Shokupan Sandwich Bread

This is the Japanese sandwich bread shokupan, also known as the Hokkaido milk bread. It uses an Asian tangzhong method and produces the softest, lightest, and an airiest slice of bread you will ever make. Amazing on its own, perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and of course sandwiches

Every time I make the Japanese milk bread, it ruins me from making any other bread. I get so tempted to add the tangzhong in every bread I make. If you've never made this Hokkaido milk bread, I highly recommend you try it at least once. The soft, light and airy texture of the bread is as light as a cloud.

What is tangzhong?

Well, it's a Japanese technique called yukone (yudane) using a roux that's made with flour and water (or milk). I like the combination of the two. This roux is like a thick pudding made by cooking flour, water, and milk. Once thickened, it is cooled to room temperature, and then added to the dough-making process. How does it work?

Well, the water is absorbed by the flour at high temperature and the starch is gelatinized without forming any gluten (that is why it must be cooked carefully). This allows the starch in the tangzhong to absorb far more liquid at room temperature later. That's why when tangzhong is added to the dough, we can use more water, which in turn gives us a soft, stable yet spongy texture in the final bread. And, did you know you can add tangzhong to any bread to improve its consistency and texture? Yup!

Today, we make sandwich bread, but you can use this to make almost anything. For example, try my softest burger buns, dinner rolls, or even cinnamon rolls.

Why make this bread?

• The recipe is very simple and easy with one additional step compared to all other bread. That's preparing the tangzhong. But, that too is very simple and easy. It takes no more than 3 minutes for the whole process.
• This process makes the lightest, airiest, and softest sandwich bread everyone will be impressed with.
• This bread is perfect for everyday use and leftover freeze beautifully.
• These are all-purpose bread - Delicious on their own or, serve it for breakfast with butter and jam. Alongside the main course for lunch or dinner. Of course, these also make the most amazing sandwiches!!

Timeline and process at a glance

• Prepare and cool tangzhong - 5 mins
• Prepare dough - 10 mins
• First rise - 60 to 90 mins
• Shape the loaf - 10 mins
• Proof the loaf - 45 mins
• Bake the loaf - 35 mins
• Cool the loaf - 15 mins

Ingredients and substitutes

• Flour - I love to use bread flour because it produces the softest most delicious bread, which is also slightly chewy.
• Egg - I use a large egg, about 60 to 65 grams in weight.
• Sugar - This bread is slightly sweeter than most other white bread. And yet, you can certainly reduce the sugar by half.
• Butter - A good quality butter at room temperature works best for flavor and consistency.
• Milk powder - This bread is often referred to as milk bread because it has milk and milk powder.
• Yeast - Today, I am using bakers fresh yeast, about 21 grams. But, you can use 2 ¼ teaspoon of instant yeast. For other substitutes on yeast read my post - Baking with yeast a beginners guide.

Step by step instructions - Shokupan

Tangzhong

• In a saucepan, combine water and flour with a whisk until no lumps. Add the milk and combine well again.
  Pro tip - It is very important to make sure you have no lumps as these will be difficult to remove from the dough.
• Place the saucepan over medium heat and cook this mixture for 2 to 3 minutes. Keep stirring constantly to prevent lumps.
  Pro tip - Keep the heat on medium to low. At first, the mixture will take a while to thicken, but then it does get thicker quickly. So, keep a close eye and take it off just when it reaches almost paste consistency similar to a pudding.
• Take it off the heat and transfer it into a bowl or plate. Cover and let cool to almost room temperature. Make sure the plastic touches the surface of the tangzhong to prevent a skin.
  Pro tip - Removing from the hot pan will prevent it from cooking further as we don't want it to get lumpy.
• At first, the mixture will take a while to thicken, but then it does get thicker quickly. So, keep a close eye and take it off just when it reaches almost paste consistency, similar to a pudding (see video).

Dough

• In a bowl of a stand mixer - add the lukewarm milk (no warmer than 110 F) and the yeast. Combine well with a whisk. Then, add the sugar, milk powder, egg, and cooled tangzhong.
• Add the flour and salt. Turn the mixer on medium-high speed.
  Pro tip - Scrape the sides of the bowl well to ensure all the flour is well incorporated and do not add more flour yet.
• Once all the flour has been incorporated, knead:
  • By hand - transfer to a well-dusted worktop and knead for 5 to 6 minutes
  • Stand mixer - once all the flour is well incorporated knead on medium for 4 to 5 minutes

• Then, gradually add the butter one tablespoon at a time. Once all the butter has been incorporated - knead for 3 minutes more.
• When the dough is soft, shiny, but still slightly sticky shape into a ball. Place the dough in an oiled bowl seam side down. Coat the surface with oil to prevent drying. Cover with a clean kitchen cloth or plastic wrap.
• Leave in a warm place. Let rise for 60 to 90 minutes until double in volume.
  Pro tip - In winter, you may need 90 minutes or more. But in summer, the dough may double in 45 minutes. If you can't attend to it at that moment, de-gas, reshape, and let double in volume again.

