Chef John’s Milk Bread
Using a roux starter keeps Chef John's Japanese milk bread moist and helps it stay soft and fresh longer than most homemade bread.
By Nadia Kovalenko
Posted October 31, 2026Share
Time
Calories
Servings
Difficulty
Description
Using a roux starter keeps Chef John's Japanese milk bread moist and helps it stay soft and fresh longer than most homemade bread.
Quick Tip Read the recipe in its entirety before you start cooking. This will help you understand the ingredients, steps, and timing involved, and allow you to prepare any necessary equipment or ingredients beforehand.
Ingredients 11
0.25 cup bread flour
0.25 cup water
0.33333334326744 cup whole milk
2.5 cups bread flour
1.25 teaspoons kosher salt
0.25 cup white sugar
1 (.25 ounce) package instant dry yeast
0.5 cup warm whole milk (110 degrees F (43 degrees C))
1 large egg, beaten
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature, cubed
1 tablespoon milk, or as needed
Instructions
-
1
Whisk bread flour, water, and milk for starter together in a small saucepan until very smooth. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until it gets very thick and is just starting to bubble. If you want to check, it should be at least 150 degrees F (65 degrees C). Take it off the heat and pour into a measuring cup; you need exactly 1/2 cup. Let cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes.
-
2
Make the dough: Put bread flour, the cooled starter, salt, sugar, yeast, warm milk, and egg into your stand mixer bowl with the dough hook attached. Beat on low speed until dough begins to form a ball and pull away from the sides of the bowl, scraping down the sides as needed, about 5 minutes.
-
3
Turn off the mixer and scrape the dough off the hook down into the bowl. Add butter and knead on low speed until dough is slightly tacky but very smooth and elastic, scraping down the sides as needed, 10 to 12 more minutes.
-
4
Take the dough out of the bowl and shape it into a smooth ball. Transfer into a lightly buttered bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm spot until doubled in size, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
-
5
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Very generously butter a 9x5-inch loaf pan.
-
6
Move the dough to a work surface (no extra flour needed). Press and knead out any air, then form into a 9-inch wide rectangle. Starting at one 9-inch side, roll dough lengthwise into a log. Place the log seam-side down into the prepared loaf pan. Press on dough a bit to be sure it's evenly distributed. Cover the pan and let the dough rise for 35 to 45 minutes, until it reaches almost to the top.
-
7
Brush the top of the loaf with just enough milk to lightly coat the surface.
-
8
Bake in the middle of the preheated oven for about 35 minutes, until puffed up nicely and golden brown on top. Remove from the oven and let rest in the pan for 10 minutes. Carefully take the bread out and let it cool completely on a wire rack to room temperature before slicing, about 1 hour.
Nutrition Facts
Servings 10
Amount Per Serving
-
Calories 201 kcal
% Daily Value *
-
Total Fat 6g
-
Saturated Fat 4g
-
Cholesterol 33mg
-
Sodium 258mg
-
Total Carbohydrate 30g
-
Dietary Fiber 1g
-
Protein 6g
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Popular Recipes
You Might Also Like
Beer Sausage
Beer sausage is a home-cooked meal. It has potatoes, carrots, sausage, and cabbage cooked in...
Onion Pasta
Cook onions in butter and olive oil until they are golden brown.
GOYA® Easy Arroz con Pollo
Cook chicken and rice with some vegetables. The dish is made with chicken, rice, and...
Easy Oven-Barbecued Beef Brisket
Cook beef brisket in the oven with a simple sauce.
Ready to cook?
Sign up for our tasty newsletter and be the first one who tries out our latest
recipes.
