Zesty Italian Herbs and Cheese Bread Recipe for Beginners

Warm, crusty bread infused with aromatic Italian herbs and cheese captures the essence of comfort food.

This delightful recipe brings together a symphony of flavors that dance on your palate.

Fragrant herbs mingle with melted cheese, creating a bread so irresistible that one slice never seems enough.

Each golden-brown slice promises a burst of savory goodness straight from an Italian kitchen.

The blend of herbs and sharp cheese adds depth and richness to every bite.

Perfectly paired with soups, salads, or enjoyed on its own, this bread turns an ordinary meal into a memorable culinary experience.

Let’s dive into a recipe that will become your new favorite homemade bread.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes (including rise time)

Calories: 170 kcal

Servings: 13

What You Need for Italian Herbs and Cheese Bread

• Warm Water: Awakens the yeast and activates bread-making magic, use filtered water for best results.
• Active Dry Yeast: Essential living ingredient that helps bread rise and develop rich flavor, choose fresh yeast with recent expiration date.
• Sugar: Feeds the yeast and helps with beautiful golden-brown crust, any granulated sugar works perfectly.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and controls yeast growth, use fine sea salt for smooth distribution.

• Bread Flour: Creates strong gluten network for chewy texture, select high-protein content flour for best rise.

• Garlic Powder: Provides savory undertone and aromatic warmth, look for pure ground garlic without additives.
• Italian Seasoning: Blends classic Mediterranean herbs for vibrant taste, choose blend with oregano, basil, and thyme.
• Shredded Mozzarella, Parmesan Cheese: Melts beautifully and adds creamy richness, select freshly grated cheese for maximum flavor.
• Melted Butter: Adds golden shine and rich flavor, use unsalted butter for precise seasoning control.

Tools to Prepare Italian Herbs and Cheese Bread

• Stand Mixer: Essential for kneading dough efficiently and developing gluten structure.
• Dough Hook: Specific attachment that helps mix and knead bread dough smoothly.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: Crucial for accurate ingredient measurements.
• Sharp Knife: Needed to make shallow cuts on bread dough before baking.
• Parchment Paper: Prevents bread from sticking to the baking sheet.
• Cookie Sheet: Provides a flat surface for bread logs to rise and bake.
• Kitchen Towel: Used to cover dough during rising process.
• Cooling Rack: Allows bread to cool evenly and prevents bottom from getting soggy.
• Pastry Brush: Helps evenly spread melted butter on bread surface.

How to Make Italian Herbs and Cheese Bread

• Yeast Awakening

Warm liquid breathes life into dormant yeast, creating a magical brewing environment that will soon transform into delicious bread.

• Dough Creation

Blend flour, sweet crystals, and salt into a soft, pillowy mixture that becomes smooth and stretchy through gentle kneading.

• Bread Shaping

Transform the dough into elegant logs, positioning them gracefully on a baking surface with plenty of breathing room between each one.

• Rising Anticipation

Allow the bread to expand and develop volume, creating fluffy channels and promising delectable textures.

• Flavor Enhancement

Score the surface with delicate knife marks, brush with golden melted richness, then sprinkle aromatic herbs and cheese for a mouthwatering finish.

• Baking Magic

Slide the bread into a hot oven, watching as it turns a gorgeous golden brown and fills the kitchen with irresistible aromas.

• Cooling Moment

Let the freshly baked bread rest and settle, allowing flavors to harmonize before slicing into heavenly portions.

Tips to Flavor Italian Herbs and Cheese Bread

• Swap Italian seasoning with fresh chopped rosemary, thyme, or basil to create personalized flavor combinations.
• Prepare dough in advance and refrigerate overnight for a slower, more developed fermentation that enhances bread's complexity.
• Brush loaves with an egg wash before adding cheese to create a shinier, more golden crust that looks professionally baked.
• Place dough in a warm, draft-free area like inside an unheated oven with a pan of hot water to ensure perfect, consistent rising.

