Pain au Lait

Makes 6

Ingredients

• For the bread

  • 150 gr bread flour

  • 5 gr yeast

  • 5 gr salt

  • 15 gr sugar

  • 1 large egg

  • 1/4 cup milk

  • 40 gr unsalted butter, room temp

• For egg wash;

  • 1 large egg

  • 1 tbsp milk

• To decorate

  • 1/4 cup pearl sugar

Instructions

1. In a large bowl or stand mixer bowl, combine flour, yeast, salt, sugar, egg, and milk. Knead for 10 minutes by hand or with a stand mixer at a slow speed. Slowly add 1 tbsp butter at a time, and knead for 5-10 more minutes. Shape the dough into a ball, and cover the bowl with cling film. Leave it to proof for 1,5 hours or until it doubles in size.

2. Transfer the dough to a clean surface and flatten it. Divide the dough into 6 equal pieces, and shape each into a ball. Cover them with a damp towel and let them rest for 10 minutes.

3. Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper.

4. Flaten one of the dough balls into a rectangle, bring longer ends to the middle, and shape into a log. Transfer the log to the baking sheet and continue with the rest of the dough.

5. Prepare the egg wash by whisking the egg with the milk. Apply an even layer of egg wash on each log. Cover the logs with a damp towel and leave them to proof for 2,5 hours.

6. Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F. Apply another layer of egg wash, and cut a herringbone pattern on each bread with kitchen scissors. Sprinkle with pearl sugar, and bake for 8-9 minutes. Leave them to cool and enjoy!