Sourdough Pepperoni Bread
This sourdough pepperoni bread is loaded with slices of pepperoni, shredded mozzarella cheese, shaved parmesan cheese, and plenty of delicious pizza flavor. The bread is soft, chewy, and perfect for sandwiches, dipping in marinara or oil, or on its own.
I’ve been baking using a sourdough starter for many years so it’s become like second nature to me. However, if you’re new to sourdough and have a sourdough starter, you might want to start with this easy sourdough bread recipe. Don’t have a sourdough starter? Read how to make a sourdough starter from scratch for a step-by-step tutorial.
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My husband’s favorite food is pizza because with so many topping choices, the flavor possibilities are endless. And I agree, pizza is pretty amazing. This simple loaf of bread is a nod to him, a combination of classic pepperoni pizza and sourdough bread.
You’ll love eating this pepperoni sourdough bread. It’s not only simple to make, but it disappears quickly every time I make it.
Why You’ll Love Pepperoni Sourdough Bread
- Inclusion bread – Adding different types of add-ins allows you to create sourdough bread with a variety of flavors. Enjoy a sweet loaf of sourdough, such as my cinnamon raisin sourdough bread, fig and walnut sourdough bread, or artisan sourdough pumpkin and pecan bread. If savory bread is more your thing, try sourdough everything bread, rosemary olive parmesan sourdough bread, or sourdough cheese and garlic pull apart bread.
- Sourdough Goodness – Baking with a sourdough starter is a great way to add nutritional value to your food. The long fermentation process aids digestion by breaking down the phytic acid found in grains and has a lower glycemic index for those watching their blood sugar. Sourdough breads have higher levels of nutrients than conventional bread. In addition, it’s simply delicious!
- Less mess – Enjoy the flavors of a slice of pepperoni pizza but without the mess, an ideal choice for little kids.
- Versatile – Enjoy pepperoni sourdough bread in a variety of ways, from dipping in marinara sauce or herby olive oil, making great tasting sandwiches, or simply enjoy it plain.
Equipment
- Dutch oven – Using a Dutch oven is the best way for home bakers to create an artisan loaf of bread with a beautiful crust. The enclosed baking environment traps steam, allowing the crust to stay moist and expand.
- Kitchen scale – A vital tool for measuring sourdough bread dough ingredients. They’re not expensive and will help ensure accurate, consistent measurements.
- 9″ banneton basket – A banneton is a proofing basket that provides support for the bread dough as it proofs. Dust with a little bit of rice flour to prevent the dough from sticking.
- A large bowl
- Danish dough whisk – I like how a Danish dough whisk cuts through the dough to incorporate the ingredients. A great tool if you plan to bake sourdough bread regularly.
- Lame – A special scoring tool that holds a sharp razor. You can also use a sharp knife, but a lame makes it easy for small, intricate scoring.
Pepperoni and Cheese Sourdough Bread Ingredients
Sourdough pepperoni bread is made with a short list of ingredients, so be sure they’re high-quality for the best flavor.
- Sourdough starter – Use active starter that has been fed recently and is full of bubbles, showing signs of fermentation.
- Flour – A strong bread flour with a protein content of 12-14 percent is best for chewy sourdough bread. However, the bread is still delicious if you make it with all-purpose flour.
- Water – Use warm water during the cooler months to help the sourdough starter.
- Salt – Salt helps flavor the bread as well as helps build the gluten structure.
- Basil – Dried basil gives the bread an Italian flavor that complements the pepperoni. Alternatively, you can substitute Italian seasoning or pizza seasoning.
- Pepperoni – I like to use large pepperoni slices for big pops of flavor. However, you can also quarter them or use mini pepperoni slices to disperse the pepperoni throughout the bread.
- Cheese – A blend of mozzarella cheese and parmesan cheese helps create the classic pepperoni pizza flavor. I like to buy a block of mozzarella cheese and grate myself. Shredded cheese is full of anticaking agents that
How to Make Sourdough Pepperoni Bread
Mix the Dough
Add 125 g (1/2 cup) active sourdough starter, 500 g (4 cups) bread flour, 350 g (cups) water, 10 g salt, and 1 tbsp dried basil to a large mixing bowl. Combine using a Danish dough whisk until all ingredients are mixed.
Cover the bowl and let the dough rest in a warm spot for 30 minutes. This step allows the flour to properly hydrate.
Stretch and Fold | Strengthening the Gluten
Stretching and folding the dough strengthens the gluten, transforming it from a shaggy dough to a smooth, elastic dough by the final set of stretch and folds.
Grab the side of the dough and lift it straight up, stretching the dough, before folding it over onto itself in the middle of the dough. Rotate the bowl a quarter turn and stretch and fold the dough again. Repeat stretching and folding the dough as you rotate the bowl until the dough starts to feel resistant, roughly 8-12 folds. At this point, the dough will stick to your hand and have low extensibility.
