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Italian Herb and Cheese Bread Recipe

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★★★★★

4.9 from 61 reviews

This Italian Herb and Cheese Bread combines fragrant Italian seasoning and two types of cheese in a soft, flavorful loaf. With a tender crumb and a golden crust, it’s perfect as a side for your favorite meals or simply enjoyed with butter. The homemade dough is easy to prepare, rises twice for perfect texture, and bakes to a deliciously cheesy, herb-infused bread.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 packet (2 1/4 teaspoons) active dry yeast

Cheeses

  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Wet Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup warm water (110°F to 115°F)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

Instructions

  1. Activate Yeast: In a small bowl, combine warm water, sugar, and yeast. Let it sit for about 5 minutes until the mixture becomes frothy, indicating the yeast is active.
  2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper to combine the dry components evenly.
  3. Add Cheeses: Stir in the shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan cheeses into the dry mixture, ensuring even distribution throughout the flour mixture.
  4. Form Dough: Create a well in the center of the dry ingredient mixture. Pour in the frothy yeast mixture and olive oil. Mix everything together until a rough dough forms.
  5. Knead Dough: Transfer the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Knead the dough for 5-7 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic, which develops the gluten for a good texture.
  6. First Rise: Place the dough into a greased bowl, cover it with a damp cloth, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until it has doubled in size.
  7. Preheat Oven: While the dough is rising, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking.
  8. Shape Loaf: After the first rise, punch down the dough to release excess air. Shape it into a loaf form and place it into a greased 9×5 inch loaf pan.
  9. Second Rise: Cover the loaf pan and let the dough rise again for another 30 minutes until slightly puffed.
  10. Bake: Bake the bread in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes until the crust is golden brown and the loaf sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom, indicating it is cooked through.
  11. Cool: Remove the bread from the oven and allow it to cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing and serving.

Notes

  • Ensure water temperature is between 110°F and 115°F to properly activate yeast without killing it.
  • Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for the best flavor and texture.
  • Kneading time is crucial for gluten development; under-kneading can result in a dense loaf.
  • Let the bread cool completely before slicing to maintain its structure and avoid a gummy texture.
  • Store leftover bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze for longer storage.

Keywords: Italian bread, herb bread, cheese bread, homemade bread, mozzarella, Parmesan, easy bread recipe

Find it online: https://cookcrisis.com/italian-herb-and-cheese-bread-recipe/