In a large bowl, add flour, yeast,sugar and mix them together.Add lukewarmsoymilk, sunfloweroil, salt, vanilla, orange zest, and mix with a spatula.NB: I use instant dry yeast that can be added directly to the flour. If you use fresh yeast or active dry yeast, they need to be dissolved in a lukewarm liquid and sugar before adding them in.
Transfer onto a worktop and knead with your hands vigorously for at least5 minutes, or until you get a smooth, soft, and moist dough ball.
Brush the inside of a large clean bowl with some oil. Then put in the doughball, and brushit with a thin layer of oil. Cover the bowl with a dampkitchencloth. Let proof the dough for 2 to 3 hours in a warm place. It needs to triple in volume.TIP: you can turn your oven on for 30 seconds to make it slightly warm. Then turn it off and let the dough proof in it. If you use all-purpose flour 2 hours should be enough. If you use a semi-whole grain flour, then 3 hours are needed.
After proofing, transfer the dough onto a clean worktop. Fold it on itself three times then cut it into small pieces of about 50g / 1.8 oz each.
With the tip of your fingers slightly flatten each piece of dough, then roll it on itself to form a dough ball. With the palm of your hand roll the dough ball on the worktop to make it smooth.
Take each dough ball and roll it with your hand to form a cylinder shape.Then flatten each piece giving it a rectangular shape. Cut the tips off to give it a sharper rectangular shape.
Place each piece on a baking tray lined with parchment paper and let proof a second time in a warm place for 1 to 1.5 hours.
For the glaze
Im a blender blend together almonds, hazelnuts, powderedsugar and soymilk till you get a spreadable almond paste. Set aside.NB: the glaze tastes best if the nuts are roasted first. If yours aren't, then toast them in the oven for 8 minutes at 360F / 180C.
Preheat the oven to 180C or 356F. Gently spread some of the glaze on top of the brioches. You need to be quick because the brioches will deflate. You can use a spoon or a small spatula.Sprinkle some pearl sugar on top and bake on the lower rack of the oven for about 12 to 14 minutes.
Optional: to get an even tastier brioche you can fill it with apricot jam using a pastry piping bag. To do that, let the brioche cool down for 10 minutes, then fill them from the bottom.