Pepperoni Bread Recipe with Cheese (Homemade Dough)
Pepperoni Bread Recipe with Cheese (Homemade Dough)
This pepperoni bread recipe is made with simple ingredients, pepperoni, and mozzarella cheese. Easy pepperoni bread makes a great snack with a side of marinara sauce. This delicious recipe is also the perfect game day appetizer.
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Pepperoni Bread Ingredients
To make the best pepperoni bread from scratch you only need a few simple ingredients that can easily be found in your local grocery store:
- 355 grams cool filtered water (60 degrees F)
- 5 grams active dry yeast
- 605 grams all purpose flour
- 15 grams kosher salt
- 20 grams extra virgin olive oil
- 20 grams cool filtered water (60 degrees F
- 10 oz slices of pepperoni, cut into 1/4″ cubes
- 8 oz mozzarella cheese, cut into 1/4″ cubes
How to Make Cheesy Pepperoni Bread
You may be tempted to use store-bought bread dough, but trust that you won’t regret making your own dough from scratch for this pepperoni bread. This bread dough is also the base for our artisan French bread recipe as well as other bread recipes that we create, like prosciutto bread. Start with a large bowl and a kitchen scale. You can grab a kitchen scale online here if you don’t have one:
Pour 355g of water into the large mixing bowl. Make sure that the water is 60 degrees F. This can be done by adding ice cubes to the water, stirring, then removing the ice cubes once the water reaches 60 degrees F.
Next, add the dry active yeast.
Use a wire whisk to vigorously mix the water and yeast mixture.
Then carefully add the all-purpose flour to the bowl.
Stir the flour and water mixture with a wooden spoon until you begin to form a loose dough.
Once you have a loosely formed dough, you will knead the dough for 4 minutes. We knead the dough in the bowl. Alternatively, you can turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface to knead. Or if you have a stand mixer, knead on the low speed using the dough hook attachment.
After the initial knead add the remaining 20 grams of (60 degrees F) water to the bowl.
Next, add the salt to the bowl with the dough.
Knead the dough for an additional 6 minutes. Form the dough into a ball and cover it with a piece of plastic wrap. Set aside at room temperature for 20 minutes and let the dough rest.
Making Pepperoni Bread from Scratch
This easy recipe is very similar to our prosciutto bread recipe, with the main difference being the meat. This pepperoni cheese bread includes cut pepperoni and mozzarella cheese to create a bread that resembles homemade pizza rolls.
First, cut the slices of pepperoni, and mozzarella into 1/4″ cubes.
In a large bowl, add the cut pepperoni and cheese to the bread dough.
Work the ingredients into the dough.
Knead and fold the dough until the meat and cheese are fully incorporated throughout.
Form the dough into a ball and set aside for 20 minutes.
Form Bread Loaves for the Oven
Line a baking sheet with a piece of parchment paper, and drizzle three bowls with olive oil.
Take the dough and cut it into three equal portions.
Place each dough ball into each bowl and coat the dough with olive oil.
Next, form each piece into a loaf of bread dough, and place onto the prepared baking sheet. Set aside in a warm place to rise for 2 hours.
Baking Homemade Pepperoni Bread with Cheese
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
When you set the oven to preheat and before you place the bread into the oven you also need to place an oven-safe dish on the lowest shelf of the oven. We use a cast iron skillet.
When you place the bread into the preheated oven you will pour a cup of water into the hot dish and then quickly close the oven door. This bit of water will create and trap steam in the oven. This steam prevents the outside of the bread from forming a hard crust too early in the baking process and allows the homemade pepperoni bread to fully rise while baking. The steam also creates a delicious crispy crust.
Bake for 40-45 minutes until the crispy crust is golden brown. Remove the fresh bread from the oven. Place the bread on a wire rack to cool.
Easy Mozzarella Pepperoni Bread From Scratch
This pepperoni bread recipe is a great finger food that the whole family will love and is great for pizza night.
You can make adjustments to this fun recipe and try to make homemade pepperoni rolls or pepperoni stromboli. This family favorite is the perfect appetizer or can be enjoyed as the main meal with a side of pizza sauce.
This recipe yields 3 loaves of bread. Enjoy!
Make sure to check out all of our other bread recipes:
FAQs and Variations
You are always able to adjust a recipe to your own personal preference. Doing this may yield different results.
Yes, you can freeze extra bread for later by wrapping it in a brown paper bag and then placing it into a freezer bag in the freezer.
To reheat pepperoni bread you will need to microwave the loaf for 20 seconds then place it in the oven at 350 degrees for 3-5 minutes or until warm.
Yes, you can add an egg wash by cracking an egg into a small dish, whisk, then use a silicone brush to apply an egg wash to each loaf of bread. The egg wash will give the top of the bread a more shiny golden brown crust.
Sure, I don’t see why not.
You can try provolone cheese, or white American cheese if you’d like.
Pepperoni Bread Recipe with Cheese (Homemade Dough)
This pepperoni bread recipe is made with simple ingredients, pepperoni, and mozzarella cheese. It's the perfect game day appetizer.
Ingredients
- 355 grams cool filtered water (60 degrees F)
- 5 grams active dry yeast
- 605 grams all purpose flour
- 15 grams kosher salt
- 20 grams extra virgin olive oil
- 20 grams cool filtered water (60 degrees F
- 10 oz slices of pepperoni, cut into 1/4" cubes
- 8 oz mozzarella cheese, cut into 1/4" cubes
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl combine 355g of water and 5g of dry yeast and stir vigorously.
- Add 605g of all-purpose flour to the bowl and mix until a shaggy dough is formed.
- Knead the dough for 4 minutes.
- Add the remaining 20g of water and 15g of Kosher salt.
- Knead for an additional 6 minutes, then set the dough aside for a 20 minute rest.
- Dice the pepperoni and mozzarella cheese into 1/4 inch cubes.
- Knead the pepperoni and cheese into the dough until evenly distributed.
- Cut the dough into 3 equal pieces and coat with olive oil.
- Allow the dough to rest for an additional 20 minutes.
- Form each dough into loaf shapes about 12 inches long.
- Place the loaves in a warm place to rise for 2 hours.
- Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees F and place an oven safe pan on the bottom oven rack.
- Place the bread in the oven and pour 1 cup of water into the preheated pan on the bottom rack.
- Quickly close the door to trap the steam and bake the pepperoni loaves for 40-45 minutes or until crispy brown.
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