Best Chocolate Chip Vanilla Custard Brioches

If there is a pastry that feels like a warm hug from a French bakery, it is these Chocolate Chip Vanilla Custard Brioches. Also known as Brioche Suisse or Pépitos, these are not your average morning buns. Max calls them "custard pillows" because they are impossibly soft, filled with a velvety vanilla cream that squishes delightfully when you take a bite. They are the ultimate weekend project that rewards you with a bakery-quality breakfast right at home.

A luxurious French-style pastry featuring soft brioche dough filled with thick vanilla custard and chocolate chips, glazed with simple syrup.

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Why You Will Love This Chocolate Chip Vanilla Custard Brioches

This recipe is a study in textures. You have the enriched, buttery brioche dough that pulls apart in tender strands, contrasted by the cool, smooth vanilla pastry cream hidden inside. The chocolate chips add a necessary snap and bitterness to cut through the rich custard. While they look intricate, the assembly is actually easier than cinnamon rolls. It is a luxurious treat that fits right in with holiday favorites like Christmas Bread or the decadent Hot Cocoa Cinnamon Rolls.

How To Make Chocolate Chip Vanilla Custard Brioches

To achieve the look in the photo, we make a rich yeast dough and a thick vanilla custard (crème pâtissière). Once both are ready, we roll the dough out, spread the cold custard over half, sprinkle generously with chocolate chips, and fold the dough over like a book. We cut this "sandwich" into rectangles, let them rise until puffy, and bake them until they are deep golden brown and the custard is peeking out the sides.

Chocolate Chip Vanilla Custard Brioches Ingredients

The Brioche Dough

• 3.5 cups all-purpose flour (or bread flour for more chew)
• ⅓ cup granulated sugar
• 1 packet (2 ¼ tsp) instant yeast
• ½ cup whole milk (warm, about 110°F)
• 3 large eggs (room temperature)
• ½ cup unsalted butter (softened, cut into cubes)
• 1 teaspoon salt

The Vanilla Custard (Pastry Cream)

• 2 cups whole milk
• 4 large egg yolks
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste or high-quality vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (cold)

The Filling & Glaze

• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (mini chips distribute best)
• 1 egg (beaten with a splash of water for egg wash)
• Simple syrup (¼ cup sugar dissolved in ¼ cup hot water) for the shine

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Step by Step Method

Make the Custard (Do this first!)

• In a medium bowl, whisk egg yolks, sugar, and cornstarch until pale and smooth.
• Heat the milk in a saucepan until it just starts to simmer. Slowly pour half the hot milk into the egg mixture while whisking constantly (tempering) so the eggs don't scramble.
• Pour everything back into the saucepan. Cook over medium heat, whisking vigorously, until the mixture thickens into a pudding consistency.
• Remove from heat; whisk in the vanilla and butter. Transfer to a bowl, cover with plastic wrap touching the surface (to prevent a skin), and refrigerate until completely cold.

Make the Dough

• In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine flour, sugar, yeast, and salt.
• Add warm milk and eggs. Mix on low speed until a shaggy dough forms.
• Increase speed to medium. Add the softened butter one cube at a time, waiting for each piece to incorporate. Knead for 10–12 minutes until the dough is smooth, elastic, and pulls away from the sides.
• Cover and let rise in a warm place for 1.5 to 2 hours, or until doubled in size.

Assemble

• Punch down the risen dough and roll it out on a floured surface into a large rectangle (approx. 12x16 inches).
• Spread the cold vanilla custard over one-half of the dough rectangle (lengthwise).
• Sprinkle the chocolate chips evenly over the custard.
• Fold the bare half of the dough over the filling to create a long log. Press the edges gently to seal.

Cut and Second Rise

• Cut the folded log into 8–10 rectangular strips (about 1.5 to 2 inches wide).
• Place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing them apart. Cover loosely and let rise for 45 minutes until puffy.

Bake

• Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
• Brush the brioches gently with the egg wash.
• Bake for 15–20 minutes until deep golden brown.
• Immediately upon removing from the oven, brush with simple syrup for that glossy bakery finish.

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Max’s Reaction: "It's like a donut and a pudding cup had a baby! The chocolate chips are crunchy but the yellow cream is so smooth."

What Pairs Well With Chocolate Chip Vanilla Custard Brioches

These pastries are rich, so they pair best with a strong, hot beverage. A dark roast coffee or a double shot of espresso cuts through the sweetness perfectly. If you are serving these for a holiday brunch, they sit beautifully alongside a savory main like our Breakfast Lasagna to offer a sweet counterpoint to the salty cheese and meats.