Cover the bowl with a kitchen towel or a piece of plastic wrap and let the dough rest for 30 minutes. This completes the first set of stretch and folds.
Continue for a total of 3 sets of stretch and folds at 30-minute intervals. By the final set of stretch and folds, the dough is smooth and stretches easily with minimal dough sticking to your hand.
Bulk Fermentation
After the last set of stretch and folds, cover the bowl and allow the dough ball to bulk ferment in a warm place in the kitchen.
The dough is ready when the top of the dough is domed, you see bubbles beneath the surface of the dough, and it has almost doubled in size.
The exact amount of time this takes largely depends on the temperature of your kitchen. If the air temperature is warmer, the dough will ferment faster. However, if the air temperature is cooler, the dough takes longer to finish bulk fermenting.
Adding Inclusions
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface using a bowl scraper or silicone spatula. Stretch the dough into a 10 X 10 square. Sprinkle two-thirds of the mozzarella cheese and parmesan cheese over the dough, leaving a 1-inch border. Next, layer two-thirds of the pepperoni slices on top of the cheese.
Fold the bottom half of the dough up to the middle of the dough. Next, fold the top down, overlapping the bottom half.
Add the remaining cheese and pepperoni on top of the folded dough. Roll the dough, starting at one end of the dough, until it forms a large ball.
Once the dough is rolled into a large ball, pinch the sides together, sealing the inclusions into the middle of the dough.
Shape
Gently shape the dough by cupping the far edge of the dough and pull it towards yourself. This creates tight surface tension which helps for a tall loaf. Keep shaping until the pinched ends are at the bottom of the ball of dough. Be gentle so that the top of the dough doesn’t rip, exposing any of the inclusions.
Make sure the cheese and pepperoni are tucked inside of the dough before transferring to a proofing bowl. Anything outside of the dough will melt and possibly burn, causing a messy crust. Using a dough scraper can help create tension in the dough, promoting a better consistent shape.
Proof | Second Ferment
Prepare a banneton by dusting it with a bit of rice flour to prevent the dough from sticking.
Use a bench scraper and lift the shaped dough into the prepared banneton; the top of the dough is facing down and the seams facing up. Pinch together any open seams close.
Place the banneton in a plastic bag and refrigerate for 12 – 24 hours.
If you choose to bake the bread the same day you mix the dough, leave the dough to rise covered in the banneton in a warm place for a few hours until the dough is puffy, and jiggles when shaken a bit. Preheat the oven and bake as directed.
Score and Bake
The next day preheat the Dutch oven and lid at 450°F/230°C for 45 minutes.
Remove the dough from the fridge, place a piece of parchment paper on the banneton, and flip it over, letting the dough fall onto the piece of parchment paper. Score the top of the dough with a sharp knife or razor blade. I find that a simple cut is best for inclusion loaves. Carefully lift the dough into the preheated Dutch oven, replace the lid, and place the Dutch oven back into the oven.
Bake for 35 minutes with the lid on. Remove the lid and bake for an additional 15 minutes. The bread is done when the top is golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 200°F/95°C with a digital thermometer.
Remove the bread from Dutch oven and place it on a wire rack. Let the bread cool to room temperature before cutting to avoid a gummy texture.
How to Store Pepperoni and Cheese Sourdough Bread
Allow the bread to cool completely before slicing and placing the sourdough pepperoni sourdough bread in an airtight container. Store at room temperature for up to 4 days.
If you don’t eat the bread within 4 days, place the slices into a freezer-safe bag, squeezing out as much air as possible, and place them into the freezer.
Ways to Enjoy Pepperoni Cheese Sourdough Bread
- Toast a slice of sourdough pepperoni bread loaded with cheese and dunk into warm, homemade pizza sauce for the quick and easy family pizza nights or lunch.
- Dunk a piece of pepperoni bread into herby olive oil.
- Create flavor-packed sandwiches with Italian meats or take grilled cheese sandwiches to the next level.
FAQs
Can I Freeze Sourdough Pepperoni Bread?
If you don’t plan to eat the bread quickly, slice the bread, place it into a freezer-safe bag, and freeze it. This allows you to pull out one piece at a time.
How Do I Keep the Bottom of My Sourdough Pizza Bread From Burning?
Sometimes the bottom of the sourdough bread gets too hot in the oven and burns. If this happens, preheat the Dutch oven with a baking sheet on the rack beneath it. This will help shield the heat and prevent the bottom from getting too dark.
