Description
At its heart, this recipe takes classic French brioche dough—celebrated worldwide for its high butter and egg content—and elevates it with two world-class natural ingredients: saffron and pure honey. Traditional brioche is known for its feather-light interior crumb, paper-thin golden crust, and rich, melt-in-your-mouth quality.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Saffron Milk
- ½ cup (120 ml) warm whole milk
- ½ teaspoon saffron threads
- 1 teaspoon honey
For the Brioche Dough
- 3½ cups (440 g) all-purpose flour
- 2¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
- ¼ cup (60 g) honey
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter, softened
- ¼ cup warm milk (additional, if needed)
For the Egg Wash
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 tablespoon milk
Honey Glaze (Optional)
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon warm water
- A few saffron strands for garnish
Instructions
- Bloom the saffron:
Warm the milk gently (do not boil). Add saffron threads and 1 teaspoon honey. Let steep for 10–15 minutes until fragrant and golden. - Activate the yeast:
In a small bowl, combine warm saffron milk and yeast. Let sit for 5–10 minutes until slightly foamy. - Make the dough:
In a stand mixer bowl, combine flour, honey, eggs, salt, and the yeast mixture. Mix until a rough dough forms. - Add butter:
Add softened butter gradually while kneading. Continue kneading for 8–10 minutes until the dough becomes smooth, elastic, and slightly sticky. - First rise:
Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise for 1½–2 hours until doubled in size. - Shape the buns:
Divide dough into 12 equal pieces. Shape into smooth balls and place in a lined baking pan. Cover and let rise again for 45–60 minutes. - Bake:
Brush buns with egg wash. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 22–25 minutes until golden brown. - Glaze:
Mix honey and warm water. Brush over warm buns and garnish with saffron strands if desired.
Notes
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Bread / Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bun
- Calories: 260 kcal
Keywords: Golden Saffron Brioche Buns, Honey Saffron Bread Rolls, Sweet Saffron Brioche Rolls