suemunzlinger's Recipe

Panera Asiago Cheese Bread

Category: Breads and quick breads

3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 packet Red Star Platinum yeast
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
11/4 cups milk
2 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 cups shredded Asiago cheese, divided
1 egg, beaten

In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine 1½ cups flour, yeast, sugar,
salt and pepper. Put the milk in a microwave safe bowl. Add the
butter. Heat the milk to 120-130 degrees so that the butter starts
melting. Make sure the temperature is just right so that it is warm
enough to activate the yeast, but not kill it.
Stir the milk mixture into the flour mixture and mix on low speed
using the paddle attachment until smooth. Add in 1¼ cups shredded
cheese and mix just until combined.

Gradually add in 1¾ cups flour to make a soft dough. Knead in the
stand mixer with the dough hook for 5 minutes.

Spray a bowl with cooking spray. Add the dough to the bowl, then
turn the dough over so the cooking spray coats both sides of the
dough. Cover the bowl and allow the dough to rise in a warm place
until it is double (anywhere from 1-2 hours).

After the dough is doubled, punch it down and form it into two
loaves. Place the loaves on a baking sheet that has been sprayed
with cooking spray. Cover the loaves and allow them to rise again
until doubled, which will take 30-45 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

Make 3-4 cuts in the top of the loaves with a serrated knife. Brush
the tops of the loaves with the beaten egg and then sprinkle the
remaining cheese on top. Bake for 30-35 minutes until lightly
browned.

Note: You can also knead this dough by hand or use your bread
machine on the dough setting.