Sourdough Pepperoni Bread
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Ingredients
Bread Dough Ingredients
- 125 g sourdough starter ½ cup
- 500 g bread flour 4 cups
- 350 g water
- 10 g salt
- 1 tbsp dried basil
Inclusions
- 75 g parmesan cheese 1 cup
- 100 g mozzarella cheese 1 cup
- 180 g pepperoni slices ¾ cup
Instructions
Mix the Dough
- Add 125 g (1/2 cup) active sourdough starter, 500 g (4 cups) bread flour, 350 g (cups) water, 10 g salt, and 1 tbsp dried basil to a large mixing bowl. Combine using a Danish dough whisk until all ingredients are mixed.
- Cover the bowl and let the dough rest in a warm spot for 30 minutes. This allows the flour to properly hydrate.
Stretch and Fold | Strengthening the Gluten
- Stretching and folding the dough strengthens the gluten, transforming it from a shaggy dough to a smooth, elastic dough by the final set of stretch and folds.
- Grab the side of the dough and lift it straight up, stretching the dough, before folding it over onto itself in the middle of the dough. Rotate the bowl a quarter turn and stretch and fold the dough again. Repeat stretching and folding the dough as you rotate the bowl until the dough starts to feel resistant, roughly 8-12 folds. At this point, the dough will stick to your hand and have low extensibility.
- Cover the bowl with a kitchen towel or a piece of plastic wrap and let the dough rest for 30 minutes. This completes the first set of stretch and folds.
- Continue for a total of 3 sets of stretch and folds at 30-minute intervals. By the final set of stretch and folds, the dough is smooth and stretches easily with minimal dough sticking to your hand.
Bulk Fermentation
- After the last set of stretch and folds, cover the bowl and allow the dough ball to bulk ferment in a warm place in the kitchen.
- The dough is ready when the top of the dough is domed, you see bubbles beneath the surface of the dough, and it has almost doubled in size.
Adding Inclusions
- Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface using a bowl scraper or silicone spatula. Stretch the dough into a 10 X 10 square. Sprinkle two-thirds of the mozzarella cheese and parmesan cheese over the dough, leaving a 1-inch border. Next, layer two-thirds of the pepperoni slices on top of the cheese.
- Fold the bottom half of the dough up to the middle of the dough. Next, fold the top down, overlapping the bottom half.
- Add the remaining cheese and pepperoni on top of the folded dough. Roll the dough, starting at one end of the dough, until it forms a large ball.
- Once the dough is rolled into a large ball, pinch the sides together, sealing the inclusions into the middle of the dough.
Shape
- Gently shape the dough by cupping the far edge of the dough and pull it towards yourself. This creates tight surface tension which helps for a tall loaf. Keep shaping until the pinched ends are at the bottom of the ball of dough. Be gentle so that the top of the dough doesn’t rip, exposing any of the inclusions.
- Make sure the cheese and pepperoni are tucked inside of the dough before transferring to a proofing bowl. Anything outside of the dough will melt and possibly burn, causing a messy crust. Using a dough scraper can help create tension in the dough, promoting a better consistent shape.
Proof | Second Ferment
- Prepare a banneton by dusting it with a bit of rice flour to prevent the dough from sticking.
- Use a bench scraper and lift the shaped dough into the prepared banneton; the top of the dough is facing down and the seams facing up. Pinch together any open seams close.
- Place the banneton in a plastic bag and refrigerate for 12 – 24 hours. (See notes if you plan to bake the bread the same day.)
Score and Bake
- The next day preheat the Dutch oven and lid at 450°F/230°C for 45 minutes.
- Remove the dough from the fridge, place a piece of parchment paper on the banneton, and flip it over, letting the dough fall onto the piece of parchment paper. Score the top of the dough with a sharp knife or razor blade. I find that a simple cut is best for inclusion loaves. Carefully lift the dough into the preheated Dutch oven, replace the lid, and place the Dutch oven back into the oven.
- Bake for 35 minutes with the lid on. Remove the lid and bake for an additional 15 minutes. The bread is done when the top is golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 200°F/95°C with a digital thermometer.
- Remove the bread from the Dutch oven and place it on a wire rack. Let the bread cool to room temperature before cutting to avoid a gummy texture.
Notes
- The exact amount of time this takes largely depends on the temperature of your kitchen. If the air temperature is warmer, the dough will ferment faster. However, if the air temperature is cooler, the dough takes longer to finish bulk fermenting.
- If you choose to bake the bread the same day you mix the dough, leave the dough to rise covered in the banneton in a warm place for a few hours until the dough is puffy, and jiggles when shaken a bit. Preheat the oven and bake as directed.
- If you don’t plan to eat the bread quickly, slice the bread, place it into a freezer-safe bag, and freeze it. This allows you to pull out one piece at a time.
- Sometimes the bottom of the sourdough bread gets too hot in the oven and burns. If this happens, preheat the Dutch oven with a baking sheet on the rack beneath it. This will help shield the heat and prevent the bottom from getting too dark.
