I have done it. Finally made the perfect Pull apart Bread using my new Kenwood Mix Master J I can now start breathing.
Earlier this month “D” gifted me a “Kenwood Mix master” to assist me in my baking as I was getting more involved in Bread Baking and my back ache issues had increased due to the constant kneading. Since I got the brand new baby I was too scared to use it, treating it with reverence that it deserved.
I then signed up for a group on facebook called “We knead to Bake” where all the amateur bakers would bake one particular bread every month. January’s Bread was a beautiful “Garlic and Cheddar Pull apart Bread”. Pull apart Bread literally means Bread that can just be pulled apart and picked up. Having never eaten or tried baking one I was nervous and the fact that I had never used my Kenwood before did not help at all.
So last week I decided to make a “Paneer (ricotta cheese) pull apart Bread” and it was a disaster from the get go. The day was very windy and cold for a hot summer’s day in Perth. Then the dough was too sticky even when I added a little extra flour, it just did not lose the stickiness. I forgot to oil the dough before putting it to proof. Then when I started rolling the dough it stuck to the working surface. I forgot to keep the bread for the second proofing and after baking when I cut the Bread it was under cooked, dry and soggy. I was so depressed, I had to chuck the whole Bread away and I am a person who hates to waste.
So as the due date by which we had to submit the Bread neared I was on tenterhooks wondering what to do. Everyday some of the amateur bakers posted their gorgeous Breads scaring the day lights out of me. So finally today I mustered up enough courage to make a “Fresh Garlic, Herb and Cheddar Bread”. I took a deep breath before making the Bread and as it started to proof I said a little prayer.
The Bread was beautiful and smelled incredibly good. The fresh herbs picked up from my kitchen garden worked like a charm with the Cheddar Cheese.
Recipe : Makes 1 big loaf (Cooking time 30 minutes, prepping and proofing upto 2 hours)
For the Bread
3 1/2 cup Plain Flour
2 tsp Instant Yeast
2 tsp Sugar
1 cup Water
1/2 cup Milk
1 tsp Salt
Olive oil to coat the dough
Optional : 1/4 Cup Butter Or 1 Egg
Warm the milk and the water together and put the Yeast and Sugar in it. Keep the Yeast in a warm place to forth for 5 – 10 minutes. You need to ensure that the water is just warm enough and not hot else you will kill the yeast. Put the Flour in a bowl add the Salt make a well in between and add the Yeast mixture and start to knead. If you are adding the Egg/Butter you can go ahead and add while kneading as it will improve the texture of the Bread and make it softer.
Knead for 10 minutes till the dough looses its stickiness and becomes soft and smooth ( I let my mix master do the kneading here). Coat with Olive oil, cover and leave for an hour in a warm place till the dough rises and doubles in size.
For the Filling
The beauty of this bread is that you can use a variety of filling. I have used a savory one.
1 cup freshly chopped Basil leaves
1/2 cup freshly chopped Parsley
1 cup Cheddar or Feta cheese (I had used Paneer earlier but felt it made the bread too dry)
3 Garlic cloves finely chopped
1 tbsp Chilli Flakes (optional)
Just before your dough is ready chop the basil and parsley leaves and add them in a bowl with the Cheddar, Chilli flakes and Garlic. If you cannot find fresh herbs you can use dried too but the quantity would be less then a cup for them.
The assembling
Olive oil to coat the pan (or Butter)
A little flour to roll the dough on your working surface.
1 tbsp Milk to brush the dough before you put it in the oven.
Unfortunately I was so stressed making this bread again I did not take any videos. So I am posting a link to an online tutorial I had seen that helped me assemble this bread.
What I did was punched the dough down to release the air. Then put some flour on my working surface and using a rolling pin rolled the dough into a big square which is not to thick. I then applied some Olive oil (you can use melted Butter) on the rolled dough. Then I put the herbs and cheese on top spreading them equally. If you feel the stuffing is too little make some more and use it. I then used a rolling pin to press the stuffing a little in the dough and then using a pizza cutter cut long thin strips of the dough.
You can use a square pan and make square strips or in a round pan (which you coat with Olive oil) you can make rolls and arrange the dough, like I did.
