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Easy Italian Herb and Cheese Bread Machine Loaf

A freshly baked loaf of Italian herb and cheese bread, partially sliced, showing melted cheese pockets and green herbs.
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Make a flavorful, cheesy Italian herb bread right in your bread machine. This recipe is perfect for a beginner and yields a loaf that slices well for sandwiches or serving with dinner.

Ingredients

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  • 1 1/4 cups water, warm (about 80°F)
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • 3 cups bread flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon dried Italian seasoning blend
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese, plus 2 tablespoons for topping
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 2 teaspoons active dry yeast

Instructions

  1. Add the warm water and softened butter to the bread machine pan in the order recommended by your machine’s manual.
  2. Add the bread flour, salt, sugar, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder on top of the liquid ingredients. Create a small well in the flour layer.
  3. Place the active dry yeast into the well you created in the flour. Do not let the yeast touch the liquid or salt yet.
  4. Add the 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese and the mozzarella cheese on top of the flour, away from the yeast well.
  5. Select the Basic White Bread cycle (or the appropriate cycle for a standard sandwich loaf) and the Medium crust setting on your bread machine.
  6. Start the machine. The machine will mix, knead, rise, and bake the bread automatically.
  7. About 10 minutes before the end of the final bake cycle, the machine will beep. Carefully open the lid and sprinkle the remaining 2 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese over the top of the loaf. Close the lid quickly.
  8. When the cycle finishes, carefully remove the bread pan from the machine. Turn the pan upside down onto a wire cooling rack to release the loaf.
  9. Let the Italian herb and cheese bread cool completely on the rack before slicing. This prevents a gummy texture.

Notes

  • For the best flavor in your bread machine herb bread, use fresh, high-quality dried herbs.
  • If your machine has a delay start, avoid using it, as the cheese needs to be added during the kneading or rising phase, not at the beginning with the yeast.
  • This cheesy dinner bread freezes well once cooled. Slice it first, then store in an airtight bag for up to three months.
  • If you prefer a stronger garlic flavor, substitute the garlic powder with 1 teaspoon of garlic salt, but reduce the added salt to 1 teaspoon.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://recipesfleet.com/italian-herb-and-cheese-bread/