Welcome, baking enthusiasts! Today, we’re diving into a wonderful recipe that will surely add a splash of color and flavor to your baking repertoire. If you’ve been searching for a fun and delicious way to enjoy bread, you’re in for a treat with this Ube Milk Bread made using the Tangzhong method. The naturally gorgeous purple hue from ube, alongside the soft and fluffy texture of this bread, will leave everyone in your house asking for seconds!
Why You’ll Love This Ube Milk Bread
What makes this Ube Milk Bread so special? First off, this bread is not just visually stunning; it is also incredibly soft and flavorful. The Tangzhong method, which involves cooking a portion of the flour and liquid together before incorporating it into the dough, results in a light and fluffy texture that stays fresh longer. It’s perfect for breakfast, a snack, or simply as an indulgent treat.
The combination of ube extract and the sweetness of castor sugar creates a delightful, subtly sweet flavor that’s nothing short of heavenly. Plus, there’s something incredibly rewarding about making bread from scratch. You’ll impress not only yourself but also friends and family with this delicious creation. So roll up your sleeves, and let’s get baking!
Step-by-Step: Making Ube Milk Bread
Ingredients
Before we get into the nitty-gritty of making this bread, here’s a quick list of ingredients you’ll need:
- 20 g high protein bread flour
- 100 g milk or water
- 130 g fresh milk (chilled)
- 1 tsp ube extract (I used Koepoe Koepoe brand)
- 1 egg yolk
- 30 g castor sugar
- ½ tsp salt
- 10 g milk powder
- 290 g high protein bread flour
- 1 tsp dried instant yeast
- 25 g unsalted butter (softened)
- Icy cold water or egg wash (for spraying)
Now, let’s break down the steps to make this beautiful Ube Milk Bread!
Directions
(A) THERMOMIX – Tangzhong & Dough Kneading
- Start by making the Tangzhong: In your Thermomix, combine 20 g of bread flour and 100 g of milk or water, and cook at 65°C for 2 minutes. Once thickened, set aside to cool.
- Add 130 g of chilled milk, 1 tsp of ube extract, and 1 egg yolk to the Thermomix. Blend until well combined.
- Incorporate the Tangzhong mixture and knead with the remaining ingredients (sugar, salt, milk powder, 290 g of high protein bread flour, and yeast). Knead until the dough is silky and smooth.
- Finally, add the softened unsalted butter, and continue kneading until the dough is elastic and passes the windowpane test.
(B) CONVENTIONAL – Tangzhong
- Combine 20 g of bread flour with 100 g of milk or water in a saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring continuously, until the mixture thickens. Set aside to cool.
(C) CONVENTIONAL – Dough Kneading, Bulk Fermentation & Dough Shaping
- In a mixing bowl, combine 130 g of chilled milk, 1 tsp of ube extract, and 1 egg yolk. Mix well.
- Add the cooled Tangzhong, sugar, salt, milk powder, 290 g of high protein bread flour, and yeast. Mix until a dough forms.
- Knead the dough for about 10-15 minutes until it’s smooth and elastic.
- Add the softened unsalted butter and continue to knead until fully incorporated.
- Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover it with a kitchen towel, and let it rise for 1-2 hours or until doubled in size.
- Once the dough has risen, punch it down, divide it into portions, and shape them as desired. Allow them to rise again for another 30 minutes.
When the dough has puffed up beautifully, it’s time to bake!
Best Ways to Serve Ube Milk Bread
This Ube Milk Bread can be served in so many delightful ways – it’s incredibly versatile! Here are some fun ideas for serving:
- Breakfast Delight: Toast slices of the bread and spread a bit of butter over them for a delicious breakfast treat.
- As a Snack: Enjoy it plain or with your favorite jam or spread. You could also pair it with soft cheese for a delightful afternoon snack.
- Dessert Option: Turn this bread into a delicious French toast. Simply soak slices in an egg mixture, cook on a griddle, and serve with syrup!
