🥖 Olive, Bacon, and Cheese Bread
This is a savory, flavorful bread perfect for breakfast, sandwiches, or as a snack. The combination of salty bacon, briny olives, and melted cheese makes it irresistible.
🧾 Ingredients (Makes 1 loaf)
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp instant yeast
- 1 cup warm water (110°F / 43°C)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- ½ cup cooked bacon, chopped
- ½ cup olives, sliced (green or black)
- 1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar, mozzarella, or your choice)
- Optional: 1 tsp dried herbs (oregano, thyme, or rosemary)
👩🍳 Instructions
- Prepare the dough
- In a bowl, mix warm water, yeast, and sugar. Let sit 5–10 minutes until foamy.
- Add flour, salt, and olive oil. Mix until a soft dough forms.
- Knead
- Knead on a floured surface for 5–7 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- First rise
- Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise 1–2 hours, until doubled in size.
- Add fillings
- Flatten the dough slightly and sprinkle with bacon, olives, cheese, and herbs. Fold and knead gently to incorporate evenly.
- Shape & second rise
- Shape into a loaf or braid, place in a greased loaf pan.
- Cover and let rise 30–45 minutes.
- Bake
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Bake for 25–30 minutes, until golden brown and cheese is bubbly.
- Cool slightly before slicing.
💡 Tips
- Don’t overfill with cheese or bacon; too much can make the loaf dense or greasy.
- Brush the top with olive oil or egg wash for a shiny crust.
- For extra flavor, use smoked bacon or a mix of cheeses.
🍽 Serving Suggestions
- Warm slices with butter
- Sandwiches with deli meat or roasted veggies
- Pair with soups or salads
If you want, I can give you a quick 1-hour version that skips most of the rising but still comes out soft, cheesy, and packed with bacon and olives. Do you want me to do that?