This deliciously famous Cheesecake Factory Brown Bread is made with honey, molasses, cocoa powder and topped with oats. It is wonderful served warm, straight from the oven and topped with honey butter.
Why Everyone is Obsessed With The Cheesecake Factory’s Brown Bread
The long and short of it is that everyone is obsessed with the Cheesecake Factory’s Brown bread because it is deliciously addicting and the flavors and texture are so wonderful.
If you’ve had it, you’ll know what we’re talking about.
Why Is This Bread So Good?
This bread is so delicious and is all the rage because it includes a combination of honey and cocoa.
It has a softness from the butter, and it’s just plain addictive. Consider yourself warned.
What Kind of Bread Is This?
Cheesecake Factory Brown Bread is a soft baguette style bread that is slightly sweet and nutty in flavor.
What’s In The Cheesecake Factory Brown Bread?
Cheesecake Factory Brown Bread includes warm water, sugar, instant dry yeast, honey, molasses, bread flour, whole wheat flour, cocoa powder, espresso powder, salt, butter, cornmeal and oats.
Why You Should Make This Bread
You should make this bread because it is really delicious, and tastes just like the restaurant version. The people who gather around your table are sure to love it!
Helpful Equipment
Electric Stand Mixer
Mixing Bowl
Baking Sheet
Parchment Paper
How Should I Serve This Bread?
Cheesecake Factory Brown Bread is best when served warm right out of the oven, with soft honey butter. It goes great by itself or any dish. With pasta? Indeed. How about soup? Yes. With salad? For sure. As a side with meat and potatoes? You’ve got it.
Ingredients and Substitutions
Following are some of the main ingredients as well as some substitutions if applicable. Some can be changed and some are best if left alone. We’ll take you through each one.
Sugar. Our recipe calls for plain granulated sugar. But you could use brown sugar, light brown sugar, dark brown sugar or white sugar without significantly altering the flavor.
Yeast. We recommend using instant dry yeast. Just make sure your yeast is not expired.
Bread flour. Our recipe calls for bread flour because it has more protein and is created specifically for making bread. If you’re in a pinch you can substitute all-purpose flour in its place using the same amount.
Whole wheat flour. Don’t substitute all-purpose flour in place of the whole wheat flour. That will alter the flavor and the outcome of the bread. The whole wheat flour is what helps to give the bread its slightly nutty flavor.
Cocoa powder. You can use Dutch or natural cocoa powder. Either one will work. Just don’t use hot cocoa as a substitute as that won’t work.
Salt. Salt is one of the most important ingredients. We recommend using fine sea salt. Don’t leave out the salt.
Butter. If you’re looking for a butter substitute, you can use any dairy free or vegan option in the same quantity. We like to use regular butter.
Honey. Honey gives this bread its sweet flavor. Make sure to include it.
Molasses. Molasses helps to give brown bread its unique flavor, don’t skip it.
How To Form The Loaves
The right consistency of the dough will make it easy to form the loaves. The dough should be tacky but not sticky. If it sticks to your fingers, you’ll want to return it to the pan and add a little more flour until it is tacky.
To form the baguette loaves, divide the dough into the desired number of portions.
Then roll the dough until you have an oblong loaf that’s about 2 inches wide and the desired length, depending on the number of portions you’ve chosen to create.
Cheesecake Factory’s Famous Brown Bread
Have you ever tasted Cheesecake Factory’s Famous Brown Bread? It’s so delicious.
It’s one of those items that helps keep people coming back and is served with many restaurant entrees. Why would you not want to make it anytime at home?
Cheesecake Factory Brown Bread, AKA Chocolate Bread. Or How To Get Kids To Try It The First Time.
Since the bread includes a bit of cocoa powder, some people refer to it as chocolate bread to get their kids to eat it.
The bread doesn’t actually taste like chocolate because there isn’t enough cocoa powder used for that. It’s really just to enhance the flavor of the bread.
How Should I Eat This Cheesecake Factory Brown Bread
Our favorite way to eat it is with soft honey butter. Just mix a tablespoon of honey in with a stick of soft butter and enjoy.
Or you can serve it with your favorite jam, plain butter, or whatever else your favorite bread topping might be.
Copycat Cheesecake Factory Honey Wheat Bread
Some folks also refer to the Cheesecake Factory’s Brown Bread as Honey Wheat Bread. Either name is fine since they both refer to the same thing.
How Many Loaves Does This Recipe Make
This recipe makes 4 larger baguette loaves, or 6 smaller baguette loaves.
What Should I Serve This Cheesecake Factory Brown Bread Recipe With
You can serve Cheesecake Factory Brown Bread with literally anything. We like to top it with some soft honey butter.
