Glazes for Baked Goods & Pillowy Soft Dinner Rolls

From 12:00 clockwise the glazes are: Egg White, Milk, Egg/Cream, Melted Butter, Egg/Milk, Olive OIl, Water, Flour, Whole Egg. Center top left: Plain, Cream. Bottom, egg yolk

Glazes for Baked Goods demonstrates the different finishes that can be applied to breads and baked goods.  Those shiny crusts you see in a bakers window is because the bread, cookies or other products have been glazed or washed as it is also called to look more enticing.

Why Glaze

A very good explanation of what takes place when glazed comes from Cook’s Illustrated.  “To create dark, burnished crusts on their loaves, professional bakers brush milk, egg, or water onto the surface of the risen dough before baking. Each of these washes enhances browning by triggering the Maillard reaction, in which carbohydrates and proteins recombine under heat to produce new flavor compounds (and deeper color). But each does it a different way for a slightly different finish.

Milk’s naturally occurring sugars work in conjunction with proteins from the flour. In an egg wash, the egg itself contains proteins necessary for browning. Water, on the other hand, causes some of the starches on the surface of the dough to break down into glucose. Once the water evaporates, the glucose interacts with the flour proteins to create browning.”

Baking gets better when you subscribe

Baking gets better when you subscribe to receive this PDF on getting the most out of baking including information on equipment, ingredients and baking equipment.

Email Address

By subscribing, I consent to receiving emails.

While I agree with the explanation in the main, a lot of bakers use a special spray to speed up production.  The point is, everyone likes a shiny crust to a lot of breads and baked goods.

While glazes are most often used to enhance the appearance of baked goods, they also can act as glue for seeds, sugars or crumbs.

Rose Levy Beranbaum reminds us in an article in Epicurious, “If using an egg glaze, do not use steam during baking, as it will dull the shine.

Browning/Shine Depend Upon the Dough Underneath – Lean or Rich

No matter what Glazes for Baked Goods are used, it also depends upon what’s underneath the glaze.  If the dough is lean (water, flour, yeast and salt) the shine won’t be as intense.  These products usually are washed with water or egg white.  Rich doughs (milk, flour, yeast, salt, eggs and sugar at a minimum) are great to use with egg, egg yolk, cream or a mixture of egg and cream.  More on that below.

But which glaze for what baked goods.  What does each do?  Are all equal?  Here’s some help.  There are about 12 glazes and one I haven’t used before but will pass on.  I’m going to list these in the order of the shine they will give.

You will see there are dramatic differences and almost no difference.  The choice is  yours.

Applying the Glaze

Brush on the glazes with a pastry brush.  Try not to let it run down the sides onto the parchment paper lining the tray.  This is especially true with egg glazes as the can seal the product to the parchment, not allowing them to expand fully.

If the glaze is too thick to go  on smoothly, add a bit of water, milk or cream to thin it out but not too much.

Glazes for Baked Goods

Water – Applied just before baking by spritzing or brushing.  The water delays a crust forming allowing yeasted breads to expand more before setting.  Very little in the way of shine.

Milk – The sugars in the milk aid in browning the crust. Brush on before baking.

Cream - Same as milk.

Olive Oil or other oils such as Garlic Oil -  It can be brushed on before and after baking.  No shine but used for flavor, especially since garlic, herbs, etc. can be added.  It makes a chewy crust.

Flour – while not a glaze, it is often used with bread, especially sour dough bread.  It gives a rustic finish or it can be stenciled for a more elegant finish.  Provides a chewy crust.  Always before baking. Spray the dough very lightly with water and sprinkle with flour.  

Melted Butter – this can be applied before or after baking.  It softens the crust and adds some browning but not a lot of shine.

Whole Egg – the egg is beaten to mix the white and yolk completely.  Adding about 1 teaspoon of water makes it brush on easier.  It adds brown color and shine.  Normally applied just before baking, there are instances when it is applied twice for a deeper color.

Egg White – usually applied with lean doughs, the white is beaten till foamy.  ½ teaspoon water can be added if desired but I usually use it without water.  This is perfect used as glue to hold seeds, etc. on during baking.  Always apply just before baking.

Egg Yolk – mixing an egg yolk with a ½ teaspoon of water and applied just before baking will give a deeply browned crust and the most shine.

Egg with Milk – Combine an egg yolk with a teaspoon or two of milk gives a deeper shine and a softer crust than yolk alone.  Apply just before baking.

Egg with Cream – This and the plain egg yolk are the deepest color, almost mahogany, and most shine.  It is used for rich doughs and applied just before baking.

Cornstarch – makes a shiny, hard crust.  Can be applied before or after baking while the product is still hot.  Here is the recipe.

1 ½ teaspoons cornstarch
6 tablespoons water, divided

Whisk the cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water.  Heat the remaining water to a boil and stirin the cornstarch mixture.  Simmer until thickened and translucent, about 30 seconds to a minute.  Cool to room temperature.  Apply just before baking.

Honey or Sweetners  - I don’t use these because they generally stay somewhat sticky.  Apply after baking.

PILLOWY SOFT DINNER ROLLS

¾ cups milk
4 tablespoons unsalted butter (58 grams, 2 ounces or ½ stick)
¼ cup sugar (50 grams or 1 ¾ ounces)
1 ¾ teaspoons active dry or 1 ½ teaspoon instant dry yeast
¼ cup water (105 degrees)
1 large egg
1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon salt
3 ½ cups bread flour* (490 grams or 17 ¼ ounces)
1 egg white, lightly beaten
Sesame, Flax or Poppy Seeds, optional

*All-purpose flour may be substituted.

Combine the milk, butter, and sugar in a saucepan.  Bring to a simmer and heat until butter is melted and sugar is dissolved.  Cool to lukewarm.

Note about the yeast:  If using active dry yeast, add it to the milk mixture above after it has cooled.  If using instant yeast, add the water to the milk, butter and sugar.  Add the instant yeast to the flour.

Place the egg, egg yolk and salt in a mixing bowl.  Beat to combine yolks and white.  Add the milk mixture.

Combine the flour and the instant yeast

Add the flour to the bowl.  Attach the dough hook and beat until combined.  After the flour is incorporated, beat for 3 to 4 minutes to knead the dough.

It should be soft, and very smooth.  Spray a large bowl and place

the dough in the bowl.  Turn so the top is greased.  Cover with film and allow to rise in a warm place for about 1 ½ hours until doubled in bulk.

Refrigerate overnight if desired.

When ready to shape, deflate the dough.  Divide into 15 pieces 2 ounces each.  Roll into balls or shape as desired.  Place on a parchment lined baking sheet and allow to rise until doubled, about 1 ½ hours. Brush with egg white and sprinkle with seeds if using.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Double Pan.  Bake 15 to 18 minutes until deep golden brown.

Note:  These freeze very well.  Heat in a 350 degree oven for

8 to 10 minutes from the freezer.

Yield:  15 Rolls

If you enjoyed this blog, you might also enjoy these;

Pane Bianco
No Knead Sicilian Olive Bread
Soft Flatbreads