Subway Bread Recipe Italian Herb and Cheese Copycat

Ready to make Subway’s Italian Herb and Cheese bread at home? With a few basic ingredients, you can enjoy fresh, flavorful bread right from your own oven! The blend of cheese, garlic powder, and Italian herbs creates a perfect crusty top that will remind you of your favorite Subway sandwich.

Starting with a good dough is crucial. Yeast, water, sugar, and oil form the base, while adding flour gives it structure. Letting the dough rest and rise properly is key to achieving that perfect texture.

Then, topping the loaf with a mixture of cheeses and herbs before baking ensures every bite is full of flavor.

Baking the loaf until it’s golden brown ensures a crispy exterior and a soft, chewy interior. Adjusting bake time as needed will help you achieve the best results.

Key Takeaways

• Follow the steps to create the dough and let it rise.
• Apply a flavorful cheese and herb topping before baking.
• Bake until the bread is golden brown for the perfect texture.

Ingredients and Preparation

Ingredients

To start, you’ll need several simple ingredients: yeast, flour, water, sugar, salt, and oil.

For the flour, a mix of bread flour and all-purpose flour works best. Using bread flour gives the bread a chewy texture, while all-purpose flour keeps it light.

For the yeast, I prefer active dry yeast because it produces a nice rise without being too complicated to handle.

In addition to these basics, you’ll need olive oil for richer flavor.

For the cheese topping, gather a blend of parmesan cheese, monterey jack cheese, cheddar cheese, and mozzarella cheese. These cheeses melt well and create the iconic cheesy crust.

Last, a mix of Italian herbs like oregano, basil, and garlic powder will be essential for that authentic Subway taste.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups bread flour
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 1 1/2 cups warm water
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 tablespoons olive oil or vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup monterey jack cheese
• 1/2 cup cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese
• 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning (oregano, basil, garlic powder)

Preparing Ingredients

First, mix the yeast with warm water in a large bowl and let it sit for about five minutes until it’s foamy. This step ensures that the yeast is active and ready to help the dough rise.

Next, combine the sugar, salt, and oil with the yeast mixture. Then, gradually add the flour, stirring constantly.

I find that using a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment makes this part easier. Knead the dough on low speed for about six to ten minutes until it’s smooth and elastic.

After kneading, let the dough rest for ten minutes. This short rest helps the gluten relax, making the dough easier to shape.

Once the dough has rested, divide it into four equal pieces and shape each piece into a loaf.

For the cheese and herb mixture, combine the parmesan, monterey jack, cheddar, and mozzarella cheeses in a bowl. Mix in the Italian seasoning.

Once your loaves are shaped, evenly sprinkle the cheese mixture on top.

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).

Bake the bread for 15 to 25 minutes, checking periodically after 15 minutes to ensure it doesn’t overbake. The final product should be golden brown and have a cheesy, aromatic crust.

Baking Process

This section covers the steps from mixing and kneading the dough to baking it to a perfect golden brown.

Mixing and Kneading

I start by adding warm water, sugar, and yeast to a mixing bowl. Let the yeast activate for about 5 minutes until it becomes foamy.

Then I mix in the flour, olive oil, and salt.

Using a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment on low speed, I knead the dough for about 6 minutes.

This process helps develop the gluten structure, making the dough elastic.

If you don’t have a stand mixer, you can knead by hand for around 10 minutes on a floured surface. The consistency should be smooth and slightly sticky.

First Rise

After kneading, place the dough in a greased bowl and cover it with a damp cloth.

Let the dough rise in a warm place for about an hour, or until it doubles in size.

This first rise is crucial as it allows the dough to develop flavor and carbon dioxide, which gives the bread its airy texture.

I often use my oven with the light on as a warm environment.

Keeping the dough in a consistent, slightly warm temperature speeds up the process and improves the final texture of the bread.

Shaping the Dough

Once the dough has doubled in size, gently punch it down to release excess air.

Then, transfer the dough to a floured surface and divide it into four equal pieces.

Each piece is shaped into a loaf by rolling it out and then tucking the ends under.

If you want, you can use a silicone bread mold to get perfectly even loaves. Either way, shaping each loaf to fit your baking sheet or pan is important.

The shaping affects the final look and how evenly the bread bakes.

Final Rise

The shaped loaves need one more rise before baking.

Place them on a baking sheet and cover them with a cloth. They need another 30-45 minutes for the final rise.

This second rise allows the dough to expand fully, ensuring a soft, fluffy interior.

Preheating the oven to 400°F (200°C) during this time saves prep time. By the time the second rise is done, the oven will be ready.

Baking to Perfection

Before baking, brush the tops of the loaves with a mixture of butter, garlic powder, oregano, and cheese.

This adds a delicious crust and great flavor.

The loaves bake in a preheated oven at 400°F for about 15-25 minutes.

Check for a golden brown color to ensure they are done.

Let the bread cool before slicing to maintain the texture.

This Subway-style sandwich bread is rich in fiber and essential nutrients like calcium and iron, while also being a good balance of calories and carbohydrates.

Frequently Asked Questions

I’ll answer some common questions about making homemade Italian Herb and Cheese bread similar to Subway’s.

What ingredients do I need for homemade Italian Herb and Cheese bread similar to Subway’s?

To make this bread, you need flour, yeast, warm water, sugar, olive oil, salt, eggs, and mashed potato flakes.

For the cheese topping, you need a mix of cheeses, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning. Check out this recipe for more details.

How do I get the cheese topping just right on my Italian Herb and Cheese bread?

Mix the cheeses, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning in a bowl.

Then, divide the mixture evenly and sprinkle it on top of each loaf before baking.

Bake at 350 degrees until the cheese is golden brown. You can find more tips here.

Can you share tips for achieving the perfect texture for an Italian Herb and Cheese bread loaf?

Kneading the dough on a floured surface until it’s smooth and elastic is key.

Let the dough rise in a warm place until it doubles in size. This helps create the perfect texture. Read more for additional details.

What are the calorie and nutritional differences between homemade and Subway’s Italian Herb and Cheese bread?

Homemade bread might have slightly different calorie counts due to ingredient variations.

Subway’s Italian Herb and Cheese bread is approximately 220 calories per serving. Homemade versions can have similar or fewer calories, depending on your ingredient choices.

How long should I bake my Italian Herb and Cheese bread to get that Subway-like crust?

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and bake the bread for 15 to 25 minutes.

Check at 15 minutes and continue baking until the bread is golden brown. For more baking tips, visit this site.

What herbs are used in the seasoning for authentic Italian Herb and Cheese bread?

Common herbs include oregano, basil, and thyme. Garlic powder is also frequently used to enhance the flavor.

Adding these herbs to the cheese mixture before topping the bread will give you that authentic taste.