But you can serve it with soup, salad, meat and potatoes, or for breakfast as toast. The sky’s really the limit and it goes with anything.
Is Cheesecake Factory Brown Bread Healthy
Not really. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be enjoyed in moderation from time to time. Some people think because it’s topped with oats it’s got to be healthy.
How Long Will Cheesecake Factory Brown Bread Last
How long your Cheesecake Factory Brown Bread lasts will depend on your eaters. We typically don’t have any leftovers because we love fresh bread.
But if you’re fortunate enough to have leftovers, it can last up to 3 days at room temperature and up to 3 months in the freezer.
What Are Some Ways That I Can Change This Cheesecake Factory Brown Bread Recipe To Make It Even Better
Each person has their own personal preference, and if you’re looking for a way to change up this bread, feel free to be creative.
You might consider adding more oats, honey, molasses, cocoa powder, or seeds inside.
Can I Use Regular Yeast or Do I Need To Use Instant Yeast?
We always use instant yeast when making bread. The key is to not use water that’s too hot because you don’t want to kill it or your bread will not rise.
What If I am Wanting To Make This And My Kitchen Is Cool And You Say To Let The Dough Rise In a Warm Room
If it’s the dead of winter and you’re needing to find a warm place for your bread to rise, be creative. Perhaps you have a warm, south facing window where the bread could be placed to rise. Or maybe you are doing laundry and could place the bread on top of a warm, running dryer.
The location where the bread is placed to rise should be 75 degrees or above. You can also read articles online about creative ways to keep dough warm.
What Is Bread Flour
Bread flour is a flour that has been created specifically for making bread. It has more protein than all-purpose flour which helps the structure of the loaves to be ideal.
Do You Taste The Cocoa and Coffee Powder
No, the cocoa powder and coffee powder cannot be tasted in the bread. They are simply used to enhance the flavor of the bread.
Do I Have To Use A Baguette Pan
No, don’t go out and buy a baguette pan to make this bread. You can simply use a parchment paper lined flat baking sheet. Your bread will rise just fine.
What Do I Top This Bread With
Cheesecake Factory brown bread is traditionally topped with rolled oats. We like to keep with the tradition.
But if you want to change things up you could also top your bread with cornmeal or your favorite seeds.
Important Tips and Tricks:
Following are our three best tips and tricks for making this delicious bread. Use fresh yeast that will help your bread to rise well.
Set the bread in a warm place that is 75F degrees or more to rise. Use the instructed amount of flour so that your recipe is exact and successful.
Can I Substitute Bread Flour With All Purpose Flour
Yes, if you’re in a pinch you can use all-purpose flour in place of bread flour. The flavor will not be altered.
The only difference is that you might have to add a little more flour and the structure of your loaves might be flatter.
How To Make This Bread With Overnight Proofing
If you want to allow your bread to proof overnight, do not leave the dough resting outside the refrigerator for that amount of time. Instead, cover it and let rest in a warm spot for 30 minutes.
Then, place it inside the refrigerator overnight or up to 24 hours. Remove it from the refrigerator and leave it at room temperature for 30 minutes before shaping it and follow the remaining instructions as indicated in the recipe.
Can I Make This Recipe Using A Bread Machine?
Yes, you sure can use a bread machine to make this recipe. However, you will want to note that the shape will be more of a loaf than a baguette because of the bread machine’s pan.
Why My Bread is Heavy and Dense?
If your bread turns out heavy and dense, it could be because your yeast no longer works or because the place where your dough was set to rise was not warm enough.
Check the expiration date of your yeast. If your yeast is expired, it might not work to make the bread rise any longer. Throw it away and buy some new instant yeast.
Let the dough rise in a warm spot. The place where your dough is set to rise should be about 75F degrees. This might be in a sunny window or in a laundry room on top of a dryer that’s running.
Knead the dough enough. Our recipe instructs for the dough to be kneaded for 10 minutes. If you don’t have an electric mixer to do the work for you, you’ll want to pull up your sleeves and make sure you knead your bread for a full 10 minutes. It’s an important step.
Never use hot water to make your bread. Hot water kills yeast and makes it so it won’t work. Your water should be 105F degrees, which is about the temperature used for a warm baby bottle.
Measuring Your Flour and Dry Ingredients Correctly
This recipe has the best outcome when flour and dry ingredients are measured exactly. Rather than dipping the measuring cup into the flour and estimating the amount, take the time to use exact measurements by leveling off the measuring cup with a knife.
Don’t pack the flour down, just leave it fluffy for the best results.
