Ohhhh yes 🥓🧀 — Bacon and Cheese Bread is pure comfort food: soft, cheesy, smoky, and utterly irresistible. Here’s a straightforward, foolproof recipe.
🥖 Bacon and Cheese Bread
Ingredients (Makes 1 loaf)
Bread
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 2 tsp instant yeast
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 cup warm milk (about 110°F / 43°C)
- 2 tbsp butter, melted
- 1 large egg
Filling
- 6–8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1–1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese (or mix cheddar + mozzarella)
- Optional: 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp chopped fresh chives
Topping
- 1 egg (beaten) for egg wash
- Extra shredded cheese
Instructions
- Make the Dough
- In a bowl, combine warm milk, sugar, and yeast. Let sit 5–10 min until frothy.
- Mix in egg, melted butter, and salt. Gradually add flour to form a soft dough.
- Knead 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Place in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise 1–1½ hours or until doubled.
- Prepare Filling
- Cook bacon until crisp, then crumble.
- Mix with shredded cheese (and garlic powder/chives if using).
- Assemble
- Punch down dough and roll into a rectangle (~10×12 inches).
- Spread bacon-cheese mixture evenly, leaving edges clean.
- Roll tightly into a loaf. Pinch seams to seal.
- Second Rise
- Place loaf on parchment-lined baking sheet or greased loaf pan.
- Cover and let rise 30–45 minutes until puffy.
- Bake
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Brush with beaten egg, sprinkle extra cheese on top.
- Bake 30–35 min, until golden brown and cooked through.
- Cool slightly before slicing.
🔥 Tips & Variations
- Cheese options: Gouda, Swiss, or pepper jack for a twist.
- Extra flavor: Add caramelized onions or fresh herbs.
- Make-ahead: Freeze unbaked loaf after shaping; thaw & bake later.
- Pull-apart style: Roll into balls, stuff with bacon-cheese, arrange in pan.
If you want, I can give you a quick skillet version that’s cheesy, bacon-y, and ready in 30 minutes—perfect if you don’t want to wait for yeast rising.
Do you want me to do that version too?
