Milk bread is a wonderfully soft and slightly sweet bread that's a staple in many Asian bakeries. Known for its fluffy texture and golden crust, this bread uses milk in the dough to achieve its tender crumb and rich flavour. It's perfect for everything from sandwiches to simply enjoying with a pat of butter. Try making milk bread at home for a delicious, comforting treat!

Tip #1

Proper Temperature for Ingredients: Ensure that all your ingredients, especially milk and eggs, are at room temperature to help the yeast activate more effectively.

Tip #2

Check Dough Consistency: The dough should be slightly tacky but not too sticky. If it’s too dry after adding the initial ingredients, add a tablespoon of milk at a time until the desired consistency is achieved.

Tip #3

Avoid Over-Browning: If the bread starts to brown too quickly in the oven, cover it loosely with aluminum foil to prevent the top from burning while allowing it to bake thoroughly.

Follow Lilac Diaries

Easy Milk Bread

Preparation time: 20 minutes | Bake time: 30 minutes

Serves: 1 loaf

Ingredients

Dough:

1 egg
3 tbsp (60g) condensed milk
140ml (0.6 cup) milk
1 tsp (3g) instant yeast
300g (2 cups) all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp (3g) salt
28g (2 tbsp) unsalted butter, softened

Egg Wash:

1 egg yolk
2 tbsp milk

Preparation

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the egg, condensed milk, milk, and yeast until evenly combined.
Add the flour and salt to the yeast mixture. Stir with a spatula until a rough dough forms.
Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface. Knead in the butter until fully incorporated. Continue kneading until the dough passes the windowpane test, indicating good gluten development.
First Rise: Shape the dough into a ball and place it in a lightly greased bowl. Cover with a damp towel or plastic wrap and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until it doubles in size.
Shape the Loaf: Deflate the risen dough gently on a lightly floured surface. Divide into three equal parts. Roll each part into a rectangle, fold the sides towards the center, then roll tightly from one end to form a log.
Second Rise: Place the shaped logs seam-side down in a greased loaf pan. Cover and let rise for another hour, or until the dough fills the pan and puffs up.
Apply Egg Wash and Bake: Preheat the oven to 180°C (356°F). Mix the egg yolk and milk for the egg wash. Brush the risen dough gently with the egg wash. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown.
Finish and Cool: Remove from the oven and brush the top with additional butter or condensed milk for extra shine. Allow the bread to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.