  • 2 tsp Instant yeast
  • 2 tbsp Baker's Dry Milk
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 1 large Egg room temperature
  • 120 g Whole or 2% Milk ½ cup, warm
  • 42 g Unsalted butter 3 tbsp, softened

Instructions

  • Prepare the tangzhong. Mix together, 15g flour, and 80g of milk in a small saucepan. Put the saucepan over medium-low heat and whisk constantly. When the whisk starts to leave trails where you can see the bottom of the pan, it is done. Transfer to a small bowl and allow to cool.
  • In the bowl of your stand mixer with your dough hook attached, add flour, baker's dry milk, yeast, salt, sugar, egg, and milk. Mix on low until a shaggy dough forms.
  • Stop the mixer, cover the bowl for 10 minutes and allow the dough to rest.
  • After 10 minutes, one tbsp at a time, add softened butter. Let butter fully incorporate into the dough until adding the next.
  • Knead dough on low until dough is very smooth and no longer sticking to the sides. Anywhere from 10-30 minutes.
  • When dough is ready, place in a lightly greased bowl and cover. Allow dough to rise for 1-2 hours or until doubled in size.
  • Prepare a 8.5x4.5" or 9x4 pullman loaf pan with parchment.
  • Punch down the dough and remove it from bowl. Divide dough into 4 equal parts.
  • Shape dough piece into a rectangle and roll out into a long skinny rectangle. The width of the dough should be about the width of your pan. Roll up the dough into a log.
  • Place seam side down into the prepared pan. Repeat with remaining pieces of dough.
  • Cover the pan and allow dough to rise again for about another 45 minutes-1 hour, or until dough has puffed significantly to about twice in size.
  • About 20 minutes (more or less depending on your oven) into the second proof, preheat your oven to 350°F.
  • When loaf is ready, place on the middle rack of your oven and bake for about 25 minutes or until the top is golden brown. A thermometer inserted into the bread should read 190°F.
  • Remove the bread from the pan to a wire cooling rack within 5-10 minutes. Let bread cool at least 30 min before eating. Store in an airtight container. Enjoy!