Fluffy Japanese Milk Bread Recipe: Cloud-Like Softness in Every Bite

Golden, pillowy, and irresistibly soft, this Japanese milk bread recipe delivers bakery-quality comfort right in your kitchen.

Generations of home cooks have cherished these tender rolls that melt in your mouth with each delicate bite.

The secret lies in a unique technique called tangzhong, which creates an impossibly light and airy texture.

bread enthusiasts adore how this method produces a loaf with remarkable moisture and incredible richness.

Each slice promises a cloud-like experience that transforms ordinary meals into memorable moments.

Warm from the oven, these rolls will become your new weekend baking obsession.

Let’s find out this delightful recipe and experience bread perfection like never before.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Calories: 327 kcal

Servings: 2

Ingredients for Airy Japanese Milk Bread

• Bread Flour: High-protein flour creates the signature stretchy, tender texture of Japanese milk bread.
• Whole Milk: Adds richness and helps develop soft, silky bread crumb with incredible moisture.

• Active Dry Yeast: Crucial for bread's impressive lift and airy structure, ensure it's fresh and not expired.
• Kosher Salt: Enhances flavor and controls yeast fermentation, balancing the bread's overall taste.
• Granulated Sugar: Feeds yeast, promotes beautiful golden-brown crust and subtle sweetness.

• Unsalted Butter: Provides luxurious flavor, tender crumb, and helps create smooth, elastic dough.
• Heavy Cream: Increases bread's richness and contributes to ultra-soft, pillowy texture.
• Eggs: Bind ingredients, add structure, and create beautiful golden exterior.
• Water: Helps hydrate dry ingredients and supports yeast activation.
• Flaky Salt: Optional finishing touch for enhancing flavor and adding delicate crunch.

Baking Tools That Help You Get That Fluffy Rise

• Stand Mixer or Hand Mixer: Perfect for effortlessly combining ingredients and kneading dough smoothly.
• Large Mixing Bowl: Essential for mixing dry and wet ingredients and letting dough rise.
• Loaf Pan: Crucial for shaping and baking the bread into a classic rectangular form.
• Whisk: Great for blending yeast mixture and creating egg wash.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: Necessary for accurate ingredient measurements.
• Kitchen Towel: Useful for covering dough during rising periods.
• Cooling Rack: Helps bread cool evenly and prevents soggy bottom.
• Pastry Brush: Ideal for applying egg wash to create golden, shiny crust.

How to Make Light & Fluffy Milk Bread from Scratch

• Roux Magic

Create a silky smooth flour-water mixture that will help your bread stay incredibly soft and tender. This secret technique gives Japanese milk bread its signature texture.

• Yeast Awakening

Gently coax your yeast to life by combining it with warm milk. Watch as tiny bubbles form, signaling the yeast is ready to work its rising magic.

• Dough Symphony

Blend all ingredients into a shaggy, uneven mixture that will gradually transform into a smooth, elastic dough. Knead with patience and love, allowing the gluten to develop and create a pillowy texture.

• Rising Ritual

Place your dough in a cozy spot, letting it expand and develop rich flavors. The slow rise is where the bread develops its incredible character and softness.

• Shaping Adventure

Divide the dough into playful coils, nestling them carefully in your baking pan. These twists will create beautiful layers and an eye-catching final loaf.

• Golden Transformation

Brush the surface with a luxurious egg wash that will create a stunning golden-brown crust. Bake until the bread fills your kitchen with an irresistible aroma.

• Patience Reward

Allow the bread to cool completely, letting the internal structure settle and flavors meld. Slice and enjoy the most heavenly, cloud-like bread you’ve ever tasted.

Tips to Perfect the Dough, Rise, and Texture

• Create decorative braids or twists with the dough before placing in the pan for a stunning visual presentation.
• Sprinkle sesame seeds, everything bagel seasoning, or cinnamon sugar on top before baking to add extra taste and texture.
• Wrap the cooled bread tightly in plastic wrap or store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 2 weeks for longer preservation.
• Swap dairy milk with coconut or almond milk, and use plant-based butter to create a delicious alternative for those with dairy restrictions.
• Add herbs like rosemary, thyme, or grated parmesan cheese to the dough for a delightful savory version of this classic Japanese milk bread.

