13 Cheese Bread Recipes From Around the World That Are Pure Comfort

Is there anything more comforting than tearing open warm bread and watching melted cheese stretch out in long, gooey strings? Almost every country has its own version of cheese bread, from tiny chewy rolls in Brazil to boat shaped loaves in Georgia and crispy twists in England. Some take 20 minutes, some take a lazy afternoon, and every one of them is worth it. Which country will you visit first in your kitchen..

Cheese Bread Basics: The Easy Cheesy Skillet Loaf

Before we travel, start with the easiest cheese bread you will ever make. No yeast, no kneading, just a quick batter loaded with sharp cheddar and mozzarella, baked in a cast iron skillet until the top is crispy and the middle is soft. Slice it warm and serve it with soup or chili. Could you wait for it to cool? We never can.

You will need: You need: 2 1/2 cups flour, 1 tablespoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar, 1 cup shredded mozzarella, 1 1/4 cups milk, 1 egg, 1/4 cup melted butter.

How to make it: Steps: 1. Heat oven to 375 F and butter a 10 inch skillet. 2. Mix dry ingredients and 2 cups of the cheese. 3. Whisk milk, egg and butter, then stir in. 4. Spread in the skillet and top with the rest of the cheese. 5. Bake 30 to 35 minutes until golden.

Cheese Bread From Brazil: Pao de Queijo

These little Brazilian cheese balls are crisp outside, chewy and hollow inside, and naturally gluten free because they use tapioca flour. In Brazil they are eaten at breakfast with coffee and as a snack any time of day. Blender batter makes them almost too easy. How many can you eat in one sitting?

You will need: You need: 1 1/2 cups tapioca flour, 1/2 cup milk, 1/4 cup oil, 1 egg, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 cup grated parmesan or a mix of parmesan and mozzarella.

How to make it: Steps: 1. Heat oven to 400 F and grease a mini muffin pan. 2. Blend everything except cheese until smooth. 3. Stir in the cheese. 4. Fill cups 3/4 full. 5. Bake 15 to 20 minutes until puffed and golden.

Georgian Khachapuri With a Runny Egg

Khachapuri is the national dish of Georgia, the country between Europe and Asia. The Adjarian version is shaped like a little boat, filled with a lake of melted cheese and topped with butter and an egg yolk right before serving. You stir it all together and tear off the crust to dip. Would you try it for breakfast?

You will need: You need: 1 batch pizza or bread dough, 2 cups shredded mozzarella, 1 cup crumbled feta, 1 egg yolk per boat, 1 tablespoon butter per boat, 1 egg for brushing.

How to make it: Steps: 1. Roll dough into ovals and fold up the sides, twisting the ends into points. 2. Fill with the mixed cheeses. 3. Brush edges with egg. 4. Bake at 475 F for 12 to 15 minutes. 5. Add the yolk and butter, bake 1 more minute and serve.

Cheese Bread Loaf With Cheddar Cubes

Adding cubes of cheese, not just shredded cheese, gives this yeast loaf little pockets of melted cheddar in every slice. It makes the best grilled cheese sandwich you will ever have, and it toasts beautifully for breakfast. Serve thick slices with grapes and a cup of tea for a simple lunch.

You will need: You need: 3 1/2 cups bread flour, 2 teaspoons yeast, 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, 1 1/4 cups warm milk, 2 tablespoons butter, 1 1/2 cups cheddar cut into small cubes.

How to make it: Steps: 1. Knead flour, yeast, sugar, salt, milk and butter 8 minutes. 2. Rise 1 hour. 3. Flatten, scatter cheese cubes, roll up tightly. 4. Rise in a loaf pan 45 minutes. 5. Bake at 375 F for 35 minutes.

Turkish Style Cheese and Garlic Flatbread

This bubbly flatbread is like a cross between naan and pizza. A soft yeast dough is brushed with garlic butter and baked very hot with a light layer of cheese until it blisters. Cut it into strips for dipping in soup, hummus or a bowl of spicy lentils. Easy cheese bread for a weeknight!

You will need: You need: 1 batch pizza dough, 4 tablespoons butter, 3 garlic cloves (minced), 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella, 1/4 cup parmesan, chili flakes and parsley.

How to make it: Steps: 1. Stretch the dough into a large oval on a tray. 2. Mix butter and garlic and brush on. 3. Scatter cheeses. 4. Bake at 500 F for 8 to 10 minutes. 5. Sprinkle with chili flakes and parsley.

Cheesy Garlic Bread for Pasta Night

Quick poll: which pasta needs garlic bread most? A) spaghetti and meatballs, B) lasagna, C) fettuccine Alfredo, or D) all of them? This one is crisp, buttery and loaded with melted mozzarella. Use a soft Italian loaf or a French baguette and slide it under the broiler for the last minute.

You will need: You need: 1 Italian loaf or baguette, 1/2 cup soft butter, 4 garlic cloves (minced), 2 tablespoons chopped parsley, 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella, 1/4 cup parmesan.

How to make it: Steps: 1. Slice the bread in half lengthwise. 2. Mix butter, garlic and parsley and spread on. 3. Top with cheeses. 4. Bake at 400 F for 10 minutes. 5. Broil 1 to 2 minutes until bubbly, then slice.

