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Woman spreading butter on a slice of fresh herb bread.
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5 from 2 votes

Flavorful Fresh Herb Bread Recipe

This flavorful fresh herb bread not only tastes really amazing, but it is also so beautiful. Your family and friends will be so impressed.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
rising time1 hour 20 minutes
Total Time2 hours 25 minutes
Course: Bread
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegetarian
Keyword: herb bread, whole wheat bread
Servings: 1 loaf
Author: Amy Sandidge
Cost: $8

Ingredients

Bread Dough

  • 1 ¼ cup warm milk- about 100 degrees
  • 2 ½ teaspoons active dry yeast
  • ½ cup honey or sugar
  • ½ cup olive oil or softened butter
  • ½ cup potato flakes optional, but I love to use it to soften the bread.
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 ½ cups white whole wheat flour
  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour You may need to add a little more, depending on the area you live in and the humidity in your house.
  • 3 eggs

Herb Filling

  • 8 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 1 ½ cups fresh herbs- oregano, basil, parsley, and thyme
  • 2 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 1 cup grated parmesan

Egg wash

  • 1 egg
  • 2 tablespoons milk

Instructions

  • Activate the yeast by adding the warm milk, sugar, and yeast to a bowl. Mix and let it sit for about 5 minutes.
  • Add the remaining ingredients to the mixing bowl or bowl you will use to mix if you are doing the process by hand. Start with only 2 ½ cups of the all-purpose flour though. You will want to add any extra gradually after mixing for a few minutes. This is a straight dough method, which means you add everything in at once to mix.
  • Now, mix for 1 minute before you decide about adding more flour. You will want the dough to be tacky (slightly sticky), but not overly sticky. Once it is the right consistency, continue to mix, adding flour as needed for about 6-8 minutes on medium speed.
  • If you are mixing by hand, it is the same concept. I always mix for 8-10 minutes when I mix by hand.
  • Cover the dough and allow it to rise in a warm place until the dough is doubled. Mine took about 40 minutes. This will depend on the temperature of your dough and the temp in your house.
  • While it is rising, add the ingredients for the garlic herb butter to a food processor or blender. Pulse until it is smooth and the herbs are well blended.
  • When the dough is ready, roll it on a lightly floured surface into a rectangle that is 14x18 inches.
  • Spread with the herb butter mixtures, leaving about 1 inch at the bottom to without the butter. This is the section you will use to pinch close the roll.
  • Roll the roll from the top down as you would a cinnamon roll. Pinch it closed at the bottom. With a sharp knife, cut a slit all the way through the layers length-wise. Turn the 2 sides face up and twist the 2 sides around each other several times. Move to a prepared pan.
  • Cover and allow this to rise in a warm place until it has doubled. Mine took about 35 minutes.
  • At the end of the rising period, preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  • Once the loaf is risen, brush with the egg wash (1 egg and 2 tablespoons milk) and move it to the oven. Bake for 45 minutes and check the internal temperature, you want it to get to 190 degrees.
  • Once it is finished, remove it from the oven. Let it sit in the pan for about 7 minutes, then gently invert onto your cooling rack.
  • Let it cool for at least 15 minutes before serving. This will give the starches time to set just a bit.

Notes

  • Be sure to let the garlic herb bread rise at room temperature in a warm place. 
  • If you don't have a stand mixer, this bread can also be kneaded by hand. Just make sure the bread is kneaded until it is smooth. 
  • New baker? If this is your first time making bread, don't feel intimidated. Read through the instructions carefully and you will be able to make this recipe with ease. 
  • The reason I like to let the bread cool for about 20 minutes, which is hard to do because this bread smells amazing when it is baking and when it comes out, is to let the starches set. When the bread is still very hot and hasn't cooled, the starches won't be set and will be gummy when you cut into it. 
  • If you like feta cheese, you can always sub this out for the parmesan cheese. it has a stronger flavor, but it is delicious!
  • You can use any combination of savory herbs you like in this bread. I love the ones I chose, but there is also sage, thyme, etc. 
  • Real butter is a must, magarine or another substitute just isn't as good!