Servings
Font
Back
Italian Herbs and Cheese Bread
5 from 18 votes

Italian Herbs and Cheese Bread

Italian Herbs and Cheese Bread combines cheddar, jack, and Parmesan cheeses with oregano and garlic powder to create a flavorful dough enhanced by vital wheat gluten for a soft, chewy texture. The dough is mixed with warm water, yeast, sugar, butter, and salt, then kneaded with a stand mixer before rising and baking. This bread's rich herb and cheese layers make it a great accompaniment for meals or sandwiches where a tender, richly flavored bread is desired.

Prep Time
45 mins
Cook Time
25 mins
Rise Time, divided
2 hrs
Total Time
3 hrs 10 mins
Servings: 5
Calories: 507 kcal
Course: Side Dish, Breakfast, Appetizer, Lunch
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 2 ⅔ tablespoons active dry yeast
  • ⅔ cup water warm
  • 2 ⅔ tablespoons sugar
  • 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 ⅔ tablespoons vital wheat gluten
  • 1 ⅔ cups water warm
  • 4 tablespoons butter cold
  • 1 ⅓ tablespoon salt
  • 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded (¼ cup per loaf
  • 1 cup jack cheese ¼ cup per loaf, shredded
  • 4 tablespoons Parmesan Cheese 1 tablespoon parmesan per loaf, fresh grated
  • 4 teaspoons oregano 1 teaspoon each, or Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder ¼ teaspoon each

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Get out and measure all of your ingredients.
  2. In a stand mixer mixing bowl, combine yeast, ½ c. warm water, and sugar.
  3. Stir until well combined and let stand for about 10 minutes until nice and foamy.
  4. In a separate mixing bowl, combine flour and vital wheat gluten.
  5. Add 1 c. warm water to the yeast mixture (in the stand mixer bowl) and add flour/wheat gluten mixture until combined.
  6. Attach the bowl to the stand mixer and with the bread hook attachment, mix dough for about 3-4 minutes, adding a little flour if necessary- keeping it a little sticky.
  7. You want the dough to be sticky enough that it sticks to the bottom of the bowl a little bit, but not the sides.
  8. After 3-4 minutes, cut up 3 Tbsp. of cold butter into little cubes and add to the mixing bowl and add 1 Tbsp. salt. Mix an additional 5-6 minutes until butter is mixed in to the dough, pull the bread down off the hook if needed throughout the mixing process. Again, you want the dough to be slightly sticky and stretchy.
  9. Place dough in a large greased bowl and roll around a little to get it greased all around. Cover and allow to rise in a warm place for about an hour.
  10. Remove cover.
  11. Punch dough down
  12. Divide into 4 equal pieces or 5 (flour your hands if the dough is too sticky for easier handling).
  13. Roll out each piece into a 12" long loaf and place on rimmed baking sheet covered in parchment paper..
  14. The dough should be the same thickness all the way across. Place on a non-stick baking sheet or a bread form pan. Cover and allow to rise 40-60 minutes, until dough doubles in size.
  15. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  16. Combine cheeses, garlic powder, oregano or italian seasoning in a bowl.
  17. Divide mixture evenly into 4 piles.
  18. Sprinkle on top of each loaf before baking.
  19. Bake in oven for 15-25 minutes (check at 15 minutes) until bread is golden brown.
  20. Remove from oven and lightly run a little melted butter over the top (this will soften it up nicely).
  21. Allow loaves to cool completely on a wire rack.
  22. Serve with all your favorite sub sandwich toppings!

Notes

  • Use a damp kitchen towel or lightly greased plastic wrap to cover dough while rising to prevent drying.
  • Vital wheat gluten is key for a soft, chewy texture and can usually be found at local markets or online.
  • Allow dough to double in size during rising for optimal bread texture.
  • Preheat the oven for at least 15 minutes to ensure even baking.
  • Cooling bread on a wire rack for 15 minutes after baking helps maintain crust crispness.
  • For a plain version, omit the cheese toppings.
  • Submarine or sub pans can be used to shape the bread for uniform loaves, or shape by hand into long cylinders.

Nutrition Information

Calories 507kcal (25%) Carbohydrates 85g (28%) Protein 21g (42%) Fat 9g (14%) Saturated Fat 5g (25%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g (6%) Monounsaturated Fat 2g (10%) Cholesterol 24mg (8%) Sodium 2006mg (84%) Potassium 162mg (3%) Fiber 3g (12%) Sugar 7g (14%) Vitamin A 226IU (5%) Vitamin C 1mg (1%) Calcium 187mg (19%) Iron 5mg (28%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 5 Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 507

% Daily Value*

Calories 507kcal 25%
Carbohydrates 85g 28%
Protein 21g 42%
Fat 9g 14%
Saturated Fat 5g 25%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g 6%
Monounsaturated Fat 2g 10%
Cholesterol 24mg 8%
Sodium 2006mg 84%
Potassium 162mg 3%
Fiber 3g 12%
Sugar 7g 14%
Vitamin A 226IU 5%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Calcium 187mg 19%
Iron 5mg 28%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.