Brioixos (Catalan brioches)

Instructions

1. Dissolve the yeast in the lukewarm milk with a teaspoon of sugar and let it rest for 5 minutes.
2. In a bowl, mix the flour, the remaining sugar, the salt and the lemon zest.
3. Add the yeasted milk, the eggs and the orange blossom water, then knead for 5 minutes.
4. Work in the softened butter in small pieces and knead for another 10 minutes until you have a smooth, elastic dough.
5. Cover and let rise for 1 hour 30 minutes at room temperature, until doubled in size.
6. Punch down the dough, divide it into 8 to 10 balls and place them in buttered muffin tins or on a tray.
7. Let rise for another 30 minutes, brush with egg yolk if using, then bake at 180 °C for 15 to 20 minutes, until nicely golden.