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This Ham and Cheese Loaf is delicious, soft and loaded with cheese and ham. This homemade bread is easy, cheesy and perfect for festive season such as Thanksgiving!
Ham And Cheese Loaf Recipe
Ham and cheese loaf is one of the best savory bread recipes I have ever tried, other cheese breadsticks. This soft buttery bread is an Asian-inspired recipe stuffed with ham and cheese. Each slice is extra soft and flavorful with a crispy, cheesy crust.
This homemade ham and cheese loaf is absolutely delicious for breakfast and lunch and surprisingly easy to make.
I used active dry yeast instead of a roux starter in this recipe, which saves time and simplifies the process. As a result, the bread is soft, fluffy and moist with this method. This is the PERFECT Thanksgiving bread recipe to try!
Ingredients For Ham And Cheese Loaf
- Bread flour
- Granulated sugar
- Dry yeast
- Salt
- Egg
- Milk
- Butter
Ingredients For the Bread Filling and Toppings
- Japanese mayonnaise Kewpie
- Sliced thin-sliced deli ham
- Cheddar cheese slices
- Yellow onion
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients.
How To Make Ham And Cheese Loaf
First, prepare the bread dough by activating the yeast first. Dissolve the dry yeast with sugar and warm milk in a bowl and set it aside for 5 minutes.
Add bread flour, salt, egg, and milk mixture to a mixing bowl, combine well using a stander mixer. When the dough comes together, add the softened butter and keep kneading it until smooth and elastic.
Proof the dough for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
Next, divide the dough into three equal pieces. Then, flatten the dough with a pin roller. Place sliced ham and cheese on the center of the dough and roll it up to seal. Cut the dough in the center and transfer them to a loaf pan.
Proof the dough for another 45 minutes in a warm area with the plastic wrap covered lightly.
After the second proof, spread the dough with mayonnaise on the top and sprinkle more cheese and onion slices over it.
Preheat the oven, and bake the bread until golden brown.
Baking Tips
- 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 the dough becomes too sticky while kneading, add a tablespoon of flour to smooth it out.
- You can also create your own ham and cheese loaf by choosing a different cheese.
- If you’d like to add more flavors to the bread, you can spread the bread with extra mayonnaise on the top before baking. It really makes a huge difference in terms of taste!
Frequently Asked Questions
Store the bread in an airtight container or plastic bag when it’s cooled completely. The bread remains fresh and soft at room temperature for 3 to 4 days.
The bread is best served warm with the melted cheese so you can reheat it with a toaster oven. The bread also tastes good as is without reheating.
This recipe is 618 calories per serving.
What To Serve With Ham And Cheese Loaf
Serve this bread for special occasions or holidays such as Thanksgiving. For a festive meal, I recommend the following recipes.
I hope you enjoy this post as much as I do. If you try my recipe, please leave a comment and consider giving it a 5-star rating. For more easy and delicious recipes, explore my Recipe Index, and stay updated by subscribing to my newsletter and following me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for new updates.
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Ham And Cheese Loaf
Ingredients
Bread Dough
- 2 1/2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon active dry yeast
- 2 1/4 cups bread flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 egg
- 3/4 cup warm milk
- 1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
Bread Filling
- 2 teaspoons Japanese mayonnaise Kewpie
- 6 oz (175 grams) thinly-sliced deli ham
- 8 slices cheddar cheese
- 1/2 small yellow onion, sliced
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 356°F (180°C). In a small bowl, dissolve the sugar and yeast in warm milk, stir well, and set aside for 5 minutes. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, salt, egg, and the milk mixture, then mix well with a spatula.
- Using a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, knead the dough on medium-high speed for 5 minutes until smooth. Add the butter and continue kneading at the same speed for 15 minutes, or until the dough is elastic. Cover the dough with a cloth or plastic wrap and let it rise in a warm place for 1 hour, or until it has doubled in size.
- After the first proof, transfer the dough to a floured surface. Gently press it to release the air. Divide the dough into three equal pieces and cover with plastic wrap. Let it rest for 15 minutes.
- Flatten and shape each piece of dough into an oval using a rolling pin. Place two slices of ham and cheese horizontally on the dough. Then, roll it up and pinch the seams to seal.
- Cut the dough evenly in half using a dough cutter or knife, then transfer the pieces to the loaf pan with the cut side facing up. Cover and let it rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
- After proofing, spread mayonnaise over the top of the dough and sprinkle with cheddar cheese and onion slices. Bake for 40 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Do we lay a layer of thinly sliced onion on the ham and cheese then roll? For the life of me I can;t find where to add onions.
If you refer to the recipe, you add the onions at step no. 8.
Beyond delish!
I used regular mayo, cut cheese into small pieces and twisted all 3 pieces together to make a loaf. Literally the best EVER. Perfect crust on outside, airy and moist on the inside. It’s twisted so all the cheese and ham remain equally dispersed throughout. Can’t thank you enough for this recipe!
Hello Leslie I did this same thing a year or so ago and I CANT express how delicious and perfect it is. I also used regular mayo, cheddar cheese and ham cut into very small cubes. Perfectly dispersed. My family banned me from making it due to the amount of it that they ate and loved! They said it would make them all fat. I say, at least they’d all be happy while moving up a pant size. :-)
Best