Modern Coffee Cakes (Brioche)

Ingredients

• 3.5 cups All-purpose flour (plus more for dusting)
• 2.25 teaspoons Instant yeast
• 0.25 cup Granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 0.75 cup Milk (warm)
• 0.25 cup Water (warm)
• 2 Large eggs
• 0.5 cup Unsalted butter (1 stick, softened, plus more for brushing and greasing)

Instructions

1. 1In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, yeast, sugar, and salt.
2. 2In a separate bowl, whisk together the warm milk, warm water, and eggs. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until a shaggy dough forms.
3. 3Add the softened butter to the dough, a tablespoon at a time, mixing well after each addition until fully incorporated. The dough will be sticky.
4. 4Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for 1 to 1.5 hours, or until doubled in size.
5. 5Gently punch down the dough. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough into a rectangle about 1/2 inch thick. For Parker House rolls: Cut or tear off small pieces of dough, and shape round like a biscuit. Place in rows on floured board, cover, and let rise fifteen minutes. With handle of large wooden spoon, or toy rolling-pin, roll through centre of each biscuit, brush edge of lower halves with melted butter, fold, press lightly, place in buttered pan one inch apart, cover, let rise, and bake. For Dinner Rolls: Shape in small biscuits, place in rows on a floured board, cover with cloth and pan, and let rise until light and well puffed. Flour handle of wooden spoon and make a deep crease in middle of each biscuit, take up, and press edges together. Place closely in buttered pan, cover, let rise, and bake twelve to fifteen minutes in hot oven. From this same mixture crescents, braids, twists, bow-knots, clover leaves, and other fancy shapes may be made.
6. 6Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until golden brown.