Cheese Pull-Apart Bread

Dough:

3 1/2 cups (418 grams) unbleached all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons instant yeast

2 tablespoons (21 grams) potato flour or 1/4 cup instant potato flakes

3 tablespoons (21 grams) nonfat dry milk

1 tablespoon (25 grams) sugar

1 1/4 teaspoons salt

4 tablespoons (57 grams) soft butter

2/3 cup (152 grams) lukewarm water

1/2 cup (113 grams) lukewarm milk

Coating:

1/3 cup (43 grams) cheese powder or finely grated Cheddar or Parmesan cheese

3 tablespoons (21 grams) cornstarch

2 teaspoons dried or minced fresh herbs (such as oregano, basil, rosemary, thyme) and/or garlic or onion powder

4 tablespoons (57 grams) melted butter

Combine all of the dough ingredients in a large bowl, and mix and knead — using your hands, a stand mixer, or a bread machine set on the dough cycle — to make a soft, smooth dough.

Place the dough in a lightly greased container — an 8-cup measure works well here — and allow the dough to rise for 60 to 90 minutes, until it's just about doubled in bulk.

Lightly grease a deep 9" casserole dish, a 9" x 2" cake pan, or an 8 1/2" x 4" loaf pan. Pour a generous layer of olive oil in the bottom of the pan to coat.

Gently deflate the dough, and transfer it to a lightly greased work surface.  If using a casserole dish or cake pan, divide the dough into 32 pieces, by dividing in half, then in halves again, etc.  Don't worry about making them exactly even, and don't bother to shape them into balls, unless you're totally into perfection.  If using a loaf pan, divide the dough into 16 pieces, then roll into 4" to 5" diameter rounds.

Make the coating: whisk together the cheese powder or grated cheese, cornstarch, and seasonings.  Put the melted butter in a small bowl.  Dip each ball in the butter, then the in coating, then place in the casserole dish or cake pan in a single layer; you'll need to squeeze them in.  If using the loaf pan, brush the rounds with butter, then sprinkle with coating mixture.  Fold the rounds in half, butter the top, and place in the prepared loaf pan, rounded edge up.

Cover the pan, and allow the dough to rise until quite puffy, about 60 to 90 minutes. Towards the end of the rising time, heat the oven to 350°F.

Uncover the pan.  Bake the bread for 15 minutes.  Tent with aluminum foil and bake for an additional 20 minutes, until it's golden brown when you peek underneath the foil.  An instant-read thermometer inserted into the middle of the center bun should register 190°F, or very close to it.

Remove the bread from the oven, and turn it out of the pan onto a rack. Serve warm.

Makes one pull-apart loaf.

From King Arthur Flour