These cinnamon cream brioche pastries are the perfect breakfast-in-bed – fluffy discs of buttery brioche dough filled with a rich cinnamon pastry cream filling.
cinnamon cream brioche

I made you breakfast.

Like, a month ago.

And then…we kind of ate it all.

Can you ever forgive me??

cinnamon cream brioche breakfast

I mean, if I were you, I might not.

Because these are really good and there are approximately thirty days of your life that you had to go without them. And it didn’t need to be that way.

My bad.

cinnamon cream brioche pastry

But you guys are nicer/much less vindictive than I am.

And it’s VALENTINE’S DAY.

Which is like…the holiday of love and forgiveness…

…and eating pastry for breakfast in bed.

Let’s make it happen.

cinnamon cream brioche pastry

These cinnamon cream brioche pastries are going to require an overnight stint in the refrigerator, so I suggest whipping up the brioche and the pastry cream the night before the morning of.

Then, the next morning you’re only about an hour away from warm buttery brioche cinnamon heaven pastry cream goodness. Half of which is spent sitting/staring through your oven door/counting down the minutes.

It may very well end up being the longest hour of your life. But I promise it will be so worth it.

You can just send on over those forgiveness notes by Sunday morning. I’ll be waiting.

(Happy Valentine’s Day!!)

cinnamon cream brioche breakfast

Two years ago…Mango and Black Bean Casserole

Three years ago…Pasta with Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Feta and Arugula

Four years ago…Chicken with Caramelized Baby Onions and Honey

Five years ago…Mashed Eggplant and Tomato Salad

Cinnamon Cream Brioche
 
These cinnamon-cream brioche pastries are the perfect breakfast-in-bed - fluffy discs of buttery brioche dough filled with a rich cinnamon pastry cream filling.
Yield: 8 pastries
Ingredients
For the brioche
  • 1 cup + 2 tbsp (157 g) all purpose flour
  • 1 cup + 2 tbsp (170 g) bread flour
  • 1½ tsp active dry yeast
  • ⅙ cup (40 g) sugar
  • ½ tbsp kosher salt
  • 3 large eggs
  • ½ cup plus 3 tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature, cut into small dice
For the pastry cream
  • 1¼ cups milk
  • ½ cup sugar
  • ¼ cup cake flour
  • ½ tsp kosher salt
  • 4 egg yolks
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
For the pastry
  • 1½ cups creme fraiche
  • 1¼ cups sugar
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
Instructions
For the brioche
  1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the all purpose flour, bread flour, yeast, salt, eggs, and ¼ cup water. Beat on low until all of the ingredients come together, about 3 minutes, scraping the side of the bowl as needed. Beat on low speed for an additional 3-4 minutes. The dough will be stiff and dry.
  2. With the mixer on low speed, add the butter, one piece at a time, only adding the next until the former has been incorporated. Mix on low speed, scraping the bowl occasionally, for 10 minutes.
  3. Increase the mixer to medium speed and beat for another 15 minutes. The dough should be sticky, soft, and shiny. Increase the speed to high and beat for 1 minute. Gather up the dough and transfer to a large bowl. Cover with plastic wrap, pressing it down directly onto the surface of the dough. Let proof in the refrigerator overnight.
For the pastry cream
  1. Heat the milk over medium-high heat in a saucepan until small bubbles start to form along the side of the pan. In a separate bowl, stir together the sugar, flour and salt. In another bowl, whisk the egg yolks together, then slowly whisk in the flour/sugar mixture.
  2. Slowly add the milk to the egg/sugar/flour mix, whisking constantly. When it has been fully incorporated, add the new mixture to the saucepan and heat over medium, whisking constantly, for 3 minutes or until the mixture thickens and starts to boil. After the mixture starts to boil, whisk it vigorously for 10 seconds, and then remove from the heat.
  3. Push the custard through a fine-mesh sieve, into a heatproof bowl. Stir in the vanilla and cover with plastic wrap, placing it directly onto the surface of the cream. Refrigerate overnight.
For the pastry
  1. Preheat oven to 350. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. Shape the brioche into a rectangle that is 8 inches long and 4 inches wide. Cut the rectangle into eight squares.
  3. Stretch each square into a circle that is about 5 inches in diameter. The inner part of the circle should be pretty thin, while the edges should be thicker. Place onto one of the parchment-lined baking sheets. Repeat with remaining dough, placing 4 on each baking sheet.
  4. Spread about 2 tbsp of the pastry cream over the base of each brioche circle. Place 3 tbsp of the creme fraiche on top of the pastry cream in each brioche circle, leaving the rim untouched. In a small bowl, mix together the sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle it over the creme fraiche center as well as the rim of each brioche pastry.
  5. Bake for 25-30 minutes, switching the pans halfway through baking. The brioche should be golden brown along the edge. Let cool for 10-15 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Information
Serving size: 1 pastry

cinnamon cream brioche pastry

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80 Responses to Cinnamon Cream Brioche

  1. Luigi says:

    Been missing for a while. Wow you are still turning out amazing blog posts and the photos look like I can reach in the screen and grab them. OK Confession. I may have licked the screen once or twice. lol. 🙂

  2. So honestly I’m impressed when you say “we” ate them all. Because if it has been here, it would have been “I” ate them all. In my defense, he sleeps in and I wake up early. Ok, I would have saved him a few.
    These look amazing.

