Italian Brioche Bread Recipe (Brioche col Tuppo)

Italian Brioche, known as “Brioche col Tuppo” is a classic Italian bread roll recipe. This soft and delicious bread is simple to put together and makes the most amazing brioche bun!

Italian brioche is a traditional Sicilian brioche bread recipe made with eggs, honey, and orange zest. This flavorful bread is soft and buttery with the most amazing texture and flavor. 

If you love Italian bread, don’t miss these Pinwheel Bread Rolls, No Knead Focaccia Bread, Pane al Cioccolato, or the classic Pane di Pasqua. Serve these rolls alongside delicious Sugo sauce or a classic Lemon Ricotta Pasta. And, for a simple and delicious dessert, try this Italian Orange Cake made with a whole orange!

You’ll Love Italian Brioche!

Italian Brioche is a flaky and flavorful bread roll that’s slightly sweetened with honey and orange zest. These rolls are soft and fluffy and delicious for breakfast or served with ice cream for dessert. 

This bread is known as Brioche col Tuppo because of the “bun” on top of the bread. While not necessary to include the bun on top, it adds a fun and distinctive look. 

Italian brioche differs from the French brioche because it’s not as buttery and is slightly sweeter. They are delicious on their own or served with butter and whipped cream. 

You’ll love that this brioche recipe comes together fast and doesn’t require a long time to rise. Plus, it’s simple to shape and is fun to put together. 

So, if you love soft sweet bread rolls, be sure to give this Italian Brioche recipe a try. You’re going to love it! 

Ingredients and Variations

• Flour: use regular all purpose flour here. You can use bread flour if you’d like. The amount of flour used will vary in order to get the ideal dough texture, so be sure to have extra on hand in case needed. 
• Milk: use either 2% or whole milk. You can warm the milk in the microwave but be careful not to scald. 
• Honey: here, you’ll need a bit of soft, pourable honey to add sweetness to the bread. 
• Yeast: use a packet of active dry yeast which is 2 ¼ teaspoons. 

• Orange Zest: Italian brioche is usually flavored with a bit of zest like orange zest or lemon zest. Feel free to add or omit depending on preferences.
• Vanilla: a bit of vanilla extract brings out the sweet flavors of the brioche. 
• Sugar: use regular granulated sugar here. 
• Butter: you will need a stick of melted butter. Salted or unsalted butter works, just let it cool slightly before adding to brioche dough. 
• Salt: use kosher salt if available. 
• Eggs: to get the eggy flavor and rich texture, use just egg yolks for this recipe. Save the egg whites and make delicious Sicilian Almond Cookies. 

How to Make Italian Brioche

Italian Brioche is a classic recipe also known as brioche col tuppo. You will need about an hour for the first rise and another thirty minutes for the second rise, so be sure to plan accordingly. 

Step 1: prepare the yeast

In a large mixing bowl, combine lukewarm water, warm milk, honey, and a packet of instant yeast. Whisk it together and let the yeast sit for about 5 minutes or until it’s bubbly and foamy. 

Step 2: add wet ingredients

To the yeast mixture, whisk in the granulated sugar, melted and cooled butter, egg yolks, orange zest (if using), vanilla and salt. Mix just until all of the ingredients are combined. 

Step 3: work in the flour

This Italian brioche recipe calls for four cups of flour. You want to start slow and add in about three cups of flour to the mixture. Use a spoon to stir it until well combined, adding more as needed. 

Step 4: knead the dough

Pour the brioche dough onto a lightly floured surface. Knead the dough and continue adding flour until the dough is well combined and has a smooth consistency. You can also do this in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment. 

Knead the dough for about 8-10 minutes to help activate the gluten. Form into a ball shape and place in a large bowl that has been greased with olive oil or cooking spray. Cover with a clean dish towel or plastic wrap and place in a warm spot to let rise for an hour. 

​Forming the Brioche col Tuppo

Step 1: let the dough rise

The first rise for the Italian brioche will take about an hour. You’ll know the dough is ready when it has doubled in size. Pour the risen dough onto a very lightly floured surface. 

Step 2: form into balls

Divide the dough into eight portions. Use a kitchen scale for accuracy. Roll the dough into balls. 

Step 3: roll out smaller balls

To make the “tuppo” or cap on the brioche, remove a small amount of dough from each of the eight balls. Roll into a smaller ball. 

Use your finger to make a deep indentation on the top of the eight dough balls. Place the smaller piece of dough ball in the indent of the larger ball. 

Place the formed Italian brioche on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Cover the brioche with a clean kitchen towel and let rise in a warm place for about 30 minutes. 

Step 4: brush on egg wash and bake

Once the brioche have had their second rise, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Position a baking rack in the center of the oven. 

In a small bowl, whisk together an egg and a teaspoon of milk. Use a pastry brush to brush the egg mixture over brioche buns. 

Place the buns in the oven on the center rack and bake until golden brown, about 25 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool on wire rack. 

Recipe Tips

• You can save energy and make your Italian brioche in a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook attachment. Just mix on low speed until smooth. 
• The first rise should take about an hour. You want to the dough to be about doubled in size. 
• ​Adding the “tuppo” or cap on top of the brioche is optional but is the classic way to serve this Italian treat and is how it’s often seen in pastry shops. 
• You can serve this fluffy brioche for breakfast with a cup of coffee or sandwich it with gelato to make brioche con gelato. 
• Store leftover rolls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. You can also freeze for up to a month. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Brioche col Tuppo? 

Brioche col Tuppo is an Italian sweet bread with a distinctive knot or “tuppo” on top, giving it a unique appearance. The dough is made with butter and eggs, resulting in a soft and slightly sweet bread that is often served for breakfast or as a snack.

How to Serve Italian Brioche? 

Brioche col Tuppo pairs well with classic choices like butter and jam or Nutella, and it also goes well with cheeses, fresh fruits, cured meats. It makes a great base for French toast or a side to breakfast dishes with eggs. You can also just eat it alone with a cup of coffee or cup of tea. 

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