Brioche Dough

For starter

* 1 teaspoon sugar
* 1/4 cup warm milk or water (105°F)
* 1 (1/4-ounce) package active dry yeast (2 1/2 teaspoons)
* 1/2 cup sifted all-purpose flour (sift before measuring)
INGREDIENTS

For dough

* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 3 tablespoons sugar
* 1 tablespoon hot milk or water
* 3 large eggs
* 1 1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour (sift before measuring)
* 1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch slices and well softened


* Special equipment: a standing electric mixer with whisk and dough-hook attachments

PREPARATION
Make starter:
Stir together sugar and milk in a small bowl. Sprinkle yeast over mixture and let stand until foamy, about 10 minutes. Stir flour into yeast mixture, forming a soft dough, and cut a deep X across top.

Let starter rise, covered with plastic wrap, at room temperature, 1 hour.

Make dough:
Combine salt, sugar, and hot milk in a small bowl and stir until salt and sugar are dissolved.

Fit mixer with whisk attachment, then beat 2 eggs at medium-low speed until fluffy. Add sugar mixture and beat until combined well. With motor running, add in order, beating after each addition: 1/2 cup flour, remaining egg, 1/2 cup flour, about one fourth of butter, and remaining 1/2 cup flour. Beat mixture 1 minute.

Remove bowl from mixer and fit mixer with dough-hook attachment. Spread starter onto dough with a rubber spatula and return bowl to mixer. Beat dough at medium-high speed 6 minutes, or until dough is smooth and elastic. Add remaining butter and beat 1 minute, or until butter is incorporated.

Lightly butter a large bowl and scrape dough into bowl with rubber spatula. Lightly dust dough with flour to prevent a crust from forming.

Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let dough rise at room temperature until more than doubled in bulk, 2 to 3 hours.

Punch down dough and lightly dust with flour.

Cover bowl with plastic wrap and chill dough, punching down after first hour, at least 12 hours.

Cooks' note: • Dough may be chilled up to 3 days. Punch down dough each day.