Now leave the dough in a warm place for another 40 minutes for the second rise. Pre heat the Oven atleast 15 minutes before you bake your bread and when the second rise is complete, brush the Bread with Milk and put it in the oven. Cook for atleast 30 minutes in a pre heated over at 180 Degrees C.
When you tap the bread it should make a hollow sound, this ensures it is cooked.
Serve it warm with some Butter or at room temperature. It is a perfect tea time snack.
Each one has turned out beautiful! I particularly like the flower-like rounded one.
Lata, loved your Bread too. Thank you so much for leaving a comment.
I am going to try out a Cheddar cheese version next.Love the one baked in the round tin,like Lataji said-looks like a flower!
Thanks Divya
I planned to do the stack one but the last time I tried I was not happy so did this 
Lovely and beautiful bread…Loved the round tin one..They are cute..
Reshmi, thanks for visiting. Loved your baingan Bharta bread too
Very tempting looking..!!
Thanks Deepika. It is super easy to make too
The bread’s turned out perfect. The round shape looks more like a cake.
Thats Aparna
Beautiful Bread…loved the shape!!!!
Thanks Veena
did not know you had a blog but glad that this group introduced your blog to me. Just spent a good time browsing thru all the recipes and you have a really good variety Bhavana. Keep up the jolly good work. Love the shape of the bread.
Radhika, thank you so much for such a lovely comment. I am just learning, can’t cook that well. Hopefully one day I can be as good a cook as u r.
Love the recipe. It is so beautiful.
as i said in my blog… i love ur spirit girl… and lovedd that u did it second time over and so well, i would have given up if i had a disaster!… hugs…
Thank you Swati. I had taken the challenge and wanted to make sure I saw it through. BTW loved your bread too. Just checked ur blog. Cannot believe I missed it.
Wow! It looks absolutely delicious.
Thanks for visiting Pam
beautiful bread n looks so cute…thanks to Aparna for introducing me to all yoru lovely blogs..U have great recipes…enjoyed my first bread baking with u all.Thanks!!
Thank you for visiting Sangeetha. Same here I am glad to know your blog
I don’t have guts to even try this. it looks so beautiful I don’t think I can make it or bake it;)
Babe you can surely do this
I will help you. Ek din Skype call Karte hain
I feel so proud of you and LOVE the fact that you don’t give up. Hugs and wish you many many many baking successes!
You are my inspiration babe
muaah
I recovered my wordpress and now i can comment, i had written in the fb group i coudn’t as i didn’t know any more my paasword
I am glad you tried again than giving up with the trouble youhad with your first try
Thank you for taking stoping by Finla. Home bakers like you and Anshie inspire me
what lovely and yummy bread:)
Love the pictures!!
Thank you for visiting. Happy to follow ur blog.
I had to chuck my first batch too.. Although, I did tear the cooked top along with cheese & ate it!
I simple loved your rolls! The texture looks promising!
Kavitha thank you so much for visiting. You are very encouraging
I had to chuck my 1st batch too! But I picked up the herbs, cheese & cooked top & ate them!
The rolls look divine!!
That looks yummy!!! Carbs rock!
Thanks for visiting. Yeah carbs rock lol
Wow! I don’t know why all the blogs seem to have posted garlic and cheese pull apart breads. Is that coincidence? Your pull apart bread looks great!
MD, we are a part of a facebook group called Knead to Bake where we make these breads once a month. Let me know if you are keen and I will get the admin to invite you. Thanks for visiting.
Glad to have discovered you Bhavna! a fabulous space you have here and the loaf looks swell
Thank you for visiting Anusha. I am glad you liked the Blog. Hope to hear more from you.
The bread is so nicely done and love the texture of your bread. Awesome!
Thanks Jayanthi. It was a simple and easy Bread to make
Wow, yummilicious bread there Bhavna… and I love your profile name
Its cute!
Nandita thanks for visiting. Love your blog too.
Loved your spirit of attempting again..and how well it turned out!! Great going Bhavna
Thanks Amrita. Had to keep going ::)
Lovely! Looking fwd to the next bake!
Thanks Arundathi, same here.