Here’s a delicious and visually impressive recipe for Cheese Twisted Bread. This bread is soft, flavorful, and twisted with cheesy layers, perfect for sharing or serving at a special meal.
Cheese Twisted Bread Recipe
Ingredients:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup warm milk
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1 egg
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheese (cheddar, mozzarella, or a blend)
- 1 tablespoon fresh herbs (optional, like parsley, chives, or thyme)
- 1 egg yolk (for egg wash)
- 1 tablespoon water
Instructions:
Step 1: Prepare the Dough
- Activate the yeast: In a small bowl, mix warm milk, sugar, and yeast. Let it sit for about 5-10 minutes until it becomes foamy.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour and salt.
- Add wet ingredients: Stir in the melted butter, egg, and the foamy yeast mixture to the dry ingredients. Mix until the dough starts to form.
- Knead the dough: Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead for 7-10 minutes until smooth and elastic. If the dough is sticky, sprinkle with a little more flour.
- First rise: Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a cloth, and let it rise for about 1 hour, or until it has doubled in size.
Step 2: Roll and Shape the Dough
- Roll out the dough: Once the dough has risen, punch it down and roll it out into a rectangle (about 12 x 16 inches) on a lightly floured surface.
- Add the cheese: Sprinkle the shredded cheese evenly over the dough, leaving a small border around the edges. If you’re using herbs, sprinkle them over the cheese.
- Roll the dough: Starting from one of the longer sides, tightly roll up the dough into a log, just like you would for cinnamon rolls.
- Cut and twist: Cut the rolled dough lengthwise down the middle with a sharp knife, leaving about an inch at the top uncut. Carefully twist the two strands around each other, keeping the cut side facing up to expose the layers of cheese.
- Shape the twisted dough: Once twisted, form the twisted dough into a circle or leave it as a long twisted loaf. Pinch the ends together to seal it.
Step 3: Second Rise and Bake
- Second rise: Transfer the twisted bread to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Cover with a cloth and let it rise again for 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Egg wash: In a small bowl, whisk the egg yolk with 1 tablespoon of water. Brush the egg wash over the bread for a golden crust.
- Bake: Bake the bread for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through. If the bread is browning too quickly, cover it loosely with aluminum foil halfway through baking.
- Cool: Let the bread cool for a few minutes on a wire rack before slicing and serving.
Serving:
Serve this cheese twisted bread warm for the ultimate cheesy, pull-apart experience. It’s great as a snack, side dish, or even as part of a charcuterie board.
Enjoy the cheesy, buttery, and herby layers in every bite!