Keeping Your Ube Milk Bread Fresh
Storing this bread correctly will ensure it stays moist and delicious. Here are some easy tips:
- Room Temperature: If you plan on consuming the bread within a few days, keeping it at room temperature in a bread box or wrapped in a clean kitchen towel should suffice.
- Refrigeration: For longer storage, wrap the bread tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and keep it in the fridge. This will help it stay fresh for about a week.
- Freezing: To keep it for an extended period, slice the bread before freezing. Place slices in a resealable plastic bag, and it can last for up to three months. Just toast or defrost when you’re ready to enjoy!
Expert Tips for Perfect Ube Milk Bread
To make this Ube Milk Bread as perfect as possible, consider these expert tips:
- Measure Your Ingredients: Use a kitchen scale if possible for accurate measuring. Baking is a science!
- Experiment with Ube Flavor: If desired, you can enhance the ube flavor by adding a bit more ube extract to taste.
- Pay Attention to Temperature: A warm kitchen helps yeast rise. If it’s chilly, a simple trick is to place the dough in an oven preheated to the lowest setting – just for a short while!
Delicious Variations of Ube Milk Bread
Want to mix things up a little? Here are some tasty variations you could try:
- Cheese-Stuffed Ube Bread: Add cubes of cream cheese or mozzarella in the center before shaping the dough for a cheesy surprise.
- Ube Cinnamon Rolls: Shape the dough into rolls with cinnamon and sugar before the final rise and bake!
- Chocolate Chips: Fold in chocolate chips right before the second rise for chocolatey goodness.
FAQs
1. Can I make this bread without a Thermomix?
Absolutely! The conventional method works perfectly fine. Just follow the steps outlined for the conventional process!
2. Can I substitute the ube extract with fresh ube?
Yes, if you have access to fresh ube, you can use that instead. Just steam and puree it before mixing into your dough.
3. What do I do if my dough isn’t rising?
Make sure your yeast is active! If your kitchen is too cold, try warming it slightly to help the dough rise better.
Happy baking! I hope this Ube Milk Bread recipe fills your kitchen with love and joy. If you make it, be sure to share your creations, I would love to see how it turns out!
Print
Homemade Ube Milk Bread
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
A soft and fluffy Ube Milk Bread made using the Tangzhong method, perfect for breakfast or snacks.
Ingredients
- 20 g high protein bread flour
- 100 g milk or water
- 130 g fresh milk (chilled)
- 1 tsp ube extract
- 1 egg yolk
- 30 g castor sugar
- ½ tsp salt
- 10 g milk powder
- 290 g high protein bread flour
- 1 tsp dried instant yeast
- 25 g unsalted butter (softened)
- Icy cold water or egg wash (for spraying)
Instructions
- In your Thermomix, combine 20 g of bread flour and 100 g of milk or water, and cook at 65°C for 2 minutes to make the Tangzhong. Set aside to cool.
- Add 130 g of chilled milk, 1 tsp of ube extract, and 1 egg yolk to the Thermomix, blending until well combined.
- Incorporate the Tangzhong mixture and knead with the remaining ingredients (sugar, salt, milk powder, 290 g of high protein bread flour, and yeast) until the dough is silky and smooth.
- Add the softened unsalted butter, and continue kneading until the dough is elastic and passes the windowpane test.
- If using the conventional method, combine 20 g of bread flour with 100 g of milk or water in a saucepan, cooking over low heat until thickened. Set aside to cool.
- In a mixing bowl, add 130 g of chilled milk, 1 tsp of ube extract, and 1 egg yolk, mixing well.
- Combine the cooled Tangzhong, sugar, salt, milk powder, 290 g of high protein bread flour, and yeast, mixing until a dough forms.
- Knead for about 10-15 minutes until smooth and elastic. Add the softened unsalted butter and knead until fully incorporated.
- Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a towel, and let rise for 1-2 hours until doubled in size.
- Once risen, punch down the dough, divide it, shape as desired, and allow to rise again for 30 minutes.
- Bake the dough until golden brown.
Notes
Use a kitchen scale for accurate measuring. If desired, enhance the ube flavor with more ube extract.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Bakery
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Filipino
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 200mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 7g
- Cholesterol: 40mg