How To Store Cheesecake Factory Bread
Cheesecake Factory Bread can be stored at room temperature on the countertop or in the freezer. Here’s how to do it:
Storing and Freezing
Cheesecake Factory Brown Bread is best when eaten fresh. If you have leftovers, the bread is best if stored at room temperature in an airtight container. Do not store it in the refrigerator as the bread becomes harder.
If you want to freeze the bread, it can be placed in an airtight container or zipped freezer bag and stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.
When serving bread that has been stored in either the freezer or at room temperature on the countertop, it tastes best when reheated first. You can place it in the microwave for 10-15 seconds to reheat it or wrapped in foil in the oven until just warm.
The Cheesecake Factory Brown Bread Copycat Recipe
To make our Cheesecake Factory Brown Bread recipe, these are the step-by-step instructions that we’ve also included in the recipe below.
Step 1: Activate Yeast
To activate the yeast, you want to mix the yeast with the warm water and sugar. Then, let it set for 5 minutes until it begins to get foamy. That indicates that your yeast is working and is ready to go.
Step 2: Combine Ingredients
The next step is to combine the dry ingredients and whisk them together. Then add the wet ingredients. Knead the dough for 10 minutes before covering it to rise.
Step 3: First Rise
Cover the dough tightly with plastic wrap and place it in a warm location to let it rise until double in size.
Step 4: Shape the Loaves
Remove the dough from the mixing bowl and divide it into the desired number of portions, typically 4 larger loaves or 6 smaller loaves. Shape the loaves and place them on a parchment lined baking sheet.
Step 5: Second Rise
Cover the loaves loosely with plastic wrap and place in a warm location until they’re doubled in size.
Step 6: Bake
Preheat the oven to 350F degrees and bake as directed. Allow to set for 15 minutes before slicing. Serve warm with soft butter and enjoy!
How To Make It: Cheesecake Factory Brown Bread
Cheesecake Factory Brown Bread is a delicious yeast bread that takes about 4 hours to make from start to finish. Much of the time is unattended where the bread is left to rise.
The ingredients are mixed together and left to rise. Then the dough is formed into loaves and left to rise again. Finally, the dough is ready to be baked, sliced and enjoyed.
Ingredients
1 ½ cups warm water
1 tbsp sugar
2 ¼ tsp instant dry yeast
¼ cup honey
2 tbsp molasses
2 cups bread flour
1 ¾ cup whole wheat flour
1 tbsp cocoa powder
2 tsp espresso powder
1 tsp salt
2 tbsp butter, softened
¼ cup cornmeal for dusting (optional)
oats, for dusting the top
Instructions
1. In a mixing bowl, mix together the yeast, warm water, and sugar. Let stand for 5 minutes until it begins to get foamy.
2. In a separate bowl, mix together the dry ingredients. Whisk bread flour, wheat flour, cocoa powder, espresso powder, and salt. Add the yeast mixture, as well as the butter, honey and molasses.
3. Use a dough hook and knead on medium speed for about 10 minutes. This dough will be a bit thicker than white bread, and can be a bit tacky. If it feels too sticky, then add a bit more bread flour.
4. Place the dough in a large, greased bowl and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Let rise in a warm spot (about 75F degrees) for 2 hours, until it is doubled in size.
5. Divide the dough into 4 large pieces or 6 smaller pieces and shape them into baguette style loaves. Dip the bottom in cornmeal, if you’re using it.
6. Place the loaves on a parchment lined baking sheet, with adequate space between them. Lightly wet your hands with water and pat the tops of the loaves, then sprinkle the top with a light dusting of oats.
7. Spray plastic wrap with non-stick cooking spray and cover loaves very loosely. Place in a warm location and allow to rise until double in size, about 60 to 90 minutes.
8. Preheat oven to 350F degrees and bake for 25 to 30 minutes.
9. Let cool for 15 minutes before slicing. Serve with butter and enjoy!
Notes
The key is to have your dough feel tacky but not sticky. It should not stick to your fingers. Sometimes the weather will determine the outcome of your bread.
The Cheesecake Factory Brown Bread Mini Baguettes
You can make mini baguettes by dividing your bread into smaller portions and shape it according to your preferences. Mini baguettes can be formed by using 6 or more portions.
The Cheesecake Factory Brown Bread Wheat Sandwich Loaf
The Brown Bread Wheat Sandwich Loaf can be purchased in some grocery stores and can also be made at home using a larger portion of dough. Split your dough into 2-3 portions and use a loaf pan to help achieve this shape.
You will likely want to add baking time when making sandwich loaves because the loaf is thicker. Start with the suggested baking time of 30 minutes, then add more time as needed.
