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Freshly baked Italian Herb and Cheese Bread with golden crust and melted cheese on a slate board.
Daniel

Italian Herb and Cheese Bread

A crusty, aromatic loaf studded with melty mozzarella and fragrant herbs that fills your kitchen with the scent of an Italian bakery.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 10 slices
Course: Bread, Side Dish
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 245

Ingredients
  

For the Dough
  • 1 cup warm water 110-115 degrees F
  • 2.25 tsp active dry yeast 1 packet
  • 1 tbsp granulated sugar
  • 2 tbsp olive oil plus more for bowl
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour plus more for dusting
  • 1.5 tsp salt
For the Herb and Cheese Filling
  • 1.5 cups shredded mozzarella cheese divided
  • 2 tbsp dried Italian seasoning
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 0.25 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Equipment

  • 9x5 inch Loaf Pan
  • Large Mixing Bowl
  • Pastry brush

Method
 

Prepare the Dough
  1. In a large bowl, combine warm water, yeast, and sugar. Let stand 5 minutes until foamy. If it doesn't foam, your yeast is dead - start over with fresh yeast.
  2. Stir in olive oil, 2 cups flour, and salt. Mix until a shaggy dough forms. Gradually add remaining flour, 1/4 cup at a time, until dough pulls away from bowl sides and is tacky but not sticky.
  3. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic. The dough should spring back when poked. Place in an oiled bowl, turn to coat, cover with plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm spot until doubled, about 60 minutes.
Shape and Fill
  1. Punch down dough and roll into a 12x8 inch rectangle. Sprinkle evenly with 1 cup mozzarella, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder, leaving a 1-inch border. Starting from a short end, roll tightly into a log, pinching the seam to seal.
  2. Place seam-side down in a greased 9x5 inch loaf pan. Cover loosely and let rise 30-40 minutes until dough crowns 1 inch above pan rim. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F during final rise.
Bake
  1. Brush top with olive oil and sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella and Parmesan. Bake 30-35 minutes until deep golden brown and internal temperature reaches 190 degrees F. If browning too quickly, tent with foil after 20 minutes.
  2. Cool in pan 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack. Cool at least 30 minutes before slicing - this prevents a gummy texture and lets the cheese set.

Notes

For extra flavor, use a mix of shredded provolone and mozzarella. The bread stays fresh wrapped at room temperature for 2 days, or freeze slices for up to 3 months. If you don't have Italian seasoning, use 1 teaspoon each dried basil, oregano, and thyme plus 1/2 teaspoon rosemary.