This Cheesecake Factory brown bread recipe, will help you make the “chocolate bread” or the “brown bread” that you get from the Cheesecake Factory in just five steps, right in your home kitchen.
If you’ve ever dined at The Cheesecake Factory, you’re likely familiar with their iconic brown bread. This slightly sweet, soft, and rich bread with a hint of chocolate flavor is simply irresistible.
The good news is that you can recreate this beloved bread in your own kitchen with this detailed recipe. Let’s dive into the process of making Cheesecake Factory’s brown bread from scratch.
Why you will love this Copycat Cheesecake Factory Brown Bread Recipe
- This copycat cheesecake factory brown bread recipe will help you make chocolate bread in just five simple steps, the recipe is easy to follow, even for beginners.
- You’ll love this Homemade Cheesecake Factory brown bread recipe because it perfectly captures the authentic, slightly sweet, and rich flavor of the original bread.
- They are very similar to the original, but you might find them even softer and moister.
- Baking this bread is a fun and cost-effective way to enjoy a restaurant-quality treat, in the comfort of your home.
Ingredients for making cheesecake factory brown bread or chocolate bread
- All-Purpose Flour: 260 g or 2 cups (loosely packed)
- Whole Wheat Flour: 130 g or 1 cup (loosely packed)
- Sugar: 25 g or 2 tbsp
- Honey: 42 g or 2 tbsp
- Butter: 28 g or 2 tbsp
- Molasses: 40 g or 2 tbsp
- Salt: 6 g g or 1 tsp
- Yeast: 7 g or 2 tsp
- Cocoa Powder: 7 g or 1 tbsp
- Instant Coffee Powder: 2 g or 1 tsp
- Water: 180 ml or 3/4 cup
For Topping
- Oats: 10 g or 1tbsp
How to make cheese cake factory brown bread at home
We can make this Cheesecake Factory brown bread or chocolate bread in five simple steps.
- Prepare the bread dough
- Proof the dough
- Divide and shape the honey wheat bread
- Final rising of the shaped chocolate bread
- Bake the honey wheat brown bread
Step by step Video: Cheesecake Factory Brown Bread Recipe
Step 1: Prepare the Dough
First, gather all your ingredients and prepare to mix your dough. Into a large mixing bowl, add the water, molasses, honey, sugar, salt, coffee powder, cocoa powder, and yeast. Mix these ingredients together until they are well combined.
Next, add the softened, unsalted butter. I kept it at room temperature and so it will easily blend to form the dough. Let’s add the all-purpose flour and whole wheat flour to the bowl.
Now, it’s time to knead the dough. You can do this by hand, which will take about 10 minutes, or use a stand mixer with a dough hook, which will take about 6-8 minutes.
Knead the dough until it becomes soft and smooth. The honey and molasses make the dough slightly sticky, so a stand mixer can make this process easier.
Step 2: Proof the Dough
After kneading, it’s time to let the dough rise. Cover the bowl and let it sit in a warm environment for about 1 hour. This is the first proofing.
After an hour, the dough should have risen slightly. Lightly oil your hands and punch down the dough to release any air bubbles. Form the dough into a smooth ball.
Step 3: Divide and Shape the Dough
Next, divide the dough into equal parts. I have divided the dough into four equal parts.
Take each portion and flatten it into a rectangle. Roll the rectangle like a jelly roll and pinch the seam at the end to seal it.
Roll it gently to form a smooth, long bread dough.
Place each shaped roll onto a baking sheet. If your baking tray is not non sticky, don’t forget to line it with a parchment paper.
Before covering the baking tray with cling film,I have brushed the top of the rolls with some olive oil, to prevent the dough from sticking to the cling film. We can use melted butter as well.
Step 4: Final Rising
Cover the baking tray with cling film.
Place the tray in a warm environment for the second rising, which should take about 80-90 minutes. As this Cheesecake Factory Brown Bread Recipe uses sugar, honey and molasses in it; it needs slightly more time for the rolls to rise.
Step 5: Bake the Bread
After the final rise, the dough should be well-puffed.
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Before baking, spray or brush the rolls with water and then sprinkle some oats on top to get that signature Cheesecake Factory brown bread look.
Bake the bread in the 375 F or 190 C preheated oven for 25-30 minutes.
Once baked, let the bread cool slightly before serving. These homemade Cheesecake Factory brown breads are soft, moist, and slightly sweet with a hint of chocolate flavor. They are very similar to the original, but you might find them even softer and moister.