Serving Italian Herbs and Cheese Bread Warm

• Rustic Dinner Partner: Pair this aromatic bread with hearty Italian pasta dishes like lasagna or spaghetti bolognese for a complete Mediterranean meal experience.
• Cheese and Charcuterie Board Star: Create an elegant appetizer spread by slicing the bread into thin pieces and serving alongside cured meats, olives, and soft cheeses like brie or camembert.
• Breakfast Sandwich Canvas: Transform leftover bread slices into delicious morning sandwiches with scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, or avocado spread for a gourmet breakfast treat.
• Soup-Dipping Delight: Serve warm bread alongside creamy tomato soup or minestrone for a comforting and satisfying lunch combination that highlights the bread's herbal and cheesy flavors.

How to Store Italian Herbs and Cheese Bread

• Smart Storage Solutions: Keep bread wrapped tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil at room temperature for 2-3 days. Refrigeration will extend freshness up to one week.
• Freezing Friendly: Slice bread before freezing for easier portioning. Wrap individual portions in freezer-safe bags, removing excess air. Frozen bread stays delicious for up to 3 months.
• Moisture Management: Store bread in a cool, dry spot away from direct sunlight. Use a bread box or container with slight ventilation to prevent soggy textures.
• Reviving Leftover Slices: Reheat chilled bread in oven at 350°F for 5-7 minutes. Wrap in foil to maintain softness and prevent excessive drying. Sprinkle water before warming to restore original moisture.

Aromatic Italian Herbs and Cheese Bread Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.6 from 8 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes (including rise time)
• Yield: 13 1x

Print Recipe

Description

Homemade Italian herbs and cheese bread brings rustic Mediterranean flavors to kitchen counters. Crisp golden crust and melted cheese create perfect comfort for bread enthusiasts seeking authentic Italian culinary experiences.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 4.5 cups (1,080 ml) bread flour
• 1.5 cups (360 ml) water (warm, 100-110°F)
• ½ cup (120 ml) monterey jack cheese (shredded)
• ½ cup (120 ml) parmesan cheese (shredded)
• 1.5 tsps active dry yeast
• 2 tsps italian seasoning
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 2 tsps sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp butter (melted)

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Yeast Activation: Dissolve yeast in warm water, letting it foam and develop aromatic characteristics for 10 minutes.
2. Dough Formation: Blend yeast mixture with sugar, salt, and bread flour using a stand mixer with dough hook, kneading until the mixture transforms into a smooth, elastic texture.
3. Shaping Preparation: Spread the developed dough on a floured surface and divide into four equal rustic bread logs, arranging them carefully on a parchment-lined baking sheet with adequate spacing.
4. Proofing Stage: Cover the dough logs with a clean kitchen towel and allow them to rise for 40 minutes, observing their expansion to nearly double their original volume.
5. Oven Preparation and Decoration: Preheat the oven to 375°F, then delicately score three diagonal lines across each log’s surface and brush generously with melted butter to enhance golden potential.
6. Seasoning and Cheese Application: Evenly distribute garlic powder and Italian seasoning over the loaves, then lavishly scatter shredded cheeses to create an enticing topping.
7. Baking and Finishing: Place the prepared loaves on the middle oven rack and bake for 20-25 minutes until they achieve a rich, amber-golden complexion, then transfer to a cooling rack to rest before slicing into delectable portions.

Notes

• Yeast Activation Tip: Ensure water temperature is between 100-110°F to successfully activate yeast without killing it, creating the perfect foamy environment.
• Dough Kneading Technique: Stop mixing when dough becomes smooth and springs back when gently pressed, indicating proper gluten development.
• Rising Environment: Place dough in a warm, draft-free area around 80-85°F to encourage optimal rising and volume expansion.
• Golden Crust Secret: Brush melted butter and cheese just before baking to create a crispy, flavorful exterior that browns beautifully.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: Snacks, Dinner
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 13
• Calories: 170
• Sugar: 1 g
• Sodium: 150 mg
• Fat: 5 g
• Saturated Fat: 3 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 25 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 6 g
• Cholesterol: 10 mg