Chocolate Chip Brioche Bread: the Recipe for a Soft and Super Fragrant Sweet Bread! !

Total time: 10 min prep/ 90 min rest/ 40 min bake

Difficulty: Medium

Serves: 4-6

Join the new Cookist channel on WhatsApp

By foppio

This twist on classic brioche takes it from a breakfast staple to a decadent treat. We're talking fluffy, buttery bread studded with melty chocolate chips in every bite. It's a winning combination of flavor and texture. With a few quality ingredients and some patience, you'll be the star baker, leaving friends and family begging for more! To make it, you will need: all-purpose flour, yeast, sugar, eggs, milk, butter chocolate chips, and patience. Sure, making Homemade Chocolate Chip Brioche Bread takes a little extra time, but trust us, the warm, gooey reward is well worth it. Enjoy it as a teatime treat, or a sweet midday snack.

What is Chocolate Chip Brioche Bread

Brioche bread has a long, rich history rooted in Normandy, France. While the word "brioche" first appeared in a text around 1404, chocolate chips are a recent invention, emerging around the late 19th century in the United States. In the 20th century, the idea of baking with chocolate became more popular, and chocolate chips were soon added to many baked goods. It wasn’t long, of course, before chocolate chip brioche became the latest experiment. Once you’ve tasted this sweet brioche bread, you won’t go back to ordinary brioche.

Brioche Vs. Cake

Brioche and cake are both beloved in the world of baking, but they serve different purposes and offer distinct textures and flavors. Brioche is a type of bread, enriched with butter, eggs, and sometimes sugar, giving it a rich, tender texture and a slightly sweet, buttery flavor. It's often used for both sweet and savory dishes, making it incredibly versatile. In contrast, cake is typically sweeter and more dessert-focused, with a structure that's intended to be soft and airy, achieved through the use of more sugar and leavening agents like baking powder or baking soda. Cakes often include flavorings like vanilla, chocolate, or fruit, and are usually frosted or topped with sweet decorations. While brioche can be enjoyed as part of a meal or as a snack, cake is primarily served as a dessert or a treat for special occasions. The dough for brioche is kneaded and involves a yeast-driven rise, requiring time and technique similar to other breads, whereas cake batter is generally beaten to incorporate air and baked immediately to maintain its fluffiness.

Tips

There are delicious variations to the recipe you can make:

To make Cinnamon Chocolate Chip Brioche, sprinkle the dough with cinnamon sugar after adding the egg wash.
To make Apple Brioche – sprinkle with finely chopped apple and a sprinkling of cinnamon before rolling the dough.
You can also top the brioche with other spreads like chocolate spread, Biscoff spreads, apple butter, or vanilla custard.
As an alternative to dark chocolate chips, you can use caramel chips or white chocolate chips.
The secret to making the perfect brioche is to use good quality ingredients, especially the butter (this is what makes the brioche so rich!).
Do not overfill the dough with chocolate chips, which can cause the bread to break apart while baking.
For added sweetness, drizzle the bread with an icing glaze before cutting.

How to Store Chocolate Chip Brioche

Store the chocolate chip brioche in an airtight container (at room temperature) for up to 3 days.

Can You Freeze Chocolate Chip Brioche

Yes, you can! Wrap the brioche tightly with plastic wrap, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature.

Can I Make It Ahead of Time?

If you want to make the Chocolate Chip Brioche in advance, you can let it rise in the fridge overnight and then prepare it the next day.

What Kind Of Chocolate Chips Are Best For Chocolate Chip Brioche?

Semi-sweet chocolate chips are a popular choice as they offer a good balance of sweetness and chocolate flavor that complements the brioche dough. You can also experiment with dark chocolate chips for a richer flavor or white chocolate chips for more sweetness.

What Can I Serve Chocolate Chip Brioche With?

Chocolate chip brioche is delicious on its own for breakfast or a snack. You can also enjoy it with coffee or tea or a glass of milk. Alternatively, turn it into a dessert by adding fresh fruit and whipped cream or ice cream.

Do I Eat This Chocolate Chip Brioche Hot or Cold?

Whether to enjoy it hot or cold often comes down to personal preference and the occasion. Serving brioche hot, fresh out of the oven, is a delightful experience. The warmth enhances its buttery flavor and soft texture, making it especially comforting. Hot brioche can melt a pat of butter beautifully and pairs wonderfully with jams, chocolate spread, or even a cup of coffee or tea.

Once cooled, brioche still retains a soft texture and rich flavor, making it excellent for sandwiches or as a snack on its own.A cold slice of brioche can be more convenient for on-the-go eating or when used as part of a more elaborate dish, such as French toast or bread pudding, where it is later cooked or reheated. Serving it cold or at room temperature can also be preferable if you’re pairing it with stronger flavors that benefit from a more neutral base temperature, like certain cheeses or cold cuts.