The long, tiring days of fasting in Ramadan turn into relief at night at the time of Iftar- the meal after sunset. In general, people in the Middle East often relish the sweetness of this holy month by eating the traditional Date-Filled Brioche Buns at ‘Iftar’. The tradition is to serve Date Brioche after the Iftar meal as a pick-me-up snack accompanied by hot Arabic coffee.
Outside Ramadan, this Middle Eastern Brioche is the perfect treat to start your day with a high dose of energy. You can also have it with a cup of coffee or tea in the afternoon. To put it simply, the Date-Filled Brioche Bun is a classic middle eastern bread stuffed with yummy dates and full of aromas and savory flavors, thanks to a fantastic spice blend of cinnamon and cardamom.
Irresistible Date-Stuffed Brioche
The Aromatic Dessert of the Golden Buns
With its soft and chewy texture, the Date-Filled Brioche Buns have the most perfect golden-brown glaze that is visually satisfying. And guess what? A crunch of sesame seeds enhances the delightful texture. So if you have been searching for a sweet treat to keep around the house to fulfill your light cravings, look no further than this recipe.
In just a few minutes, you can take a simple loaf of brioche bread and turn it into a sweet dessert like this Date-Stuffed Brioche Bread recipe. These sweet loaves are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth. They are the good friends of an afternoon tea snack or a decadent dessert after a family dinner.
What Does Brioche Bread Taste Like?
Brioche bread is a buttery soft, light bread with a high crust. This fluffy bread is a traditional French bread that people have enjoyed and popularized throughout the centuries. In fact, it is the most common breakfast bread used to make things like French toast and sandwich bread.
One of the best things about brioche is that it can be eaten on its own. This bread is made by putting together a dough made of milk and sugar, yeast, flour, butter, and salt. It is best served warm with butter, jam, or honey.
Freshly baked, light, and fluffy Brioche Bread is a perfect treat for the whole family. It is a delightful and sweet bread with a crispy exterior and a soft, fluffy interior that makes a wholesome breakfast, dessert, or snack. This bread has a traditional French taste, a soft, fluffy texture with an all-over glaze, browned exterior, and sprinkled with finely crunchy sesame seeds.
Golden Buns Filled with Dates
How to Make the Date Filling
To make the date filling, put the packaged date paste, spices, and melted butter into a bowl. Then, knead them well until they are soft. Those who want a less sweet and elaborate filling will love this date filling. It is perfect to use as a filling for doughnuts and cookies or a topping for bread.
In this recipe, I have spiced up the filling with ground cinnamon and cardamom that will fill your home with delicious aromas once you start baking this delight. Make your brioche bread more appealing and delicious by adding other fillings alongside the date filling. So to give it a nutritious punch, you can add chocolate chips, cinnamon, raisins, nuts, and dried fruits to the brioche.
How to Optimize Date-Filled Brioche Buns
Make these date-filled brioche buns optimal with these tips:
First, you have to use warm milk and water to activate the yeast. Make sure that the yeast is of good quality as well.
Next, the egg wash glaze is necessary to give the brioche buns a glossy and golden-brown appearance.
Furthermore, just as any dough, all the ingredients have to be at room temperature. Otherwise, you will miss out on the fluffiness of the brioche.
Finally, you can keep the date brioche in an airtight container to consume within 3-5 days but don’t forget to keep it refrigerated.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Brioche bread is a sweet bread with a rich buttery taste, and the light and fluffy texture is not difficult to achieve. It seems that you haven’t added enough wet ingredients, so your bread is relatively dense. Try adding a bit warmer milk and kneading the dough more.
Brioche is a rich, buttery, egg-enriched bread with a delicate and glossy crumb. It’s like a cross between a cake and bread, but it’s more cake-like. It has a delicate gooey flavor, and the baked crumb is flaky, soft, and elastic. It slices exceptionally well and is a treat to the eye.
It’s a great bread to make for special occasions, but it also works well as a daily bread, especially that it keeps well and tastes excellent when toasted or grilled.
Brioche Buns Made with Love and Dates
What Ingredients Do You Need?
For the Dough
Flour: You need 4 & 1/2 cup of flour, preferably bread flour.
Butter: Use 6 teaspoons, and make sure it is softened, or else recipe will not work.
Eggs: These have to be 2 large eggs at room temperature.
Rising Agents: 2.5 teaspoons of active dry yeast will make it perfectly to the right degree of fluffiness.
Milk: One and a quarter cups fits well, but it has to be warm. You can use water instead.
Sugar: 1/4 cup of granulated white or brown sugar is perfect here.
Salt: 1/2 teaspoon reinforces the taste of the other ingredients.
Sesame Seeds: A generous sprinkle is necessary for topping.
For the Date Filling
Date Paste: Two 13 oz. packages are used. You can buy them from stores or prepare them at home.
Ground Cardamom: It gives the paste a tangy taste.
Ground Cinnamon: It is used to enhance the date flavor, but it is optional.
Butter: 1 stick of melted butter makes the paste smooth and soft.
For the Egg Wash
Egg: You need one whisked egg.
Vanilla Extract: 1 teaspoon adds a fantastic aromatic odor and taste.
Milk: 2 tablespoons for the wash
How to Make the Date Brioche?