  3. You think Matt will make these for me? Haha probably not but it would be nice:-)

  4. Oh man, I think I could eat that pastry cream by the spoonful!
    Happy Valentine’s! 🙂

  5. Simply Life says:

    yuuum! what a perfect, romantic breakfast!

  6. Julia says:

    I LOVE CREAM-FILLED PASTRIIIIIIIIES! Sorry. Let’s make a fresh batch of these, roomie (do you like how I’ve officially invited myself to live with you and the.boy? do you like it? do you like it?) and watch re-runs of…anything. HAPPY V DAAAAAAY!!

  7. Yes please! Served with some pink hot chocolate

  8. Oh my gawd, I can smell them! (and they smell amazing…) I forgive you for eating them, but I’d love it if you made me another batch and sent it express mail. 😉

  9. Deena Kakaya says:

    Sigh, this is the sort of food that smells as good as it tastes and looks. Happy valentines day Joanne x

  10. SallyBR says:

    Absolutely wonderful….. if I could indulge on this type of concoction this weekend I would, but with V-day being today and we going out for dinner, my excesses for the week will be done.

    gotta be serious, you know…. keep my waist the way it is. At all costs.

    Vain, who, me?

    Happy V-day!

  11. You’re forgiven. You make us lots of delightful things, so I think we can let this one slide. 🙂

  12. Oh my gosh these look SO GOOD, Joanne!!! Pastries with sweet creamy/cheesy middles are my absolute favorites. Happy Valentine’s Day!

  13. Oh yes!! I’ll be on board for breakfast in bed right now with a few of these!

  14. LOve the cream filling! Happy Valentine’s Day!!

  15. Happy Valentine’s Day to meeee. Do you deliver by chance? *crying*

  16. Jess says:

    These sound delicious! Love the cinnamon cream 🙂

  17. Oh my gosh!! These look soooo good! I would totally eat all of them!

  18. I think I will be able to forgive you as long as a box full of these babies appears in front of my door within the next two hours. Oh maaaaan, do they look awesome!
    They must make the most perfect breakfast in bed…ever.

  19. LOL! This looks insanely delicious! Happy Valentine’s Day to you!!!

  20. Teffy says:

    Oh dear gaawd! Those seem perfect for this cold and rain.
    Could just tuck into them in the cosiness of my living room and not move for hours.

    {Teffy’s Perks} X

  21. All will be forgiven if you send me some of these STAT! These look heavenly!

  22. Ahhhhh – I would be perfectly happy with only this lovely brioche for Valentine’s Day.

  23. Happy Valentine’s Day Joanne – your last before you become a married woman! xoxox

  24. I agree with Shashi 🙂 This is totally appropriate for bed with a piping hot coffee.

  25. NOOOO! I DO NOT FORGIIIVE YOU! HOW COULD YOU DOOO THIS TO MEEEEE??! They look so puffy….and yummy….and perrrrfect *sob*

    but…*sniffle*…it iiiis Valentine’s Day *sigh* sooooo I forgive you. Just this once.

    😛

  26. cheri says:

    Wow! These looks so good. I would be having this for lunch and dinner too! Hehe!

  27. Why you got to taught me so? These brioche look amazing.

  28. You have a way, Joanne – you make me want to just stay in the kitchen and cook. These are beautiful!

  29. cassie says:

    I love this cinnamon-sugar thing you have going on. I want one (or five) of these!

  30. Oh man these sound AMAZING!!! Absolutely love them and then you added cream! I can imagine the warm bread in my mouth now, LOL!

  31. Pam says:

    If I was your neighbor you could have hand delivered one of these beauties to me. Why oh why do we live across the country from each other? They look decadent and so delicious Joanne.

  32. Holly molly these look awesome. I love the fact that you used creme fraiche. So many good recipes you have posted lately. I can’t keep up 🙂

  33. I wish I woke up to a couple of these this morning!

  34. I would love to wake up to this delicious brioche!
    Have a sweet and lovely Valentine’s Day!
    Angie

  35. I’d love to wake up to a warm piece of this Joanne. Happy Valentine’s Day!

  36. Hello there cinnamon treat! I’d wake up bright and early just to see you! 😉
    Seriously, these look amazingly delicious!! Happy Valentine’s Day! 🙂

  37. Oh wow, these would make for the best breakfast in bed!

  38. sandra says:

    I was confused… but now I get it. You meant to post this a month ago, but it works for today, it being Valentine’s Day and all… no worries. It was worth the wait.

