Muffuletta Bread

Topped with savory sesame seeds and baked to golden brown perfection, classic Muffuletta Bread may not be so easy to find outside of New Orleans, but making it at home is incredibly simple! It’s an easy dough recipe that comes together quickly and bakes in just 30 minutes!

What Is Muffuletta Bread?

If you have never heard of Muffuletta Bread, it’s basically a white bread that has been shaped into a flat disc and topped with sesame seeds before being baked in the oven. It’s actually a type of Sicilian sesame bread that was brought to New Orleans by Italian immigrants. And as time went on, later used to make the popular muffuletta sandwiches that are now iconic to the city. 

However, unlike Italian Ciabatta Bread, it doesn’t have a dome shape and unlike Focaccia it’s made with very little fat. It’s a simple round bread with sesame seeds that is most known for making muffuletta sandwiches. However, it’s absolutely delicious and doesn’t get enough attention in my book!

You can slice and it just like any other bread as well as use it to make any sandwich you like. It’s fantastic with cold cuts! I often like to use it to make my Italian Sub Sandwich in place of a baguette for a change. Or, spread a freshly baked round with my yummy Tuna Salad for a quick lunch.

• Water – Warm water activates the yeast, which is what makes the dough rise.
• Sugar – Used to feed the yeast and sweeten the bread a little bit. I used granulated white sugar, but cane sugar will also work.
• Active Dry Yeast – Make sure to check the expiration date of your yeast. You can also use instant yeast if that’s what you have on hand, but it doesn’t need to bloom.
• Bread Flour – I have found that bread flour works best for this recipe, but basic all-purpose flour will work as well.
• Salt – A touch of salt is important to season the dough.
• Shortening – I used vegetable shortening to add just a touch of fat. You can also use room-temperature unsalted butter if you prefer.
• Egg – Used to make an egg wash to adhere the sesame seeds to the top of the bread.
• Sesame Seeds – For another layer of flavor, you can sprinkle sesame seeds on top of the bread before it’s put into the oven to bake.

Making this muffuletta bread is actually pretty easy. Yet, you must properly activate the yeast using warm water. That part is essential, but once you’ve done that, this recipe is pretty straightforward if you just follow the easy steps I’ve outlined for you here.

Activate The Yeast

To begin, you have to bloom the yeast. To do this, combine the warm water together with the yeast and sugar in a small bowl. Then allow the mixture to sit for 10 minutes undisturbed until the yeast foams up. The water must be warm for this step or the yeast will not activate.

Note, if your yeast doesn’t foam up don’t move forward with the recipe. It means that your yeast is dead and you need to buy new yeast.

Make The Dough

Once the yeast is ready, start the dough by combining the bread flour and salt together in the bowl of your stand mixer. Now, add the shortening and then mix all the ingredients together for about 30 seconds using the dough hook. Then add the yeast mixture and continue mixing for another 5 to 6 minutes or until the dough comes away clean from the sides of the bowl.

Let The Dough Rise

When the dough is done, place it in a well oiled large bowl. Then cover it with plastic wrap and set the bowl in a warm place for about 1 to 2 hours or until the dough has doubled in size. It’s crucial that you be patient and wait until it’s doubled in size before you move on to the next step.

Preheat The Oven And Prep The Pan

After the dough has doubled in size you can now preheat the oven to 450°F (232°C) to get it ready for baking. Then line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat to prevent the bread from sticking to the pan.

Form The Muffuletta Bread

First, punch the dough down to get all the air out to form the bread. Next, place it on a lightly floured surface and roll it out into a large disc that is 10 to 12 inches in diameter. Then put the disc on the prepared baking sheet. Now, brush the dough with egg wash and sprinkle the top of it with sesame seeds.

Bake The Bread

Before putting the muffuletta bread in to bake you need to fill a baking dish with water and place it on the bottom rack of your oven. This is done to help the bread rise and give it a wonderful texture. Now, put the bread into the oven and bake it for just 5 minutes. Then carefully remove the baking dish with water from the oven.

To finish, reduce the oven temperature to 375°F (190°C) and continue baking the bread for another 25 minutes or until it’s golden brown. The loaf is done when it sounds hollow when being tapped on the bottom. Then place it on a wire rack to completely cool before slicing it and serving.  

Can This Recipe Be Made With Instant Yeast?

Yes, it can! If using instant yeast, it doesn’t need to be activated, so you can just add it in with the bread flour, along with the warm water and the rest of the ingredients and start your dough from there.

Can I Make Vegan Muffuletta Bread?

Great news! Just omit the egg and it’s vegan. Then to adhere the sesame seeds to the bread you can brush the dough with water or plant-based milk in place of the egg wash.

How To Store

Muffuletta bread will keep at room temperature for up to 5 days in a container or bag. It also stores well in the freezer for up to 3 months in a sealed freezer bag or tightly wrapped in plastic wrap. Then when ready to eat, just remove the loaf from the freezer and let it thaw out at room temperature for a few hours. 

Other Delicious Bread Recipes To Try

• Air Fryer No Knead Bread
• No Knead Skillet Bread
• Naan Recipe
• Potato Bread
• Slow Cooker Bread
• Honey Beer Bread
• Artisan Bread