To Prepare the Dough
To make the dough, whisk together warm milk, sugar, and yeast in a large bowl until the yeast is dissolved. Then, cover the bowl, and let it froth for 5-10 minutes. Once bloomed, add the flour, eggs and salt. After that, mix them all by a stand mixer on medium speed for two-five minutes. Then, cover it, and let it rest inn a warm place for 10 minutes.
Once done, add the dough to the mixer again, and add the softened butter in 3 parts, letting the mixer knead it until it is smooth. Finally, cover and let it rise in a warm place until doubled. When it is doubled, punch down the dough, divide it into 16 equal-sized balls. Cover the balls, and let them rest for 5 minutes.
To Make the Date Filling
For the date filling, add the packaged date paste, spices, and melted butter into a bowl and knead well until you get a soft dough. When you spread and fill the dough, place it on a baking sheet lined with parchment and brush with egg wash and sesame seeds. Bake at 425 F for 7-12 minutes or until golden.
Must-Try Recipes:
If you’re interested in similar, easy-to-make desserts, check out the list below.
Palestinian Sesame Tea Cookies
Strawberry Mascarpone Crème Croissants
Halawat el Jibn (Sweet Cheese Rolls)
Bakery Style Almond Croissants
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Date-Filled Brioche Buns
Ingredients
The Dough
- 4½ cups flour preferably bread flour
- 6 tablespoons softened butter
- 2 large eggs
- 1¼ cups milk warm
- ¼ cup granulated white or brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- A generous sprinkle of sesame seeds
- 2½ teaspoons active dry yeast
The Date Filling
- 2 13-ounce packages date paste
- 1½ teaspoons ground cardamom
- 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 stick melted butter
The Egg Wash
- 1 whisked egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons milk
Instructions
To Prepare the Dough
- Whisk together warm milk, sugar, and yeast in a large bowl until the yeast is dissolved.
- Cover the bowl, and let it froth for 5-10 minutes.
- Once bloomed, add the flour, eggs, and salt.
- Mix them all with a stand mixer for 2-5 minutes. It should look like a dough but it won't be soft.
- Cover it and leave it to rest in a warm place for ten minutes.
- Once done, bring it back to the mixer, and add the softened butter in 3 parts, letting the mixer knead it until it becomes smooth. I have my mixer on medium speed.
- Cover and let it rise in a warm place until doubled.
- When it is doubled, punch down the dough, and divide it into 16-18 equal-sized balls.
- Cover the balls, and let them rest for 5 minutes.
To Make the Date Filling
- Add the packaged date paste, spices, and melted butter into a bowl.
- Knead well until you get a soft dough.
To Bake the Buns
- When you spread and fill the dough, place it on a baking sheet lined with parchment. Spread each dough ball thin, but not paper thin.
- Brush the buns with egg wash and sprinkle sesame seeds, shredded coconut, or even pistachios.
- Bake at 425 F for 12-17 minutes or until golden.
Notes
- You have to use warm milk and water to activate the yeast. Make sure that the yeast is of good quality as well.
- The egg wash glaze is necessary to give the brioche buns a glossy and golden-brown appearance. Just as any dough, all the ingredients have to be at room temperature. Otherwise, you will miss the fluffiness of the brioche.
- You can keep the date brioche in an airtight container to consume within 3-5 days, but don’t forget to keep it refrigerated, or you can freeze them.
- The more you roll out each dough ball, the less thick it’ll be. I like thinning them out to be about 6 inches in width.
OMG……this is my absolute favorite. I have made it for soo many family members and friends and they have all loved it. It’s the perfect amount of sweetness. I tweaked the amount of cardamom for those who don’t care for the flavor. It’s a perfect breakfast with tea or coffee. My favorite
This was something I never thought I’d be able to eat again after moving to the states. But trying this recipe has brought back one of my comfort foods! It smells amazing. The dough is soft and perfect. Follow the instructions and you really cants go wrong. Pay attention to your ratios as well! Knowing your bread to date paste ratio makes a difference!
I have always been intimated to make these as they look hard to do, but the recipe was very thorough and was actually very easy to do. I cut the recipe in half to give it a try and by my surprise they turned out very delicious and moist. Glad I have it a try.
I have always been intimated to make these as they look hard to do, but the recipe was very thorough and was actually very easy to do. I cut the recipe in half to give it a try and to my surprise they turned out very delicious and moist. Glad I have it a try.
What’s the alternate of date paste if it’s not available. Can we make our own?
yes, soak some mejdool dates in hot water for 10 minutes. drain, add to a food processor with a little bit of water until you get the consistency.
LOVED this one! Made it and shared it with at least 5 other people! It’s warm, soft and sweet. I did make the date paste and adding the cardamom is key for the flavour. This is now one of my fav recipes when you want to share the love with people around you!
I made this yesterday!! Will definitely make it again and again. Delicious
I made this yesterday!! Will definitely make it again and again. It honestly melts in your mouth so fluffy.
This recipe is A+! My first time making brioche and it was so easy and turned out perfect.. I’m about to use this recipe again for half of the date filled, and half as regular buns for burger night. I’ve been told by many people that this is the only sweet recipe I’ll ever need again. So impressed!