  39. How very lovely. I’d be such a happy camper waking up to these!

  40. Lovely! I think I’ll show these to Quinn and hope he’ll make them for me this weekend.

  41. Hotly Spiced says:

    These must smell so good as they’re cooking. They look amazing and yes, what a great way to start Valentine’s Day! Or any day. Always love a home cooked breakfast xx

  42. Whoa – this is such a neat idea friend!! I’m dyiiiiing!

  43. Kate says:

    You know, I’m not usually so into sweets for breakfast, but I would make an exception for these!

  44. Oh my gosh Joanne, this is so perfect! I would just love your cinnamon cream brioche for breakfast!! Heck, anytime of the day! Happy Valentine’s Day!!

  45. looks so simple yet soooo delicious!

  46. Danielle says:

    Mmmm! Completely delicious! How I would LOVE to wake up to one (or three!) of these!

  47. My jaw dropped when I saw these gorgeous pastries! It’s early AM here and I have the apartment to myself for a few hours…I’m going to see if I have everything on hand for these beauties and if not, I might be running to the store!

    Hope you and your sweetie had a wonderful Valentine’s Day!!

  48. Shannon says:

    those certainly look a great breakfast treat 🙂

  49. Victoria says:

    I have this cookbook and have been eyeing this recipe. It looks too good to be true, haha. Will have to add this to my to do list 🙂 yummy!

  50. Happy Late Valentine’s Day since I went into a coma after dinner and didn’t touch my laptop. These look gooood – the perfect breakfast treat!

  51. Karen says:

    Question: are you using the dough hook or paddle for making the dough?

  52. Oh my gosh… these things look nothing shy of completely heavenly.
    Pinned!

  53. Megan says:

    Aw! I used to make these at Flour. They are so good! Definitely worth making at home!

  54. I will be dreaming of this breakfast tonight. Wowza!

  55. Rachel says:

    This looks simply divine. I love making different bread things with sweet flavours for breakfast, so I’ll be sure to bookmark this!

  56. Barbara says:

    I am totally drooling here. And just had breakfast. I so wish that had been in my kitchen!!

  57. I want to wake up to these every morning. I’m imagining the soft buttery goodness right now.

  58. Wowza. These look so good, I don’t mind that you’ve been holding out on us 😉 I am craving this for breakfast now!

  59. How I wish I could have one right away…no, may be two or three perhaps 😀

  60. Karen says:

    Perfect with a nice cup of coffee!

  61. Joyti says:

    I hope you had a great Valentine’s day! The brioche looks mighty tasty, and that cinnamon cream sounds delectable.

  62. Kathryn says:

    I’m definitely one for a pastry in bed – these brioche look perfectly light + fluffy and that cinnamon cream in the middle is totally calling my name.

  63. Catherine says:

    Beautiful and delicious.

  64. OMG. we had brioche rolls last week when out for lunch and i once again fell in love with that bread. these seem perfectly indulgent and i must have them asap!

  65. Well, ok then. I am loving everything about this decadent breakfast. Except for the fact that there’s no way I’d ever get E to make them for me. I’ll just have to make them myself. Probably for the best… that way I can eat some of the dough along the way.

  66. Oh wow, I would love this for breakfast in bed or not in bed.

  67. This recipe seriously can’t get any better. Geez.

  68. grace says:

    and with pastry cream in the middle? my stars. this is an absolutely decadent breakfast treat!

  69. Margarita says:

    hey joanne, just wondering if you had any technical difficulties last week? somehow, none of your posts showed up on my reading list last week and i almsot wondered if something bad happened to you since you’re pretty consistent with your schedule of posts. anyway, when i woke up today, all the stuff i missed from last week showed up.

    looks like you’ve been busy in the kitchen as always… this cream brioche looks like heaven!

  70. oh man. i wish i had a batch of these waiting for me at home!

  71. Reeni says:

    I can imagine having these for breakfast in bed – in a hotel in Paris! That’s what they remind me of. A delectable French pastry. They look as if they would just melt in my mouth. Gorgeous.

  72. It took a lot of preparation. But in the end it was all worth it. Breakfast fast in bed with this fluffy pastry and its very reach filling is perfect.

  73. Deborah says:

    This is my idea of breakfast in bed!!

  74. Nutmeg Nanny says:

    These are dreamy 🙂 I can already taste the delectable goodness in my mouth, yum!

  75. cori says:

    Hi There! I’m in the process of making these & am wondering if rapid rise yeast would be okay to replace the active dry yeast, as it’s all I have available right now. Thanks 😉

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