Serve Milk Bread with Butter, Jam, or Just Warm

• Breakfast Toast Paradise: Slice the soft, pillowy bread and toast until golden brown. Spread creamy butter, homemade jam, or avocado for a delightful morning treat that melts in your mouth.
• Decadent French Toast Delight: Transform the bread into luxurious French toast by dipping thick slices in a mixture of eggs, milk, and cinnamon. Fry until crispy outside and custardy inside, then drizzle with maple syrup or dust with powdered sugar.
• Gourmet Sandwich Canvas: Create mouthwatering sandwiches by layering fresh deli meats, crisp vegetables, and creamy spreads. The bread's soft texture makes it perfect for both hot paninis and cold lunch combinations, elevating any simple sandwich to a culinary experience.
• Afternoon Tea Companion: Cut into delicate finger sandwiches or serve alongside your favorite tea. Its light, airy texture pairs wonderfully with both sweet and savory accompaniments, making it an ideal centerpiece for elegant afternoon gatherings.

Keep Your Loaf Soft Between Servings

• Smart Refrigeration Strategy: Store your freshly baked Japanese milk bread in an airtight container or sealed plastic bag at room temperature for 2-3 days. Keep away from direct sunlight and heat sources to maintain softness.
• Quick Freezing Technique: Slice bread before freezing to make thawing easier. Wrap individual portions in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe bag. Frozen bread stays delicious for up to 1 month when properly sealed.
• Moisture-Saving Tip: Place a paper towel inside the storage container to absorb excess moisture, preventing bread from becoming soggy or developing unwanted staleness.
• Reviving Freshness Hack: Gently warm slightly stale bread in the oven at 300°F for 3-5 minutes. Wrap in aluminum foil to retain moisture and restore that just-baked texture and warmth.

Fluffy Japanese Milk Bread Recipe

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4.9 from 19 reviews

• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 2 1x

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Description

Homemade Japanese milk bread delivers pillowy layers of rich, buttery goodness with a delicate crumb. Gentle kneading and precise techniques create an irresistible loaf that elevates simple ingredients into a bakery-worthy masterpiece you’ll crave.

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Ingredients

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• 1 ½ tsp active dry yeast
• 2 large eggs, divided
• ½ cup (120 mL/4 fl oz) whole milk
• ¼ cup plus 2 tbsps (90 mL/3 fl oz) water
• ⅓ cup (80 mL/2.7 fl oz) heavy cream
• 2 tbsps (28 g/1 oz) unsalted butter
• 2 cups plus 2 tbsps (255 g/9 oz) bread flour
• 1 ½ tsps kosher salt
• 2 tbsps (25 g/0.9 oz) granulated sugar
• Flaky salt (optional)

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Instructions

1. Water-Roux Preparation: Whisk flour and water in a saucepan over low heat until a thick, smooth paste forms; allow to cool completely.
2. Yeast Activation: Warm milk to 100°F and stir in dry yeast, letting it bloom and become frothy for 5-10 minutes.
3. Dry Ingredient Fusion: Blend bread flour, granulated sugar, and kosher salt in a large mixing bowl to create a uniform dry base.
4. Wet Ingredient Integration: Thoroughly combine activated yeast mixture, heavy cream, egg, and cooled water-roux paste until fully incorporated.
5. Dough Formation: Gradually fold dry ingredients into wet mixture, mixing until a cohesive dough develops, then transfer to a clean work surface.
6. Kneading and Butter Incorporation: Vigorously knead the dough for 10-12 minutes, progressively working in softened butter until achieving a smooth, elastic, and slightly glossy texture.
7. First Rise: Place kneaded dough in a buttered bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm, draft-free area until volume doubles (1-1.5 hours).
8. Shaping: Deflate risen dough, divide into four equal portions, and gently roll each into smooth coils.
9. Pan Arrangement: Position dough coils side by side in a greased 9×5-inch loaf pan, ensuring even spacing.
10. Second Rise and Preparation: Allow dough to expand for 45-60 minutes, then preheat oven to 350°F and delicately brush surface with egg wash.
11. Baking: Bake bread for 25-30 minutes, rotating pan midway to ensure uniform golden-brown coloration.
12. Cooling and Serving: Remove from oven, rest in pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack and cool completely for at least 30 minutes before slicing.

Notes

• Master Yeast Activation: Precise milk temperature (100°F) is crucial for successful yeast blooming, ensuring your bread rises perfectly and develops rich, complex flavors.
• Kneading Technique Matters: Vigorous 10-12 minute hand-kneading develops gluten structure, creating the signature soft, pillowy texture characteristic of Japanese milk bread.
• Resting Periods Are Critical: Two rising stages (1-1.5 hours first rise, 45-60 minutes second rise) allow dough to develop complex flavor and achieve feather-light consistency.
• Temperature Control Crucial: Maintain warm, draft-free environment during proofing and use exact oven temperature to prevent dense or undercooked bread interior.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: Breakfast, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Japanese

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 2
• Calories: 327
• Sugar: 9 g
• Sodium: 242 mg
• Fat: 15 g
• Saturated Fat: 9 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 40 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 8 g
• Cholesterol: 115 mg