Shokupan – The easiest Japanese Milk Bread Recipe

Shokupan is a fun word to say, directly translated, it means “food bread”. If you’ve never heard of it, then which rock have you been living under? Japanese milk bread or Shokupan has been gaining popularity for a number of years, and now they are everywhere!

And for good reason.

So what is Shokupan?

Shokupan is a feathery soft and fluffy white loaf of bread with origins from Japan. Eaten as toasts or made into various delicious sandwiches, it’s enjoyed as an everyday bread in Japan. It has a mild, pleasing taste…slightly sweet…definitely milky with a hint of saltiness to balance things out.

However, it is its texture that most people will remember. While warm, you can pull strands of Shokupan apart and eat it like cotton candy. After it’s cooled down and sliced, the bread has a bouncy integrity that both yields to creamy sandwich fillings like the Japanese Tamago (egg) or fruit Sandos, while holding up meatier fillings like Pork Katsu Sando.

Not unlike its cousin, the North American sliced bread sold in plastic bags in every grocery store, Shokupan has minimal crust and pillowy interior. However, the resemblance stops there. Japanese milk bread is enriched and has way more fat. In fact, 7 times more, either coming from milk, butter or in this case, cream.

Shokupan Vs. Hokkaido Milk bread

To be honest, I’m not really sure of the difference. Except that Hokkaido milk breads have a slightly sweeter flavour than the more ubiquitous Shokupan. So unless you are using milk, butter or cream from Hokkaido prefecture in Japan…can you really call your loaf Hokkaido milk bread?

Some VERY necessary equipments

Before you dive into the recipe, please consider the following.

1. The digital scale.

I’ve been using my scale to make all breads for a while now and I’ve got to say that it just makes sense. Bread making is a precise science and to get it to work every time, you’ve got to start with the right proportion of ingredients.

For example, this recipe is simple to do because it calls for just one bowl and a scale. Everything is measured in one go, making it accurate, mess-free and so easy.

2. A stand mixer

There are many breads that you can make by hand…but this isn’t one of them. This is a high hydration dough, which means two things. First, you will end up with a very soft moist bread and second, it’s super messy to handle. And handle it you must.

This dough calls to be kneaded until it passes the “windowpane test”. Basically, where you can stretch it really really thin, without tearing it, until it’s see through. It took my mixer 20min to get there…I don’t about you, but my arms just don’t have that kind of stamina.

3. Pullman loaf pans

You can of course use a standard loaf pan (9" x 5" x 2.5" OR 23 x13 x 6cm) for like banana bread or something. But simply put, it won’t look as impressive or typical of a Shokupan. Pullman loaf pans are smaller and taller, mine are (8" x 4.5" x 4.5" OR 20 x 11 x 11 cm) so it encourages the doughs to rise higher. It also comes with a lid so you can opt for a closed bake where you end up with a geometrical loaf. And bonus points for being super doper non-stick that I don’t ever have to grease it!

So if you are serious about making Japanese milk breads or any other Loaf breads…and why wouldn’t you be? I would highly suggest purchasing one or two of the pullman pans on Amazon. The joy that I get from easily sliding out a perfect loaf of Shokupan definitely out weights the cost.

Why not use Yudane or Tangzhong?

This Shokupan recipe does not use the popular methods of Yudane or Tangzhong, which is cooking a portion of the dough beforehand to gelatinize the starches. And that in turn will hold and retain more moisture in the final product. Check out my Peanut butter chocolate teddy bear buns post to know more.

This recipe does not use it because it doesn’t need it. In fact, traditional Shokupan made in Japan does not always use the above mention techniques. While those recipes have been popularized in recent years in the making of milk breads, it’s an extra step that can be omitted here.

Don’t believe me? I urge you to give this recipe a try. You will see how soft this bread turns out. And how long it’ll last stored in plastic bags.

The cream

I’ve used both “table cream” (18-30% fat) as well as “whipping cream” (30-36% fat) to make this Shokupan and they both work. However there are some trade offs.

- The whipping cream, with its higher fat content gives the bread a richer mouth feel. But it takes longer to knead to the windowpane stage and for the bread to rise for the second time.

- The lesser fatty cream will enable the dough to come together quicker, but you won’t get that creamier taste in the finish product.

So the choice is up to you.

The flour

Sliding a perfectly baked loaf of Shokupan or Japapanese milk bread out of the pan is a joyful experience. So to maximize the chance of success, use bread flour. With it’s higher protein content of around 11-13%, depending on where you live, you will have a better rise and an easier time working the gluten.

And there you have it! Nothing else to say except to go give this recipe a try. Making Shokupan or Japanese milk breads is a lot of fun and your family, both young and old will love the results. I promise.