Japan · East Asia

Japanese Milk Bread (Shokupan)

Name: Japanese Milk Bread (Shokupan)
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 35 min
Yield: One loaf
Cuisine: Japan
Ingredients: 25 g (3 tbsp) bread flour; 60 ml (1/4 cup) water; 60 ml (1/4 cup) milk; 350 g (2 3/4 cups) bread flour; 50 g (1/4 cup) sugar; 6 g (1 1/2 tsp) salt; 5 g (1 1/2 tsp) instant yeast; 125 ml (1/2 cup) warm milk; 1 egg; 40 g (3 tbsp) softened butter

Ultra-soft, fluffy white loaf

🛂 Passport Stamp No.010 · Postmarked in Japan

👦 Baked by Axl

40m

Prep

35m

Bake

One loaf

Makes

Intermediate

Level

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Postmark · Japan

🏛 A little history

Shokupan is Japan's everyday square loaf, prized for its cloud-soft, pull-apart crumb. It reflects how Japanese bakers adapted Western bread to local tastes after bread spread in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Its softness comes from a tangzhong (or yudane) — a cooked flour-and-liquid paste stirred into the dough that traps moisture and keeps the loaf tender for days.

👩‍🍳 Let's bake!

Cook the tangzhong ingredients over low heat, whisking, until a thick paste forms. Cool.
Combine all dough ingredients except butter with the tangzhong; knead 5 minutes.
Add butter and knead until the dough is smooth and passes the windowpane test, about 10 minutes.
Rise until doubled, about 1 hour. Divide into 2–3 pieces, roll up, and place side by side in a greased loaf pan.
Proof until the dough nears the rim, about 45 minutes.
Bake at 180°C (355°F) for 32–35 minutes until golden. Tip out and cool fully before slicing.

💡 Chef Axl's tips

The tangzhong is the secret to staying soft for days.
Knead until you can stretch a thin 'windowpane' of dough without tearing.

Pantry

All-Purpose Flour

The everyday workhorse for cakes, cookies, and breads.

🧺 Pantry staple

Pantry

Sugar

Sweetens and helps bakes turn golden and tender.

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Pantry

Vanilla Extract

A splash of warm, sweet aroma in every batter.

🧺 Pantry staple

Pantry

Butter

A rich, creamy base for doughs and frostings.

🧺 Pantry staple

Tools

Parchment Paper

Non-stick lining so nothing sticks to the pan.

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Tools

Rolling Pin

Tapered hardwood pin for smooth, even rolling.

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Tools

Bench Scraper

Cuts dough and scoops up your workspace in one move.

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Japanese Milk Bread (Shokupan)

🏛 A little history

👩‍🍳 Let's bake!

💡 Chef Axl's tips

Shop this recipe

All-Purpose Flour

Sugar

Vanilla Extract

Butter

Parchment Paper

Rolling Pin

Bench Scraper

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