This homemade bread is wonderfully fluffy and soft, made from scratch using simple, wholesome ingredients. In this recipe, I teach you how to make these delicious milk bread rolls at home. Freshly baked, pillowy soft, with a hint of milky sweetness, you’ll want to make these Japanese bread buns over and over again!

What is Japanese milk bread?

Sometimes known as Shokupan or Hokkaido Milk Bread, this simple white bread is very popular in Japan. You can probably find it in most Japanese bakeries and even convenience stores.

Although you can find this in some grocery stores, I find that homemade milk bread has a much better texture, flavor, and a lot less preservatives. Once you make this delightfully soft and tasty bread with just a handful of ingredients, you’ll find yourself wondering why the store-bought kind has more than 20 ingredients!

How to make the best Japanese milk bread

What separates Japanese milk bread from other kinds of white bread is the method of warming the flour with liquid first to form a roux. This practice has two effects: it activates the gluten in the flour, which is what gives that fluffy texture, and it helps the bread stay fresh longer! No preservatives necessary.

In this recipe, I use a variation of the “tangzhong” method, wherein flour is made into a roux with water at around a 1:5 ratio. Instead of water, I like to use milk. Another popular style is the “yudane” method, which involves combining flour with boiling water at a 1:1 ratio.

I also create a roux when making my ube pandesal with cheese recipe! This is another delicious Asian bread recipe I think you should try.

What to eat with Japanese milk bread

Because this bread is so soft and milky, you might be surprised to know that in Japan it’s often used to sandwich savory foods like wagyu steak or katsu (fried breaded pork). The mildly sweet taste of the milk bread actually complements stronger flavors while the pillowy texture pairs really well with both crispy and dense fillings. So feel free to experiment with using this in savory applications. You can even try it with Japanese curry!

For something milder, I highly recommend serving this with butter, condensed milk, or even soft cheese with herbs. The mildly sweet, milky flavor of the bread buns will definitely go wonderfully with similar flavors.

Since it’s good for anything from sandwiches to toasting to dipping, I find this Japanese milk bread to be a great “everyday bread” that you can use for practically anything!

How long does Japanese milk bread last?

This delicious bread usually disappears in a flash! But if you happen to have some left over, store it in room temperature or below, preferably in a cloth bread bag or wrapped in paper so air can circulate. Keeping it this way, the milk bread can stay soft and airy for as long as 7 days.

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