Serve your “chocolate bread” with plain butter, or elevate the experience by pairing it with maple syrup and butter. Enjoy!
Frequently asked questions:Copycat Cheesecake Factory Brown Bread Recipe
Store the baked bread in an airtight container or a resealable plastic bag at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, you can freeze the bread for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
If you don’t have molasses, you can use soft brown sugar or maple syrup as a substitute, though the flavor will be slightly different.
Yes, you can use only all-purpose flour, but the texture and flavor might differ slightly from the original Cheesecake Factory brown bread, which benefits from the added whole wheat flour.
Yes, you can prepare the dough ahead of time. After the first rise, punch it down and refrigerate it overnight. Let it come to room temperature before shaping and complete the final rise before baking.
Yes, you can use active dry yeast instead of instant yeast. Make sure the yeast granules get dissolved in water before adding the flour. You can use 7g of active dry yeast in this copycat Cheesecake Factory honey wheat bread recipe
To achieve a soft and moist texture to our Cheesecake Factory chocolate bread, be precise with your measurements, knead the dough well, and don’t skip the rising times. Also, baking the bread at the right temperature is crucial.
Yes, you can make this recipe vegan by substituting the honey with maple syrup or agave nectar and using vegan butter instead of regular butter.
Cheesecake Factory Brown Bread Recipe
Ingredients
- 260 g All-Purpose Flour or 2 cups (loosely packed)
- 130 g Whole Wheat Flour or 1 cup (loosely packed)
- 25 g Sugar or 2 tbsp
- 42 g Honey or 2 tbsp
- 28 g Butter or 2 tbsp
- 40 g Molasses or 2 tbsp
- 6 g Salt or 1 tsp
- 7 g Yeast or 2 tsp
- 7 g Cocoa Powder or 1 tbsp
- 2 g Instant Coffee Powder or 1 tsp
- 180 ml Water or 3/4 cup
For Topping
- 10 g Oats or 1 tbsp
Instructions
Prepare the Dough
- First, gather all your ingredients and prepare to mix your dough. Into a large mixing bowl, add the water, molasses, honey, sugar, salt, coffee powder, cocoa powder, and yeast. Mix these ingredients together until they are well combined.
- Next, add the softened, unsalted butter. I kept it at room temperature and so it will easily blend to form the dough. Let’s add the all-purpose flour and whole wheat flour to the bowl.
- Now, it’s time to knead the dough. You can do this by hand, which will take about 10 minutes, or use a stand mixer with a dough hook, which will take about 6-8 minutes.
- Knead the dough until it becomes soft and smooth. The honey and molasses make the dough slightly sticky, so a stand mixer can make this process easier.
Proof the Dough
- After kneading, it’s time to let the dough rise. Cover the bowl and let it sit in a warm environment for about 1 hour. This is the first proofing.
- After an hour, the dough should have risen slightly. Lightly oil your hands and punch down the dough to release any air bubbles.
- Form the dough into a smooth ball.
Divide and Shape the Dough
- Next, divide the dough into equal parts. I have divided the dough into four equal parts.
- Take each portion and flatten it into a rectangle. Roll the rectangle like a jelly roll and pinch the seam at the end to seal it.
- Roll it gently to form a smooth, long bread dough.
- Place each shaped roll onto a baking sheet. If your baking tray is not non sticky, don’t forget to line it with a parchment paper.
Final Rising
- Cover the baking tray with cling film. I have brushed the top of the rolls with some olive oil, to prevent the dough from sticking. We can use melted butter as well.
- Place the tray in a warm environment for the second rising, which should take about 80-90 minutes. As this Cheesecake Factory Brown Bread Recipe uses sugar, honey and molasses in it; it needs slightly more time for the rolls to rise.
Bake the Bread
- After the final rise, the dough should be well-puffed. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Before baking, spray or brush the rolls with water and then sprinkle some oats on top to get that signature Cheesecake Factory brown bread look.
- Bake the bread in the 375 F or 190 C preheated oven for 25-30 minutes.
- Once baked, let the bread cool slightly before serving.
- These homemade Cheesecake Factory brown breads are soft, moist, and slightly sweet with a hint of chocolate flavor. They are very similar to the original, but you might find them even softer and moister.
- Serve your “chocolate bread” with plain butter, or elevate the experience by pairing it with maple syrup and butter. Enjoy!