Chocolate Chip Vanilla Custard Brioches Variations

Orange Zest Twist

• Rub the zest of one orange into the sugar before making the custard. The citrus oil creates a beautiful "creamsicle" flavor profile that lifts the heavy dough.

Raisin & Rum

• Soak raisins in warm water (or rum for adults) and use them instead of chocolate chips for a traditional Pain aux Raisins flavor profile.

Berry Burst

• Scatter fresh blueberries or raspberries on top of the custard before folding the dough. The fruit will burst during baking, creating jammy pockets.

Almond Cream

• Mix ¼ cup of almond flour into the custard once it cools for a nuttier, frangipane-style filling. Top with sliced almonds before baking.

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Equipment

• Stand Mixer (highly recommended for brioche)
• Rolling Pin
• Whisk
• Baking Sheet with Parchment Paper

Storage / Make Ahead / Serving Tips

Storage Tips That Keep It Fresh

Because of the custard, these should be stored in the refrigerator if kept for more than 24 hours. They will last up to 3 days in the fridge.

Make Ahead Strategy

You can make the dough and the custard the day before. Let the dough do its first rise in the fridge overnight (cold fermentation makes the flavor better!). Assemble and bake in the morning.

Reheating Instructions

Brioche stales quickly in the fridge. Always reheat these in the microwave for 20 seconds or in a toaster oven for 2 minutes to bring the softness back to the bread and the creaminess back to the custard.

Chocolate Chip Vanilla Custard Brioches FAQs

A Taste of Paris

This recipe brings the magic of a French patisserie into your kitchen. It requires a little patience, but the result is undeniably impressive. If you love sweet, yeasted treats, you must try our Hot Cocoa Cinnamon Rolls for a winter warmer, or the classic Christmas Bread for a festive loaf that fills the house with the scent of spices.

Share your Chocolate Chip Vanilla Custard Brioches! Tag us @HannahCooking with #VanillaCustardBrioche; we’re dying to see your version and hear about your homemade kitchen stories!

⭐️ Rate this Chocolate Chip Vanilla Custard Brioches recipe and let us know what twists or ingredients you used!

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Chocolate Chip Vanilla Custard Brioches

A luxurious French-style pastry featuring soft brioche dough filled with thick vanilla custard and chocolate chips, glazed with simple syrup.

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Course: Breakfast, Dessert

Cuisine: French

Prep Time: 45 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Rising & Cooling: 2 hours hours 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 3 hours hours 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 10 pastry

Calories: 380kcal

Cost: $12

Equipment

• 1 Stand mixer (With dough hook)
• 1 Baking Sheet (Lined with parchment)
• 1 Saucepan (For custard)

Ingredients

• ▢ 3.5 cups all-purpose flour - For dough
• ▢ ⅓ cup sugar - For dough
• ▢ 2.25 teaspoon instant yeast - 1 packet
• ▢ ½ cup milk - Warm, for dough
• ▢ 3 large eggs - Room temp
• ▢ ½ cup butter - Softened
• ▢ 2 cups milk - For custard
• ▢ 4 large egg yolks - For custard
• ▢ ½ cup sugar - For custard
• ▢ 3 tablespoon cornstarch - Thickener
• ▢ 2 teaspoon vanilla bean paste - Flavor
• ▢ 1 cup chocolate chips - Semi-sweet

Instructions 

• Whisk yolks, sugar, and cornstarch. Temper with hot milk, then cook until thickened into custard. Cool completely.
• Knead flour, sugar, yeast, milk, eggs, and butter into a smooth dough. Let rise for 1.5 hours.
• Roll dough into a rectangle. Spread cold custard on half; sprinkle with chocolate chips. Fold over.
• Cut into strips. Place on baking sheet and let rise for 45 minutes.
• Brush with egg wash. Bake at 375°F for 15-20 mins. Brush with syrup while hot.

Notes

Ensure the custard is completely cold before assembling to prevent the dough from getting messy. Use vanilla bean paste for the best flavor.

Nutrition

Serving: 120g | Calories: 380kcal (19%) | Carbohydrates: 48g (16%) | Protein: 8g (16%) | Fat: 18g (28%) | Saturated Fat: 10g (63%) | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 95mg (32%) | Sodium: 200mg (9%) | Potassium: 150mg (4%) | Fiber: 2g (8%) | Sugar: 22g (24%) | Vitamin A: 500IU (10%) | Calcium: 60mg (6%) | Iron: 2mg (11%)