Ingredients
Scale
- 3-4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 packet (2¼ tsp) active dry yeast
- 1 cup warm whole milk (110°F)
- 4 tbsp melted butter, plus extra for brushing
- 2 cups shredded cheese (mozzarella, cheddar, parmesan)
- 3-4 cloves garlic, minced (or 1-2 tsp garlic powder)
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1½ tsp salt
- Optional: dried herbs (oregano, basil, Italian seasoning), red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Waking Up the Yeast. Warm milk to 110°F, pour it into your mixing bowl, then sprinkle in yeast and sugar. Wait 5 minutes for foam to appear—this means your yeast is alive and ready.
- Building the Dough. Add melted butter, half the cheese, minced garlic, and salt to foamy yeast. Gradually add flour one cup at a time, stirring until dough pulls away from the bowl but remains slightly sticky.
- Kneading. Turn dough onto a floured surface and knead for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Rising. Place dough in a greased bowl, cover with a damp towel, and let rise 60-90 minutes until doubled in size.
- Shaping. Punch down risen dough, add remaining cheese into pockets or slits, and brush top with garlic butter.
- Baking. Bake at 375°F for 25 minutes until golden-brown and hollow-sounding when tapped underneath.
Notes
Shred your own cheese instead of using pre-shredded bags—those anti-caking agents release excess moisture that creates soggy bread.