This dreamy breakfast brioche with blueberries and a delicate hint of orange blossom water is ideal for making French toast but equally as good eaten warm straight from the oven, smeared with Lemon Curd or Orange Curd or Honey and Orange Butter. And with dried blueberries, you can make this at any time of year.
Note that you’ll need to start the brioche several hours or the day before you plan to bake it.
MAKES 2 LOAVES, ABOUT 16 SLICES EACH
EQUIPMENT: A heavy-duty mixer fitted with a flat paddle; a dough scraper; 2 nonstick 1-quart (1 l) rectangular bread pans.
SPONGE
1/4 cup (60 ml) whole milk, lukewarm
1 package (about 2 teaspoons) active dry yeast or instant yeast
2 tablespoons orange blossom water
1 tablespoon mild, fragrant honey, such as lavender
1 large egg, free-range and organic, lightly beaten
2 cups (280 g) unbleached, all-purpose flour
DOUGH
1/3 cup (80 ml) mild, fragrant honey, such as lavender
1 teaspoon fine sea salt
4 large eggs, free-range and organic, lightly beaten
1-1/2 cups (210 g) unbleached, all purpose-flour
3/4 cup (4 ounces/125 g) dried blueberries
3/4 cup (6 ounces/180 g) unsalted butter, at room temperature
EGG WASH
1 large egg, free-range and organic, lightly beaten
1. PREPARE THE SPONGE: In the bowl of the heavy-duty mixer, combine the milk, yeast (see Notes if using instant yeast), orange blossom water, and honey and stir to blend. Let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes. Add the egg and half the flour and stir to blend. The sponge will be soft and sticky. Sprinkle with the remaining flour, to cover the sponge dough, but don’t mix it in. Set aside to rest, uncovered, for 30 minutes. The sponge should erupt slightly, cracking the layer of flour. This indicates that the yeast is live and doing its job.
2. PREPARE THE DOUGH: Add the honey, salt, eggs, and flour to the sponge. Mix at low speed just until the ingredients come together, about 1 minute. Increase the mixer speed to medium and beat for 5 minutes. Add the blueberries and mix for 1 minute more.
3. When the butter is incorporated, it should be the same consistency as the dough. To prepare the butter, place it on a flat work surface, and with the pastry scraper, smear it bit by bit across the surface. (If you do not have a pastry scraper, use the back of a large metal spoon.) When it is ready, the butter should be smooth, soft, and still cool—not warm, oily, or greasy.
4. With the mixer on medium-low speed, add the butter a few tablespoons at a time. When all the butter has been added, increase the mixer speed to medium-high for 1 minute, then reduce the speed to medium and continue to beat the dough for 5 minutes more. The dough will be soft and pliable but should not stick to your hands.
5. FIRST RISE: Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap. Let the dough rise at room temperature until doubled in bulk, about 2 hours.
6. CHILLING AND SECOND RISE: Punch down the dough. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate the dough overnight, or for at least 4 hours, during which time it should double in size again.
7. TO FORM THE BRIOCHE: Divide the dough into 12 equal pieces, each weighing about 2-1/2 ounces (75 g). Roll each piece of dough tightly into a ball and place 6 pieces in each bread pan, staggering them in two rows of 3; there will be some space left at either end of the loaf but it will fill up when the dough rises again. Cover the pans with a clean cloth and let the dough rise at room temperature until doubled in bulk, 1 to 1-1/2 hours.
8. Center a rack in the oven. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
9. Lightly brush the dough with the beaten egg. Working quickly, using the tip of a pair of sharp scissors, snip a cross on the top of each ball of dough; this will help the brioche rise evenly as it bakes. Bake until the loaves are puffed and deeply golden, 30 to 35 minutes. Place on the baking rack to cool. Turn the loaves out after they have cooled.