Easy Sweet Milk Bread Recipe (Soft and Fluffy)

Do you love sweet bread? This easy milk bread recipe is perfect for those who love a delicious, sweet treat. The best part is that this recipe is really easy to follow, and it doesn’t require any special ingredients.

You will need some basic kitchen supplies, and then you will be ready to go! We highly recommend giving this recipe a try. Once you do, I think you will agree that it is one of the best sweet milk bread recipes out there!

Where does sweet milk bread come from?

Milk bread was developed in Japan in the early 1900s. It was created using the tangzhong method, a Chinese cooking method that uses a roux (a mixture of flour and water) to cook the bread. This creates a soft, fluffy texture perfect for sweet milk bread.

What are the ingredients for sweet milk bread?

The ingredients for this recipe are really simple. You will need all-purpose flour, milk, sugar, butter, an egg, yeast, vanilla, and salt.

Ingredients and substitutions

1. Warm milk: Whole milk is best to use but non-dairy milk will work. Warm milk between 80º-90ºF is needed to activate the yeast. If the milk is too hot, it will kill the yeast.
2. Instant yeast: This is also called rapid rise or bread machine yeast. If you don’t have this on hand, you can use active dry yeast.
3. Large Egg: Use a room temperature egg for best results. If you are vegan or have an egg allergy, you can try using a “chia egg” as a substitute.
4. Bread flour: You can use all-purpose flour for this recipe, but bread flour will give you a little bit of a better result.
5. Salt: We recommend using kosher or sea salt for this recipe.
6. Softened unsalted butter: This is also called “room temperature butter”. Do not melt the butter, you want it to be soft enough to easily mix into the dough. If it’s too hard, your dough will be crumbly. You can also use vegan butter as a substitute.
7. Sugar: We used granulated sugar for this recipe, but you could also use brown sugar or coconut sugar for a slight sweetness
8. Vanilla: This is completely optional, but we love the flavor it adds to the bread. If you don’t have any on hand, you can leave it out or substitute it with another extract like almond

How do you make sweet milk bread?

First in a large mixing bowl combine your butter, milk egg, sugar, and vanilla. Then add your dry ingredients: flour, yeast, and salt.

Knead the dough in a mixer with a dough hook attachment on low speed then slowly increase speed to medium until smooth and not sticky. Takes 8-12 minutes

Then, place the dough in a large bowl, cover it with plastic wrap, and let it rise for about an hour.

Once the milk bread dough has doubled in size, punch the air out and place the dough on a floured surface.

Start shaping the dough into four equal pieces and roll each section to make layers.

Next place each roll into the pan lined with parchment paper and greased. Cover with a kitchen towel or plastic wrap and let the dough rise again for 30 minutes.

In a small bowl whisk an egg and brush the top of the dough with the egg wash.

Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit in a preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.

Let the bread pan cool and move to a wire rack if you have one.

Brush with melted butter and enjoy!

Tips for making fluffy sweet milk bread

1. Use an egg wash or milk wash before baking your bread for a shiny, golden crust. Simply whisk an egg (at room temperature) and brush it over the top of your unbaked bread.
2. Use a dough hook when kneading the dough
3. You will know when your dough is kneaded enough when it’s no longer sticking to the sides of the bowl or your hands.
4. Don’t over-knead the dough! Over-kneading will result in tough bread.
5. Allow the dough to rise in a warm place until doubled in size
6. Use a 9×5 inch loaf pan
7. Let your ingredients sit out to reach room temperature
8. Use a dough scraper
9. Get rid of air bubbles
10. Use a bowl of a stand mixer for easy mixing

What to eat with sweet milk bread?

1. Toasted with butter or jam
2. Sandwiches (turkey, ham, grilled cheese, pb&j)
3. Soup ( french onion, tomato, veggie)
4. Avocado toast
5. Honey toast
6. Cream cheese toast
7. Oatmeal
8. Dessert bread
9. Pasta (spaghetti, ravioli, lasagna)

How to store homemade sweet milk bread

This bread is best enjoyed the day it’s made but will last for up to 3 days when stored in an air tight container or bag at room temperature.

You can also store it in the fridge to help it last a few days longer.

You can also freeze sweet milk bread for up to three months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and then bring to room temperature before serving.

How long does it take to make sweet milk bread?

This bread recipe takes about 2 hours from start to finish. The majority of that time is spent on proofing time (waiting for the dough to rise)

This is an easy recipe but it takes time, patience is key. You won’t be disappointed with the end results of this delicious and fluffy sweet milk bread!

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Final thoughts

Baking bread can be a daunting task. However, this sweet milk bread recipe is simple and straightforward. The end result is a soft and fluffy loaf of bread that will surely become a family favorite. So what are you waiting for? Give this recipe a try and let us know how it turns out!