Shape the loaf

• When the dough is double in volume, transfer to a well-dusted floured surface. De-gas, reshape into a ball.
  Pro tip - At this point, there is no need for additional flour. So use a light dusting of flour.
• Roll the dough into a cylinder and divide the dough into 4 portions. Weigh the portions to ensure they are similar in size. Mine was about 200 to 215 grams each.
• Shape each portion into a tight roll. To do this correctly,
  • Flatten the dough on an unfloured surface.
  • Fold the top and two sides in.
  • Then roll towards you into a sausage shape.

Proof and bake

• Place the shaped portions in a 9 x 4 loaf pan. Cover with a clean kitchen cloth or plastic wrap and leave in a warm place for about 45 minutes until almost double in size.
  Pro tip - Spray the plastic wrap with oil to prevent it from sticking to the rolls.
• When the bread is almost double in volume at about 30 minutes, preheat the oven to 375°F /190°C / Gas Mark 5
• Brush the rolls with egg wash, milk, or cream
  Pro tip - Egg wash is a full egg with 2 tablespoon of water. An egg wash will give a nice golden color. If you can't use egg, milk or cream will work just as well. Do not use oil or butter as it will create a crust.

• Bake for about 30 to 40 minutes until lightly golden on top. If the top of the sandwich bread is getting too dark, tent it with aluminum foil. When baked, brush with melted butter
  Pro tip - This is optional but adds a nice flavor and keeps the top crust soft.
• Take it out of the pan and cover it with a clean kitchen cloth for at least 5 minutes to keep it soft.
  Pro tip - Do not leave the bread in the pan for too long as the steam will make the bread soggy on the bottom.

Frequently asked questions

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Printable Recipe

Shokupan Sandwich Bread Recipe

Author: Veena Azmanov

5 from 11 votes

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Prep Time: 20 mins

Cook Time: 35 mins

Proofing time: 1 hr 45 mins

Total Time: 2 hrs 40 mins

Coooking Temperature: 375°F /190°C / Gas Mark 5

Difficulty: Easy

Calories: 190kcal

Adjust Servings Here: 12 slices

Description

This is the Japanese sandwich bread shokupan, also known as the Hokkaido milk bread. It uses an Asian tangzhong method and produces the softest, lightest, and an airiest slice of bread you will ever make. Amazing on its own, perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and of course sandwiches

Video

Ingredients 

1x2x3x

Tangzhong/water-roux

• ▢ ¼ cup (60 ml) Milk
• ▢ ¼ cup (60 ml) Water
• ▢ 2 tablespoon (30 g) Bread flour

Dough

• ▢ 1 Batch Tangzhong prepared above
• ▢ ½ cup (120 ml) Milk
• ▢ 0.75 oz (21 g) Fresh yeast or 2 ¼ teaspoon instant yeast
• ▢ 2 tablespoon Sugar
• ▢ 1 tablespoon Milk powder
• ▢ 1 Egg large
• ▢ 4 tablespoon (60 g) Unsalted butter room temperature
• ▢ 3 cups (375 g) Bread flour
• ▢ 1 teaspoon Salt
• ▢ ½ cup (60 g) Flour for kneading

Plus

• ▢ 1 Egg for egg wash
• ▢ 2 tablespoon Water for egg wash

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Instructions

Tangzhong

• In a saucepan, combine water and flour with a whisk until no lumps. Add the milk and combine well again.

  Pro tip - It is very important to make sure you have no lumps as these will be difficult to remove from the dough.
• Place the saucepan over medium heat and cook this mixture for 2 to 3 minutes. Keep stirring constantly to prevent lumps.

  Pro tip - Keep the heat on medium to low. At first, the mixture will take a while to thicken, but then it does get thicker quickly. So, keep a close eye and take it off just when it reaches almost paste consistency similar to a pudding.
• Take it off the heat and transfer it into a bowl or plate. Cover and let cool to almost room temperature. Make sure the plastic touches the surface of the tangzhong to prevent a skin.

  Pro tip - Removing from the hot pan will prevent it from cooking further as we don't want it to get lumpy.
• At first, the mixture will take a while to thicken, but then it does get thicker quickly. So, keep a close eye and take it off just when it reaches almost paste consistency, similar to a pudding (see video).

Dough

• In a bowl of a stand mixer - add the lukewarm milk (no warmer than 110 F) and the yeast. Combine well with a whisk. Then, add the sugar, milk powder, egg and cooled tangzhong.
• Add the flour and salt. Turn the mixer on medium-high speed.

  Pro tip - Scrape the sides of the bowl well to ensure all the flour is well incorporated and do not add more flour yet.
• Once all the flour has been incorporated, knead:

  - By hand - transfer to a well-dusted worktop and knead for 5 to 6 minutes

  - Stand mixer - once all the flour is well incorporated knead on medium for 4 to 5 minutes
• Then, gradually add the butter, one tablespoon at a time. Once all the butter has been incorporated, knead for 3 minutes more.
• When the dough is soft, shiny, but still slightly sticky shape into a ball. Place the dough in an oiled bowl seam side down. Coat the surface with oil to prevent drying. Cover with a clean kitchen cloth or plastic wrap.
• Leave in a warm place. Let rise for 60 to 90 minutes until double in volume.

