Are Brioche Buns Vegan? We’ll Find Out!

Are brioche buns vegan? Brioche is a popular bread variety used for sandwiches and burgers. But while plant-based meats are now widespread, can you make a vegan-friendly snack using brioche?

Brioche buns are not vegan. They contain milk, butter, and eggs, which all come from animals. However, you can make vegan brioche buns by substituting the ingredients with plant-based options. 

In this article, we will discuss the things you need to know about brioche buns. Stick around as we teach you how to turn this bread into a vegan delight. 

^{Image by KamranAydinov on Freepik}

Are Brioche Buns Vegan?

Can vegans eat brioche buns? Brioche dates back to the 17th century. Considering how long people have been making this bread, it is safe to say that brioche buns are better than most traditional bread varieties. The taste and texture also make brioche buns a great bread base for any snack you want to make. 

However, can vegans enjoy brioche buns as much as non-vegans do?

Can Vegans Eat Brioche Buns?

Brioche buns have a sweet buttery flavor, making them an excellent pairing for savory dishes. The bread also has a soft and flaky texture that matches its richness very nicely. 

Traditionally, people use cow’s milk to hydrate their dough when making brioche. The dough also contains butter from churning milk until the fat separates. In addition, the dough has eggs and egg wash that keeps the crumbs moist and the crust shiny. 

Apart from the egg, the fat added to the dough also acts as the bun’s source of moisture. Meaning eggs and butter give the brioche soft and flaky crumbs.

All of these primary ingredients for making brioche buns are animal-derived. So to be clear, brioche buns are not vegan.

Can You Make Vegan Brioche Buns?

While traditional brioche buns contain animal-derived components, you can substitute these ingredients with plant-based options to make vegan brioche buns. You can use non-dairy milk to hydrate the dough. And you can replace the eggs and butter with yeast and vegan butter to create the leavening agent. 

Making vegan brioche buns is relatively easy if you use plant-based substitutes. To get the best vegan brioche buns, we recommend using these substitutes:

• Replace regular cow’s milk with oat milk
• Aquafaba for eggs 
• Olive oil for butter

Making Vegan Brioche Buns

Follow the instructions below to make some delicious vegan brioche buns.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• ½ cup olive oil
• Two tablespoons sugar
• ¾ cups creamy oat milk
• ½ teaspoon salt
• One tablespoon aquafaba
• Two tablespoons instant dry yeast

Making the dough

Combine all your ingredients into a large bowl, leaving the aquafaba behind. If you use a stand mixer, allow it to knead the dough until the gluten develops. You will know the dough is ready when it becomes smooth and stretchy. The dough will also come away from the sides of the bowl. 

If you are kneading by hand, you must work on the dough for at least five to ten minutes. Again, the dough is ready when it becomes smooth and stretchy.

If the dough still sticks to the bowl, add a bit of flour and continue kneading. But be careful not to add too much flour, as it will make your dough hard, thus resulting in a hard brioche when baked. If you added too much flour, soften the dough again by adding a little more milk. 

Allow the dough to rest

1. Cover the dough in the bowl with a damp towel to prevent it from drying. Let the dough rest for about 20 minutes or until it doubles in size. Then, divide your rested dough into eight parts and shape each portion into balls. 
2. Arrange your brioche dough balls in a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Cover them again with a damp cloth and let them rest for an hour. This time, the dough balls should increase their size by 50 percent. 
3. About 20 minutes before your dough balls finish proofing, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Bake the buns

1. Bake your brioche dough for 15 to 20 minutes. The brioche buns’ crust should turn golden brown once they finish baking. 
2. While baking the brioche buns, get your aquafaba and mix it with two tablespoons of water. 
3. Take the buns out of the oven and immediately brush them with your aquafaba and water mixture. The aquafaba will serve as a glaze and will turn the buns’ crust shiny. 
4. Let your brioche buns rest for a few minutes, and enjoy.

The Best Way to Serve Brioche Buns

Brioche is one of the most versatile bread varieties that you can try. Meaning you can pair it with almost anything. For instance, you can pair it with sweet dishes for desserts and savory dishes for dinner. If you are looking for recipes where you can incorporate brioche buns, you will find endless options. You can turn brioche into burgers, French toast, and even toasted sandwiches – that’s the beauty of this bread. 

Another great thing about brioche buns is they work with sweet, vegetable, and meat fillings. So, if you want a healthy snack, you can incorporate lettuce and tomato into your brioche sandwich. To satisfy your sweet tooth, you can also fill the buns with berries and sweet fillings like chocolate spread.

Final Thoughts

Is brioche buns vegan? No, but you can make your vegan version of this bread at home. You simply need to replace the animal-derived ingredients with plant-based ones and follow the recipe above. Even with the components replaced with vegan-friendly options, your brioche buns will still turn out great, with golden brown crust and flaky crumbs.

Vegan or not, brioche buns are a versatile type of bread you can pair with sweet and savory dishes. 

Enjoy!