Milk Bread

By Grazor

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups bread flour
• 3 tbsp+2tsp sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup milk
• 120 g tangzhong (click here for making tangzhong)
• 2 tsp instant yeast
• 3 tbsp butter (cut into small pieces, softened at room temperature)

Preparation

Step 1

Directions
1. Combine the flour, salt, sugar and instant yeast in a bowl of a stand mixer. Make a well in the center. Add in all wet ingredients: milk, egg and tangzhong. Fit the dough hook attachment on your stand mixer and begin mixing on medium speed and knead until your dough comes together and then add in the butter and continue kneading.  Keep kneading until the dough is smooth, not too sticky on the surface and elastic. I kneaded the dough for about 18-20 minutes. Each mixer may vary.
When the dough is ready, you should be able to take a chunk of dough and stretch it to a very thin membrane before it breaks. When it does break, the break should be form a circle.
2. Knead the dough into a ball shape. Take a large bowl and grease with oil.  Place dough into  greased bowl and cover with a wet towel. Let it proof until it’s doubled in size, about 40 minutes.
3. Transfer to a clean surface. Divide the dough into three equal portions. Roll out into ropes.
4. Braid the three ropes together, tucking the ends inside. Put braided dough on baking sheet and put plastic wrap on top. Let dough sit and double in size, about 40 minutes.
5. Beat an egg and brush egg mixture on top to create shiny eggwash finish.
6. Bake at 325 degrees F for approximately 30 minutes.