Description
This Very Soft & Fluffy Cheese & Onion Bread is a delicious homemade bread featuring a tender crumb infused with sautéed onions and Parmesan, topped with melted cheddar cheese. Perfect as a savory snack or alongside meals, these fluffy buns offer a rich flavor and satisfyingly soft texture.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Onion
- 1 tbsp oil
- 1 medium white onion, roughly chopped (about 120g)
For the Dough
- 400g bread flour
- 6g bread improver
- 20g milk powder
- 8g salt
- 40g sugar
- 8g instant dry yeast
- 240g cold water
- 40g unsalted butter, softened (room temperature)
- 12g Parmesan cheese, grated
Topping
- 1 egg, beaten (for egg glaze)
- 80g Cheddar cheese, grated
Instructions
- Sauté the Onions: Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the roughly chopped white onion and fry until the onions are softened and slightly browned. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: Using a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, combine bread flour, bread improver, milk powder, salt, sugar, and instant dry yeast. Mix on low speed for 1 minute to evenly distribute the ingredients.
- Add Water and Mix: Pour in the cold water and continue mixing on low speed for another 1 minute. Then increase the speed to medium and mix for 5 minutes to develop the dough.
- Incorporate Butter: Add the softened unsalted butter to the dough. Mix on low speed for 7 to 10 minutes until the dough becomes smooth and well-formed.
- Add Onions and Parmesan: Add the cooled fried onions and grated Parmesan cheese into the dough. Mix on low speed for 1 minute until they are evenly incorporated.
- First Proof: Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and shape it into a round. Place the dough in an airtight container and let it rise for 1 hour, or until it has doubled in size.
- Divide and Shape: Punch down the risen dough and divide it into seven equal portions, about 40g each. Shape each piece into a smooth ball. Arrange the balls in a greased baking tray with one ball in the center and the others surrounding it.
- Second Proof: Cover the tray and let the dough balls proof for 1 hour until puffed and nearly doubled in size.
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 200°C (392°F).
- Apply Glaze and Cheese: Brush the tops of the proofed dough balls with the beaten egg glaze, then sprinkle grated cheddar cheese generously over each bun.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 18 minutes, or until the buns are golden brown on top.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the buns from the oven and transfer to a cooling rack. Allow them to cool for at least 15 minutes before serving to enjoy the best texture and flavor.
Notes
- Ensure the onions are cooled before adding them to the dough to avoid killing the yeast.
- The bread improver helps improve the dough elasticity and texture but can be omitted if unavailable.
- Use cold water to control dough temperature and fermentation.
- Softened unsalted butter should be at room temperature for easy incorporation.
- The arrangement of the dough balls in the baking tray helps create pull-apart style bread.
- Adjust baking time slightly if your oven runs hotter or cooler to avoid over or under baking.
- Allow bread to cool to develop flavor and prevent it from becoming soggy when sliced.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Western
Keywords: cheese bread, onion bread, soft bread, fluffy bread, homemade bread, savory buns
