Ham & Cheese Bread
This Ham and Cheese Bread is one of the best bread recipe that I bake in my you tube channel. It has a soft and moist, with a pillowy texture. You can make this bread ahead of time and get it out of your to-do list. The best part is, you don’t have to eat it fresh, it tastes absolutely delicious when served cold.
This Homemade stuffed bread is one of the most popular sandwich combination of soft and buttery bread filled with ham and cheese. This bread is an Asian inspired and it's perfect fun treats to take on picnics or short trips.
Although buying store bought bread buns is easier, as everyone has different preferences defending on the type of bread they like but there is always something special and delicious when the bread is homemade.
I am glad to share this great recipe and hope you enjoy it. I guarantee that you will fall in love with these savory bread recipe!
What I love about the process is I used active dry yeast instead of a roux starter in this recipe, which saves time and simplifies the procedure.
Ingredients You'll Need
- Bread Flour - Makes the bread soft and chewy texture. You can use All purpose flour if you prefer and still works just fine.
- Sugar - It helps the yeast but also absorbs some of the liquid, slowing the formation of the gluten strand, which makes this enriched dough just perfect.
- Egg - It gives the dough a smoother texture to maintain the bread in a good shape.
- Instant Yeast - Activates the dough rise quickly.
- Milk - The milk in the recipe is full cream milk. Use warm milk, don’t use hot boiled milk as it will kill the yeast.
- Butter - technically a dough enrichment, tenderizes bread dough and limits gluten development, yielding a softer, more tender crumb and a richer flavor.
- Ham - I used deli ham in this recipe but you can also use some leftover ham from other dishes you cooked previously. You can use chicken ham slices (those for making sandwiches) if you do not eat pork.
- Cheese - I love the combination of sliced cheddar cheese and grated mozzarella cheese. You can use any sliced cheese that suits your taste buds.
WATCH THE VIDEO
Ham & Cheese has a soft and moist, with a pillowy texture.
- 1 cup warm milk (full cream milk / fresh milk)
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 egg
- 2 teaspoons instant yeast
- 3 cups bread flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons butter (softened)
- 12 sliced cheese
- 12 sliced deli ham
- 1 cup mozzarella (shredded)
- 1 egg yolk
- 2 tablespoons milk
- sesame seeds (for garnish)
In a bowl, combine milk, instant yeast and egg. Stir until combine then mix in sugar and salt. Mix until sugar dissolve.
Add bread flour. Stir everything with a wooden spoon until incorporated until form a dough. Cover for 15 minutes. Then, add softened butter and spread into the dough.
Transfer the dough into a flat surface, knead the dough 10-15 minutes until smooth and elastic. Shape into a ball then transferred to an oiled bowl. Cover and let it rise for 1 to 1.5 hours until double the size.
Punch the air out from the dough. Transfer the dough into a flat surface, then knead by hand for another minute. Form a log and divide into 12 pieces rolls.
Form the dough into 12 small ball. Cover and leave for 20 minutes.
Flatten each piece using a rolling pin roll the dough into a ¼ inch thick rectangle. Place sliced cheese, ham and shredded mozzarella then roll and form a log. Fold the edges and tie to sealed.
Place on a parchment-lined baking pan. Cover and leave for another 15 minutes.
In a small bowl, combine egg yolk and milk. Whisk to combine. Brush the rolls with egg wash. Sprinkle on top with sesame seeds.
Preheat oven to 180C. Bake the rolls for 18-20 minutes or until lightly golden. Serve warm!
- If using active dry yeast, use warm milk to activate the yeast before combining it with the ingredients. Don’t use hot boiled milk or water to activate the yeast, as it will kill the yeast.
- If you want sweeter bread you can adjust the sugar according to your taste.
- Kneading is key to making good bread. While kneading by hand can be therapeutic using a stand mixer is easier and quicker.
- Leave the dough at room temperature to rise until double in volume. While not recommended when in haste you can place it in a warm (not hot) oven this will expedite the rise.
- You can also create your own ham and cheese bread by choosing a different cheese.