  Pro tip - In winter, you may need 90 minutes or more. But in summer, the dough may double in 45 minutes. If you can't attend to it at that moment, de-gas, reshape, and let double in volume again.

Shape the loaf

• When the dough is double in volume, transfer to a well-dusted floured surface. De-gas, reshape into a ball.

  Pro-tip - at this point there is no need for additional flour. So use a light dusting of flour.
• Roll the dough into a cylinder and divide the dough into 4 portions. Weigh the portions to ensure they are similar in size. Mine was about 200 to 215 grams each.
• Shape each portion into a tight roll. To do this correctly,

  - flatten the dough on an unfloured surface.

  - Fold the top and two sides in.

  - Then roll towards you into a sausage shape.

Proof and bake

• Place the shaped portions in a 9 x 4 loaf pan. Cover with a clean kitchen cloth or plastic wrap and leave in a warm place for about 45 minutes until almost double in size.

  Pro tip - Spray the plastic wrap with oil to prevent it from sticking to the rolls.
• When the bread is almost double in volume at about 30 minutes, preheat the oven to 375°F / 190°C / Gas Mark 5
• Brush the rolls with egg wash, milk, or cream

  Pro tip - Egg wash is a full egg with 2 tablespoon of water. An egg wash will give a nice golden color. If you can't use egg, milk or cream will work just as well. Do not use oil or butter as it will create a crust.
• Bake for about 30 to 40 minutes until lightly golden on top. If the top of the sandwich bread is getting too dark, tent it with an aluminum foil. When baked brush with melted butter.

  Pro tip - This is optional but adds a nice flavor and keeps the top crust soft.
• Take it out of the pan and cover it with a clean kitchen cloth for at least 5 minutes to keep it soft

  Pro tip - Do not leave the bread in the pan for too long as the steam will make the bread soggy on the bottom.

Recipe Notes

• Cook the tangzhong at medium to low speed so the flour has a chance to absorb the liquid - if you cook on high heat the liquid will evaporate. 
• Also, you need to stir the tangzhong continuously but not vigorously. Why? we want to avoid gluten formation. 
• The tangzhong must be a paste consistency and it gets thicker as it cools so remove it earlier rather than later. If it gets too thick and lumpy it will be difficult to incorporate into the dough. 
• Cool the tangzhong to room temperature before you add it to the dough. But do not place it in the fridge to avoid lumps. 
• Add salt to the flour, not the yeast mixture. Salt can kill the yeast. 
• Knead the dough for the time mentioned in the recipe. Using a timer works great to under or over-knead the dough. this is a high-hydration dough which means it has more water compared to other bread dough. As such, the dough is quite soft to knead so a stand mixer makes it easier. Having said that, you can certainly knead this dough by hand. In fact, I have done it on many occasions. And chilling the dough for an hour after the first rise will make it easier to shape.
• Bread flour works best for this bead making it soft and chewy. Having said that, I have used all-purpose flour and it works just as well.
• Overnight Bread - The dough can be prepared a day in advance. Proof them for an hour on the counter then punch down and let the dough rest in the fridge overnight. Overnight proofing is a great way to add flavor to the bagels. The next day, let the dough come to room temperature before you shape and bake them. 
• Storing sandwich bread- this sandwich bread does freeze beautifully. Cool the baked bread then place it in a freezer-safe storage bag. These can be frozen for up to a month. I like to cut the sandwich bread into slices and freeze the slices so my kids can thaw the slices as needed, 
• Kneading the dough - If possible use an electric mixer because the dough is soft and sticky. 
• Bread machine - buns can be easily made in a bread machine. Pour all ingredients in the pan set to dough or manual. Start and let the dough run its cycle for about 9 to 10 minutes - continue with the recipe as shown above. 
• The dough did not rise? -Most often the simplest explanation for this is that the liquid (milk) used was not warm. You need the liquid to be no more than 110 F/ 41 C. Hotter than that will not activate the yeast. In some cases, it could also be that the yeast was old and not good.
• Dry dense, not soft bread? If you add too much flour to the dough the bread will be dense, not soft. You want the dough to be soft, elastic, and still slightly sticky when kneading. Follow the recipe and look at the video to see my consistency of dough.
• Bread deflated during baking -Prove the buns for only 45 minutes or until just almost double in volume. They will continue to rise some more in the oven when baking. If you overproof the buns they tend to rise and deflate when baking.

 

Adapted from -

King Arthur Flour

Inspired by -

The bread bakers apprentice, Flour water salt and yeast

Nutrition Information

Calories: 190- kcalCarbohydrates: 28- gProtein: 6- gFat: 6- gSaturated Fat: 3- gCholesterol: 40- mgSodium: 215- mgPotassium: 80- mgFiber: 1- gSugar: 3- gVitamin A: 195- IUCalcium: 33- mgIron: 1- mg

The nutrition information and metric conversion are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee its accuracy. If this data is important to you please verify with your trusted nutrition calculator. Thank you

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