Aug 31 2026

Milk Cream Bread Recipe

Time3h
Serves12

Make Milk Cream Bread Recipe in just 3h . Get the full recipe with step-by-step instructions at pekinthechef.com.

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Ingredients

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Dough

Method

Dough

  1. 1

    Bloom yeast

    Combine warmed whole milk (100–110°F / 38–43°C) and 1 tablespoon granulated sugar in a small bowl. Sprinkle 2 tsp instant dry yeast over the surface, stir gently, and let sit 5–8 minutes until foamy. If it doesn’t foam, the yeast may be inactive — start over with fresh yeast.

  2. 2

    Mix dry ingredients

    In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook (or a large mixing bowl if kneading by hand), whisk together 4 cups all-purpose flour and 1 tsp fine sea salt.

  3. 3

    Combine wet and dry

    Add the foamy yeast-milk mixture, 1 cup milk cream, and 1 large room-temperature egg to the flour. Mix on low speed until a shaggy dough forms, about 2 minutes.

  4. 4

    Knead and incorporate butter

    With the mixer running on medium-low, add the 4 Tbsp softened unsalted butter pieces a few at a time. Knead until the dough is smooth, elastic, and slightly tacky but not sticky, 8–10 minutes by mixer (10–14 minutes by hand). If dough is too sticky, add up to 2 Tbsp extra flour, 1 Tbsp at a time.

  5. 5

    First rise

    Shape dough into a ball, place in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap or a damp towel, and let rise in a warm draft-free spot until doubled in size, about 60–90 minutes depending on room temperature.

Milk Cream Filling & Shaping

  1. 6

    Make milk cream filling

    While dough rises, whisk together 1 cup milk cream, 3 Tbsp powdered sugar, 1 tsp vanilla extract, and 1 tsp cornstarch in a bowl until smooth. Chill briefly in the fridge if it’s too loose; mixture should be pourable but slightly thickened. Taste and adjust sweetness to preference.

  2. 7

    Deflate and divide

    After the dough has doubled, gently punch it down to release air. Turn it onto a lightly floured surface and divide into 12 equal pieces (about 70–80 g each). Cover pieces with a towel while shaping so they don’t dry out.

  3. 8

    Fill and shape rolls

    Flatten each piece into a 4-inch round. Spoon 1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons of the milk cream filling into the center of each round. Fold edges up and pinch to seal, shaping into smooth rounds with the seam tucked underneath. Place seam-side down into a greased 9x13-inch or two 9-inch round baking pans, spacing about 1/2 inch apart. Repeat for all pieces.

  4. 9

    Second rise

    Cover the filled rolls loosely with plastic wrap or lightly oiled plastic and let rise until puffy and nearly doubled, about 40–60 minutes. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) for the last 15 minutes of rising.

Baking & Finishing

  1. 10

    Brush and egg wash

    Just before baking, gently brush the tops of the rolls with melted butter. Then lightly brush with the egg wash (1 beaten egg + 1 Tbsp water) for a glossy finish. Sprinkle optional toasted sesame seeds or sliced almonds if desired.

  2. 11

    Bake

    Bake in the preheated 350°F (175°C) oven for 18–22 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through, until the tops are golden brown and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of a roll reads 190–195°F (88–90°C). If tops brown too quickly, tent loosely with foil for the last 5–7 minutes.

  3. 12

    Cool and finish

    Remove the pan from the oven and immediately brush tops with a little more melted butter for a soft crust. Let the rolls cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. If desired, dust lightly with extra powdered sugar once slightly cooled.

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