Homemade, soft, pull-apart bread stuffed full of melted cheesy deliciousness? Oh yes.
What inspired this recipe, you ask? It was pure and total selfishness and that’s the truth.
See, I was serving salad as a main dish for our lunch. The salad was to include mixed greens and other veggies plus flavorful chunks of chicken, so I knew all my men would enjoy it. But I also knew that if I didn’t feed them something a little more substantial with their salad, I’d be hearing the “now what can I have to eat” question right about the time we finished putting salad bowls into the dishwasher.
See? It was selfishness. I did not want to hear that question. I am over that question. That question makes all mothers want to run in unladylike fashion to the far corners of anywhere but the kitchen. Am I right? I am right.
So I searched online for a fun new kind of bread to go with our salads. The boys all thought I made the bread to treat them to something special. Don’t tell them otherwise. Yes boys. I was June Cleaver delighted to make you this special treat for lunch. (And also, I am very, very selfish and wanted to keep your bellies full until the next actual meal time so that I wouldn’t hear the question.)
Now that my confession is out of the way and you understand the heart behind the recipe, you too can be selfish and make this for your family. This might be the best selfish act you and I will ever commit.
Whole Wheat Stuffed Cheesy Bread (adapted from this recipe)
Dough
1 teaspoon honey
3/4 cup warm water (about 110°)
2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
2 Tablespoons melted butter or coconut oil
2 cups whole wheat flour (I use freshly ground flour from hard white wheat)
3/4 teaspoon sea salt
Cheese Filling
2 cups shredded cheese (I used Colby jack for this)
1 Tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
In a large mixing bowl, stir together honey, water, and yeast. Allow mixture to sit for about 10 minutes until it becomes foamy. Add melted butter (be sure it’s not too hot so it won’t kill the yeast). Stir in flour and salt until well combined. Knead dough on a floured surface for about 5 minutes. (Here’s a video showing you how to knead dough.)
Place dough back in bowl, cover, and allow dough to rest/rise for about one hour. Meanwhile, mix cheese filling ingredients in a bowl.
Heat oven to 450°. Divide dough in half. Roll each half into an 8″ square. Scoop about 1/2 cup cheese mixture onto one side of each square. Fold the dough over the cheese and press edges lightly together. Use a sharp knife to slice the dough into 6-8 one-inch strips, stopping just before the folded edge. Sprinkle remaining cheese evenly over the top of the prepared bread.
Bake for 12-15 minutes or until bread is golden brown. Serve right away. Makes 16 Cheesy Bread Sticks.
Note: In the following pictures, you’ll notice that I doubled the recipe.
Instead of 2 cheesy breads, I made 4. I didn’t want to run out. Remember the selfishness.
And there you have it. A delicious act of selfishness. This was a perfect side with our salads. This bread also tastes great dipped in pizza sauce.
Are you also tired of the question?
I SO want to make this but, alas, my kitchen is ‘pending’ (remodel)! Might it not be better titled ‘Cheese Stuffed Whole Wheat Bread’….my silly brain pictured whole grains spilling from a loaf of melted cheese….but I guess I REALLY JUST NEED A KITCHEN…patience, patience…
As always, thank you for your fun and yummy posts!
Hmmm, good point on the name of this bread. :) It’s super hard not having a kitchen. You’ll LOVE your remodel though!
You must have doubled the recipe??? Looks very good!!
Yes, I mentioned that above the pictures because I didn’t want to confuse anyone. Doubling (or tripling!) is a must for my family right now. :)
Oops!!! I missed that. Ha!!!
Can’t wait to make this deliciousness. Thanks for the recipe.
I’m going to try this with my no knead bread dough. Looks delicious! Thank you for sharing!
I have 5 boys and 2 girls and I so get needing to fill growing boys up with good food. It’s a whole ‘nother reason not to buy junk food, b/c it doesn’t even fill them up! I usually let me ww bread rise twice. Have you found that the consistency is fine with just the one rise (not counting the 10 minutes in yeast)?
Lisa
I made this last night–wonderful consistency. It was SOOO good.
I laughed out loud about running unladylike fashion to anywhere but the kitchen. I can REALLY relate to that question driving a mom crazy. I have several mouths to feed and I feel like I am perpetually feeding them! I made this for lunch with a salad today. I barely got away with not doubling the recipe but it wasn’t easy.
Anyone tried freezing this yet? At which point did you freeze it? This would be great with dinner but not practical to make when I got home from work.
The question….sigh. Seems like it’s the most asked question by my 5 yr. old. And just now, my 7 yr. old opened the fridge with a “Mommy, I”m hungry.” lol Those who have been around my kids often say things like “Wow, your kids are really good eaters, aren’t they?” Is that a good thing?!! To me it’s a constant challenge to not break the bank while having enough healthy food on hand to fill up the hollow legs…I mean, tummies.
This looks delicious. The dough looks like my pizza dough. Add cheese and garlic. Yum! Will have to try…after I buy more cheese. I think the second most asked question by my 5 yr. old is “Can I have a grilled cheese sandwich?” Usually asked after the first question. ; )
Made this on the same day as you posted it, and just loved it. My only change was to add some dried parsley flakes to the cheese mix, as much for the visual appeal as anything. With four boys to feed, this kind of side helps! Making it again now to go with beef tongue for Sunday lunch.
I just think you should know, that if in the occasion that two children poop at the same time and while changing one of them, the other one empties a Berkey water filter all over the kitchen floor – while the bread is in the oven – and you forget it until you smell it burning…if that DOES happen to you, the bread is still super yummy and totally redeemed with some pizza sauce. Crunchy is the new “well done.”