Description
Italian Herb and Cheese Bread is a warm, fragrant loaf packed with savory Italian seasoning and melty cheese. Its soft crumb and lightly crisp crust make it ideal beside pasta, soups, or as a comforting snack. Easily mixed by hand or in a bread machine, this loaf delivers bakery-style flavor with simple pantry ingredients. Slice, spread butter, and enjoy the irresistible aroma. Perfect for garlic butter or dipping in olive oil.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup warm water
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 3 cups bread flour
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ¾ cup shredded mozzarella or Italian blend cheese
- 2¼ tsp active dry yeast
Instructions
- Add ingredients to your bread machine pan in the order recommended by the manufacturer.
- Select the basic or white bread setting and choose your preferred crust level.
- Start the machine and allow it to complete the full cycle.
- Once finished, carefully remove the loaf and let cool slightly before slicing.
- Hand-Mixed Option: Mix warm water, sugar, and yeast. Let sit 5 minutes until foamy.
- Stir in olive oil, salt, flour, herbs, garlic powder, and cheese.
- Knead until smooth, then let rise until doubled.
- Shape, place in a loaf pan, and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 30–35 minutes.
Notes
- You can use all-purpose flour if bread flour is unavailable; dough may be slightly denser.
- For hand-kneading, 5–7 minutes of kneading yields a smooth ball.
- Brush the top with a little olive oil or butter after baking for a softer crust.
- Leftover bread freezes well; slice and freeze in an airtight bag.
- Variations: swap mozzarella for a shredded Italian blend or add grated parmesan for extra tang.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30–35 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Bread machine or hand-kneaded loaf
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/8 loaf)
- Calories: 230 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 410 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 29 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg
Keywords: Italian Herb and Cheese Bread, easy bread, homemade bread, cheese bread, bread machine recipe, garlic herb bread, Italian bread, bakery flavor at home