Pull Apart Cheese Bread for Parties

Pull apart bread is a party trick that never gets old. Rolls of dough stuffed with cheese bake together in one pan, and everyone just reaches in and grabs a piece. The garlic herb butter soaks into every crack. Have you ever seen a pull apart cheese bread last more than ten minutes at a party?

You will need: You need: 1 batch soft roll dough (or 2 cans biscuit dough), 2 cups cubed mozzarella, 1/2 cup melted butter, 2 garlic cloves (minced), 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, parmesan.

How to make it: Steps: 1. Wrap pieces of dough around cheese cubes. 2. Dip in garlic butter. 3. Pack tightly into a pan in rows. 4. Rise 30 minutes if using yeast dough. 5. Bake at 375 F for 25 to 30 minutes and sprinkle with parmesan.

Italian American Stromboli

Stromboli is basically pizza rolled into a log, born in Italian American pizzerias in the 1950s. It is stuffed with layers of mozzarella, provolone and cured meats, then sliced into pinwheels. It is great for game day, picnics or lunchboxes. What would you roll inside yours?

You will need: You need: 1 pound pizza dough, 6 slices provolone, 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella, 4 ounces sliced salami or pepperoni, 4 ounces ham, 1 teaspoon oregano, 1 egg (beaten), marinara for dipping.

How to make it: Steps: 1. Roll dough into a large rectangle. 2. Layer cheese and meats, leaving a border. 3. Roll up tightly and pinch the seam. 4. Brush with egg and cut slits on top. 5. Bake at 400 F for 25 minutes and slice.

Southern Cheese Straws

In the American South, cheese straws are a must at weddings, baby showers and Christmas parties. Grandma piped them through a cookie press into long ridged sticks. They are crunchy, buttery and a little spicy from cayenne. A tin of these makes a lovely holiday gift.

You will need: You need: 2 cups finely grated sharp cheddar (room temperature), 1/2 cup soft butter, 1 1/2 cups flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper.

How to make it: Steps: 1. Beat cheese and butter until creamy. 2. Mix in flour, salt and cayenne. 3. Pipe through a star tip or cookie press into long strips on a tray. 4. Bake at 350 F for 12 to 15 minutes. 5. Cut into lengths while warm.

English Puff Pastry Cheese Twists

These take only 3 ingredients if you use store bought puff pastry. Sprinkle the sheet with sharp cheese and a pinch of paprika, fold, cut into strips and twist. They puff into flaky golden spirals in 15 minutes. Serve them with drinks, soup or a holiday cheese board.

You will need: You need: 1 sheet puff pastry (thawed), 1 cup finely grated cheddar or parmesan, 1 egg (beaten), 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika.

How to make it: Steps: 1. Brush the pastry with egg. 2. Sprinkle cheese and paprika over half and fold the other half over. 3. Roll lightly and cut into 1/2 inch strips. 4. Twist each strip. 5. Bake at 400 F for 12 to 15 minutes.

Cheddar Bay Style Biscuits

These copycat seafood restaurant biscuits are famous for a reason. Drop biscuit dough with shredded cheddar bakes fast, then gets brushed with garlic parsley butter. No rolling, no cutting, no stress. Want more easy breads? See our homemade dinner rolls and biscuits.

You will need: You need: 2 cups flour, 1 tablespoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 cup cold butter, 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar, 1 cup cold buttermilk. Topping: 3 tablespoons melted butter, garlic powder, parsley.

How to make it: Steps: 1. Mix dry ingredients and cut in butter. 2. Stir in cheese and buttermilk. 3. Drop scoops onto a tray. 4. Bake at 450 F for 12 to 15 minutes. 5. Brush with the garlic butter topping.

Cheese Bread Focaccia With Olives

Focaccia is the friendliest yeast bread for beginners because the dough is wet, so you do not knead it at all. Press in olives, scatter fontina or mozzarella on top and bake it in plenty of olive oil until the bottom is crispy. Which topping do you vote for? A) olives, B) cherry tomatoes, C) onions, or D) extra cheese?

You will need: You need: 4 cups flour, 2 teaspoons instant yeast, 2 teaspoons salt, 2 cups warm water, 1/2 cup olive oil (divided), 1/2 cup sliced olives, 1 1/2 cups shredded fontina or mozzarella, rosemary.

How to make it: Steps: 1. Stir flour, yeast, salt and water into a sticky dough. 2. Rest 2 hours, folding twice. 3. Spread in an oiled pan and dimple. 4. Add olives, cheese and rosemary. 5. Bake at 425 F for 25 minutes.

Herb Butter Cheese Bread Braid

Last on our list of cheese bread from around the world, this braided loaf looks bakery fancy but uses an easy trick: spread cheese and herbs down the middle, cut strips along both sides and fold them over like a braid. Every slice is soft, cheesy and full of herbs.

You will need: You need: 1 batch bread dough, 1 cup shredded mozzarella, 1/2 cup crumbled feta, 3 tablespoons soft butter, 2 tablespoons chopped herbs (parsley, dill or basil), 1 egg, sesame seeds.

How to make it: Steps: 1. Roll dough into a rectangle. 2. Spread butter, herbs and cheese down the center. 3. Cut diagonal strips along each side. 4. Fold strips over the filling, alternating. 5. Brush with egg, add seeds and bake at 375 F for 30 minutes.