There is something rather addictive about a brioche: a goodness so subtle, it makes me wonder if the femme or homme who uttered the phrase “je ne sais quoi” for the first time ever was tucking into a brioche. This beautiful bread has a light but close-knit and soft crumb, an elegant, barely-there sweetness, and a flaky, golden crust that melts in your mouth. In France, a brioche (pronounced bri-yosh) is considered a “viennoiserie,” a breakfast bread like croissant, falling as it does at the cusp of a bread and a cake. Traditional brioche recipes uses a ton of butter and eggs to get that incredible texture and rich flavor. But making a perfect brioche without eggs and butter is very possible. I’ve shared with you two versions of a vegan brioche in past years: a stunning avocado brioche, that uses avocado in lieu of most of the butter, and this recipe that I am resharing today with updated photos and a video that shows the entire process step by step: a vegan olive oil brioche. This vegan brioche uses aquafaba or chickpea brine instead of eggs (a technique I also use in my vegan chocolate babka). It is a must-try if you love baking bread. The aquafaba gives the bread a wonderful lightness and helps achieve that perfect, soft, feathery texture. Olive oil stands in nicely for the butter, and it makes this indulgent bread a little healthier too!
Why you will love this vegan brioche
Perfect texture. Vegan brioche recipes often sacrifice the eggs and just use vegan butter instead of regular butter. But the eggs are a key ingredient in this bread and without them you won’t get that light texture so important in a brioche. Aquafaba solves that problem with ease, allowing for that amazing texture without the eggs. Rich flavor. The extra virgin olive oil adds the perfect, rich flavor to the brioche, and it keeps the bread healthier than if you were using vegan butter (store-bought versions tend to be ultra-processed). Easy recipe. It can be daunting to make a brioche, but rest easy because the step-by-step video demystifies the process so you can see exactly what the dough should look like at every stage of the process. Soy-free, nut-free and vegan recipe. It’s hard to imagine anyone could keep their hands off this amazing bread, and they won’t!
Storage instructions
Refrigerate: Store the vegan brioche in a bread box or airtight container or plastic bag at room temperature or in the fridge for up to five days. Freeze: Freeze the brioche in a freezer-safe container or bag for up to four months. Thaw fully and warm in oven before serving.
More yummy vegan bread recipes
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Vegan French Toast. Brioche is the perfect base for a delectable vegan French toast recipe. Or add the leftover brioche to this gorgeous vegan French toast casserole. Bread pudding. Add the brioche to a bread pudding, like this vegan apple bread pudding or this vegan pumpkin bread pudding. Savory dinner casserole. The slightly sweet brioche works wonders in savory casserole recipes. Try adding it to this vegan muffaletta casserole instead of Italian bread, or this vegan spinach, sausage and cheese casserole. Strata. Brioche is especially yummy in strata recipes, like this vegan zucchini breakfast strata. Sandwiches. Vegan brioche bread is great for sandwiches. Use it for a simple PBJ or add lots of savory fillings of your choice.