The Cheesecake Factory At Home Brown Bread Wheat Dinner Rolls
Some grocery stores carry a version of the Cheesecake Factory brown bread wheat dinner rolls. But you can also use our recipe above to make these fresh at home.
Just divide the dough into golf ball sized pieces and roll them between the palms of your hand to form balls. Place them on a parchment lined baking sheet to rise and bake.
You will likely want to decrease baking time to 15 minutes to start and add more time if needed.
Famous Cheesecake Factory Brown Bread Recipe
Equipment
- Electric Stand Mixer
- mixing bowl
- baking sheet
- parchment paper
Ingredients
- 1½ cups warm water
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 2¼ tsp instant dry yeast
- ¼ cup honey
- 2 tbsp molasses
- 2 cups bread flour
- 1¾ cup whole wheat flour
- 1 tbsp cocoa powder
- 2 tsp espresso powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp butter, softened
- ¼ cup cornmeal for dusting (optional)
- oats, for dusting the top
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, mix together the yeast, warm water, and sugar. Let stand for 5 minutes until it begins to get foamy.
- In a separate bowl, mix together the dry ingredients. Whisk bread flour, wheat flour, cocoa powder, espresso powder, and salt. Add the yeast mixture, as well as the butter, honey and molasses.
- Use a dough hook and knead on medium speed for about10 minutes. This dough will be a bit thicker than white bread, and can be a bit tacky. If it feels too sticky, then add a bit more bread flour.
- Place the dough in a large, greased bowl and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Let rise in a warm spot (about 75F degrees)for 2 hours, until it is doubled in size.
- Divide the dough into 4 large pieces or 6smaller pieces and shape them into baguette style loaves. Dip the bottom in cornmeal, if you’re using it.
- Place the loaves on a parchment lined baking sheet, with adequate space between them. Lightly wet your hands with water and pat the tops of the loaves, then sprinkle the top with a light dusting of oats.
- Spray plastic wrap with non-stick cooking spray and cover loaves very loosely. Place in a warm location and allow to rise until double in size, about 60 to 90 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350F degrees and bake for 25 to30 minutes.
- Let cool for 15 minutes before slicing. Serve with butter and enjoy!
Notes
If You Like This Recipe You Might Also Like: More Tasty Bread Recipes
Marie Callendar’s Corn Bread Mix
Joy’s Easy Banana Bread
Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Bread Mix
The Best Oatnut Bread
Amazing Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
The Best Panera Bread Cinnamon Roll
Janet’s Banana Bread With Streusel Topping
Ultimate French Bread Recipe
Check Out These Other Cheesecake Factory Recipes
Copycat Cheesecake Factory Four Cheese Pasta
Cheesecake Factory Shepherd’s Pie Recipe
Frequently Asked Questions
Following are frequently asked questions that relate to Cheesecake Factory Brown Bread. If you have a question that’s not answered here, feel free to drop it to us in the comments box below.
What kind of baking oil is best to use?
Our recipe calls for melted butter as a part of our ingredient list, rather than oil.
But oils such as vegetable oil, soybean oil, and canola oil can also lead to a fantastical food experience for those who have dietary restrictions or might prefer to use cooking oil instead of butter.
How is wheat involved in this recipe for sweet brown bread?
Our recipe calls for wheat flour, which generally includes wheat gluten or wheat starch. If you don’t eat wheat or are gluten free there are other one to one substitutes that work well with this recipe.
But we haven’t tried wheat bran, malted barley flour, malted barley extract, or rye flakes in this recipe. If you have, be sure to drop us a comment and let us know.
What gives the bread its caramel color?
There are a few ingredients that help to give the bread its sweet flavor and unique rich brown color.
The combination of molasses, wheat flour, and cocoa powder all work together as key ingredients to give this Cheesecake Factory signature taste – now and makes it a rich bread.
Tips For Making Famous Brown Bread At Home
Following are some of our top tips for making this easy copycat recipe. If you’ve not done a whole lot of bread making, you’re going to find these helpful.
When mixing your bread douqh, we recommend using a hook attachment and the bowl of a stand mixer. Work to mix the dough at medium-low speed until it is smooth and pulls itself away from the sides of the bowl and sides of the mixer.
Use a clean kitchen towel to cover the dough while allowing it to rise for about 45-90 minutes. This will help to keep it warm and allow it to rise more efficiently.
When you’re ready to shape the dough, create a lightly floured surface for the best results for rolling your bread and forming the loaves. This will help to keep it from sticking.
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i like the addition of molasses
I made this for my family. They loved it.
We’re glad you liked it!