Bacon Cheese Bread

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This savory Bacon Cheese Bread is beautiful to look at and super tasty to eat.The dough is enriched with butter and egg then rolled up with cheese and bacon. You won't be able to eat just one slice!

Bacon cheese bread on black wire rack with two slices cut viewed from above — For all cheese and bacon lovers!

Making bread is super satisfying and not really that hard. Baking with yeast is one of my favourite ways to spend time in the kitchen and it's so rewarding. Think of having freshly made Ligurian focaccia with your soup or a slice of light and airy Portuguese bread for breakfast. You CAN do it and you will love the results.

Ingredients

milk
butter
bread flour
eggs
sugar
instant yeast
salt
cheese
bacon
smoked paprika

Ingredient substitutions

While this Bacon Cheese bread recipe may seem to have specific ingredients, there are a few ways that you can make substitutions that won't really mess with the final delicious product.

plain, all purpose flour or 00 flour can be substituted for bread flour. Don’t use cake flour. It won’t make good bread.
whole milk is preferred but use whatever milk you've got or even use water if you prefer
if you only have salted butter, use that BUT reduce the salt to ½ teaspoon
instead of white sugar use raw or brown sugar or even substitute honey
instant yeast can be replaced with active dried yeast - however it's best to activate it in the lukewarm milk until bubbly and frothy
sweet paprika can be used instead of smoked paprika

Variations

This recipe uses cheese, bacon and smoked paprika to create a tasty filled bread. However there are many variations that you can make using ingredients you have in your fridge. Here's a couple of ideas but your imagination is the limit - just keep to approximately the same amount of filling.

use any firm cheese that you enjoy - for example Gruyere, Colby, Provolone, Gouda, Jarlsberg
ham, salami or any other deli type of meat can be used
make this homemade bread vegetarian but omitting the bacon
another vegetarian suggestion is to substitute sliced spring onions or scallions for the bacon
substituted chilli flakes for the smoked paprika - reduced to 1 teaspoon unless you like it hot

Instructions

6 step photo collage showing how to make this recipe.

First prepare the dough and the filling for the Bacon Cheese Bread.

Melt the butter into the milk. The mixture should be lukewarm not hot.
Knead all the remaining dough ingredients together with the milk mixture in a stand mixer or by hand until smooth.
Form into a ball, place into well oil bowl and cover with plastic wrap.
Allow to rise until doubled.
Roll out the dough into a large rectangle.
Mix together filling ingredients.

Instructions for shaping and baking

6 step photo collage showing how to shape and bake this bread.

Spread the filling all over the rolled out dough.
Roll up into a log starting on the long side.
Cut log in half lengthwise.
Turn the two halves cut side up.
Twist each half over the other tightly.
Squish the braid together to shorten the length and fit into prepared pan. Bake until golden brown.

Tips for success and FAQ's

Bread loaf in pan on black wire with red and white cloth rack viewed from above

There are two things you need to think about when making this Bacon Cheese Bread.

Preparing the dough. When baking bread the quantity of flour needed is variable. This is where touch is important. The dough should not be too sticky but also not too dry. It should be feel smooth, springy and a little bit tacky to touch. Don't add all the flour at once because then you can adjust as needed. If you think it's too dry, you can always add a bit more milk or water.
Shaping the dough. Good braiding is part of the beauty and taste of this bread. I have added a little bit of melted butter into the filling which serves as the "glue" to hold the filling together so that you don't lose all of the cheese as you try to braiding. However, it is still important to hold the dough carefully together as you lift and overlap the dough pieces. At the end the braided dough is longer than the pan. Simply, cup your hands around the ends of the braided log and squish the log together to compress the twist and ensure it fits into the pan

What is the best way to store this Bacon Cheese Bread?

This bread, like all homemade bread, is best served on the day of baking. However, if well wrapped in plastic and sealed in an airtight container, this bread can be stored overnight in the fridge. I prefer to warm the bread in the oven or toast before serving.

Can this homemade bread be frozen?

Yes, that's exactly what I did with mine. If you prefer to defrost a few slices at a time, slice the bread first before freezing. Either way wrap the loaf or even individual slices in plastic wrap and then into an airtight container or sturdy zip lock bag. Freeze for up to 3 months.

How to defrost frozen bread

Regardless of whether you are defrosting this particular loaf or a store bought loaf of bread, defrosting is the same. Frozen bread can be defrosted in a few ways. Here are some of my methods.
1. Wrap frozen loaf or slices in foil and warm in a moderate oven until heated through and defrosted - my preferred method because it tastes like freshly baked bread.
2. Toast slices until defrosted and golden brown.
3. Without removing wrapping, allow to defrost at room temperature or overnight in the refrigerator.

Cross section of cheese filled Bread loaf on black wire rack.

Serving Suggestions

This Bacon Cheese bread is perfect served with soup, stews or casseroles. Also, it's perfect as part of an antipasto platter. But I like to just cut off slabs and eat it freshly baked!

Slow Cooker Minestrone
Easy Chicken and Vegetable Soup
Pizza Bread
Bacon Egg and Cheese Croissants
Buttery Beef Casserole from Mad Creations Hub
Mediterranean Beef Stew from It's Not Complicated

Made this recipe?
Let me know if you liked it by leaving a ★★★★★ star rating and a review below. Please share a photo of your creation by tagging me on Instagram @marcellina.in.cucina!

This updated post was first published on 30 May 2016