Italian Herbs and Cheese Bread - Subway Copycat

Subway Italian Herbs and Cheese bread is soft white rolls topped with crispy cheese and flavorful herbs. If you want to learn how to make Italian herb and cheese bread Subway style, keep reading!

Every time we stop at a Subway for a snack or meal I ALWAYS choose their Italian herbs and cheese bread. The inside of the sandwich often changes, but the bun remains the same. Italian herbs and cheese bread from Subway enhances the flavor of whatever's in between. It's perfection!

That's why I created the best Subway copycat Italian herbs and cheese bread recipe. Tastes just like the real thing, only homemade. And I'm really excited to share it with you today.

Now you can have access to this bread any time you desire it. Heck, we keep some in the freezer just for when the mood strikes us and we want a delicious and flavorful sub sandwich.

I am pretty sure you will do the same. This homemade recipe makes four full size or five good sized submarine buns from scratch. You'll love the way this bread smells while it's baking.

Italian Herbs and Cheese Bread

As many of you will agree, when making a sandwich of any kind the bread is the most crucial element. I love that this Subway bread recipe Italian herb and cheese makes four or five buns at a time so you have lots on hand for delicious sandwiches!

In the back of your mind I know you're thinking why go to all the trouble to make this bread when I can buy an entire sub from Subways for $5? I get it! And trust me, I thought the same thing until I tried making these buns for the first time. In my opinion, this amazing bread tastes almost better than the original Italian herbs and cheese bread from Subway. More cheese and more flavor. Super soft, the right amount of chewy and it's homemade. Once you try the homemade version, you'll love them. I can almost guarantee it.

Now, it's time for the age old question: Do you prefer hot or cold sandwiches? I like my sandwiches toasted but Ken likes his cold! In my opinion, this bread tastes even better when it's toasted and loaded down with your favorite sandwich toppings. I hope you enjoy this sub roll as much as my family and friends do!

It's likely you have most of these ingredients in your pantry already, so you'll only need to stock up on a couple.

Ingredients for Italian Herbs and Cheese Bread - Subway Copycat

• Active dry yeast
• Warm water
• Sugar
• Flour
• Vital Wheat Gluten
• Cold butter
• Salt
• Cheddar
• Jack cheese
• Grated parmesan cheese
• Oregano leaves or Italian seasoning
• Garlic powder

What is Vital Wheat Gluten and Where Can I Buy It?

Vital wheat gluten can be found at health food stores that sell Bob's Red Mill products or online. The product is pretty much pure powdered protein and is sometimes used by people who are allergic to flour, as a binding agent in recipes that do not use yeast. I hope this helps.

What Temperature Should my Water be to Bloom Yeast?

Water should be between 105 and 110 degrees F. Do not add yeast to water that is higher than this temperature or your bread will rise too quickly and then collapse.

What is the Difference between Active Dry Yeast and Rapid Rise Yeast?

Rapid rise yeast has been developed to shorten the rise time of bread. It is not a direct substitute for active dry yeast. Make sure that you use active dry yeast for this recipe!

How to Make Italian Herbs and Cheese Bread

In a stand mixer mixing bowl, combine yeast, ½ cup warm water, and sugar. Stir until well combined and let stand for about 10 minutes until nice and foamy.

In a separate mixing bowl, combine flour and vital wheat gluten. Add one cup of warm water to the yeast mixture (in the stand mixer bowl) and add flour/wheat gluten mixture until combined.

Attach the bowl to the stand mixer and with the dough hook attachment, mix bread dough for about three to four minutes, adding a little flour if necessary—keeping it a little sticky.

You want the dough to be sticky enough that it sticks to the bottom of the bowl a little bit, but not the sides.

After three or four minutes, cut up three tablespoons of cold butter into little cubes and add to the mixing bowl and add one tablespoon of salt.

Mix an additional five to six minutes until butter is mixed into the dough, pull the bread down off the hook if needed throughout the mixing process. Again, you want the dough to be slightly sticky and stretchy.

Place dough in a large greased bowl and roll around a little to get it greased all around.

Cover and allow to rise in a warm place for about an hour.

Punch dough down and divide into three equal pieces (flour your hands if the dough is too sticky for easier handling).

Roll out each piece into a 12" long loaf.

The dough should be the same thickness all the way across. Place on a non-stick baking sheet (I used a silicon baking mat) or a breadform pan. Cover and allow to rise for 40 to 60 minutes, until the dough doubles in size.

How to Bake Italian Herbs and Cheese Bread

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Combine cheeses, garlic powder, oregano or Italian seasoning in a bowl. Divide mixture evenly into four piles and sprinkle on top of each loaf before baking.

Bake in the oven for 15 to 25 minutes (check at 15 minutes) until the bread is golden brown. Remove from the oven and lightly run a little melted butter over the top. This will soften it up nicely.

Allow loaves to cool completely, then serve with all your favorite sub sandwich toppings!

How Do I Store Italian Herbs and Cheese Bread?

You can store your Italian herbs and cheese bread in an airtight bag for up to three days. Be sure to keep your bread away from heat sources so the bag doesn't steam up or sweat.

Can I Freeze this Copycat Subway Bread?

Yes, you can! This recipe is about as perfect as one can get for freezing. Arrange unbaked rolls in a single layer on a baking sheet and place inside the freezer. When the bread has become firm, remove from the baking sheet to store in an airtight bag or container.

You can freeze Italian herbs and cheese bread dough for up to three months. Bake straight from the freezer at 400 degrees F for 10 minutes, or until the bread has heated through.

Tips

• Using whole wheat flour will create whole wheat bread
• Omit topping and you can make plain subway buns on better tasting
• Use cheaper subway or submarine or more expensive sub pans to create the perfect Subway bread shape, if desired. I always use my hands to create a long cylindrical shape and am never disappointed with the results
• Find vital wheat gluten from Amazon or from your local market. It's usually there, just ask. It's required for creating amazing homemade bread that's so soft and chewy.

I love Subway and their Italian Herbs and Cheese bread. I am so glad that I came up with a way to enjoy their delicious sandwiches without having to leave the house!

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