This was our first ever attempt at baking a proper bread — and it worked on the first try! Adapted from a TikTok recipe and tweaked just right, these brioche buns are gently sweet, light, and versatile. Whether you serve them warm with jam, use them for French toast, or sandwich them into the best homemade burger buns ever, they hold up beautifully. The use of fresh yeast gives it that nostalgic, bakery-style flavor and rise, and the process is simpler than you’d think!
Serving Ideas & Variations
- Breakfast Bliss: Toast lightly and serve with butter and your favorite jam or honey.
- Burger-Ready: Their soft yet structured crumb makes them ideal for holding juicy burger patties without falling apart.
- French Toast: Day-old brioche makes killer French toast — soak, sizzle, and top with berries and syrup.
- Mini Sliders: Make smaller buns for parties and fill them with cheese, cold cuts, or spicy chutney for a Mauritian twist.
- Sweet Treat: Slice open and spread with Nutella, peanut butter, or even leftover pastry cream for a cheeky snack.
Old-School Brioche Buns with Fresh Yeast
This recipe yields 6 fluffy, golden brioche buns (around 150g each). Perfect for anything from burgers to breakfast toast, they’re slightly sweet and irresistibly soft.
Ingredients
- 25 g fresh yeast
- 3 tbsp sugar
- ¾ cup warm water 180ml
- 1 egg room temp
- Pinch of salt
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter softened (about 42g)
- 3 cups plain flour approx. 360g
- 1 egg + splash of milk for eggwash
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine fresh yeast, sugar, and warm water. Stir and let the mixture sit for 10–15 minutes until bubbly and foamy.
- Add the egg, a pinch of salt, and softened butter to the yeast mixture. Mix to combine.
- Gradually add the flour, one cup at a time, mixing until a dough forms.
- Knead the dough for about 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Cover the bowl with cling film or a damp cloth and let the dough rise for 2 hours in a warm place, until doubled in size.
- Once risen, punch down the dough and shape into 8–10 equal-sized buns.
- Place the buns on a lined baking tray. Cover and let rise again for 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 190°C (375°F) during the second rise.
- Brush buns with eggwash and bake for 25 minutes.
- Remove from the oven, brush again with eggwash, and return to bake for another 5 minutes at 230°C (450°F) for a golden finish.
- Let cool slightly before serving.
Did you make this recipe?
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