Soft & Fluffy Homemade Milk Bread: The Ultimate Comfort Food

Some foods feel like a warm hug, don’t they? That’s exactly how I describe this homemade milk bread; it is the ultimate comfort food to start your day. Let’s bake it together—here is the recipe!

Ingredients for Homemade Milk Bread:

• 1 packet (approx. 2 1/4 tsp / 10g) active dry yeast
• 5 tbsp granulated sugar
• 1 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/4 cups (300ml) warm milk
• 1 tsp salt
• 5 tbsp powdered milk (milk powder)
• Approx. 5 1/4 cups (650g) all-purpose flour
• Egg wash: 1 egg yolk mixed with 2 tbsp milk

How to Make Homemade Milk Bread:

1. In a large mixing bowl, add the yeast.
2. Add the sugar and mix well.
3. Add the butter and eggs, mixing until well combined.
4. Stir in the warm milk and salt.
5. Add the powdered milk and mix thoroughly.
6. Gradually begin adding the flour, incorporating it into the mixture to form the dough.
7. Once the dough stops sticking and needs to be handled, turn it out onto a floured surface and knead for about 5 minutes.
8. The dough will be very soft. Place it in a bowl, cover it, and let it rest for about 40 minutes, or until doubled in size.
9. After resting, place the dough back onto a floured surface.
10. Divide into 3.5 oz (100g) portions and shape into balls.
11. Using a rolling pin, roll out each ball and shape them as desired (like rolls or loaf style).
12. Place on a baking sheet and let rise for another 30 minutes.
13. Brush the tops with the egg yolk and milk mixture.
14. Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (180°C) for 30 to 35 minutes, or until golden brown.
15. Remove from the oven, let cool slightly, and enjoy!

Serving Suggestions:

If you want to turn this into a sweet treat, make a simple sugar glaze and pour it over the breads while they are still warm, then let it soak in. It’s delicious!

A Little Bit of History:

Milk bread is a variation of Portuguese milk bread, which was inspired by the traditional British “milk bread.” This recipe became wildly popular in Japan, where it is known as “shokupan” and is prized for its soft, delicate texture. Milk bread is common all over the world, including here in Brazil, where it is a favorite for breakfast or as an afternoon snack.

Did you enjoy this recipe? Share it with your friends! We have many more delicious bread recipes on our site.