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Copycat Subway Italian Herb and Cheese Bread Recipe

If you love Subway’s Italian Herb and Cheese bread, you’re going to be obsessed with this copycat recipe! It’s soft, fluffy, slightly sweet, and topped with a savory blend of melted cheese and herbs—just like the real thing. Perfect for homemade sandwiches, subs, or simply warm with butter.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Tastes just like Subway’s bread – soft inside, golden and cheesy outside.
  • Perfect for sandwiches or sliders – ideal for recreating your favorite subs at home.
  • Better than store-bought – made fresh with simple ingredients.

What Makes This Recipe Unique

Unlike Subway’s frozen loaves, this recipe uses a starter sponge (poolish) that you prep the night before. This extra step builds flavor and gives the bread that light, fluffy texture Subway fans love.

👉 It requires a little planning, but the payoff is a bakery-style loaf with amazing flavor.

Ingredients

Poolish Starter (make the night before)

  • ⅓ cup lukewarm water (66 g)
  • ½ cup bread flour (66 g)
  • ⅛ tsp yeast (instant or active dry)

Bread Dough

  • 3 cups bread flour (360 g)
  • 1 cup lukewarm water (234 g)
  • 2 ½ tbsp sugar, divided (36 g)
  • 1 ½ tsp salt (10 g)
  • 2 ¼ tsp yeast (7 g, 1 packet)
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil (18 g)

Topping

  • ¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning blend

Equipment You’ll Need

  • Stand mixer with dough hook (the dough is sticky to knead by hand)
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Baking sheet or silicone baguette pan (helps loaves keep their shape)
  • Plastic wrap or clean towel for covering dough

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Make the Starter (Night Before)

  1. In a small bowl, mix water, flour, and yeast until smooth.
  2. Cover with plastic wrap and let sit at room temperature overnight (8–12 hours).

2. Mix the Dough (Day Of)

  1. In a small bowl, combine 1 cup warm water, yeast, and 1 tbsp sugar. Let sit 5 minutes until foamy.
  2. In a stand mixer bowl, add flour, salt, remaining sugar, oil, starter, and yeast mixture.
  3. Knead with dough hook on low until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes. (The dough may be sticky—don’t add too much extra flour!)

3. First Rise

  • Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise 1–2 hours until doubled.

4. Shape the Loaves

  1. Punch down dough and divide into 4 equal pieces (about 6.5 oz each).
  2. Shape into baguette-style loaves.
  3. Roll each loaf across a damp paper towel, then into the herb and cheese mixture.

5. Second Rise

  • Place loaves on a baking sheet or in a silicone baguette pan. Cover and rise 30–45 minutes until doubled.

6. Bake

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. Bake 20–25 minutes until golden brown and hollow-sounding on the bottom.
  3. Cool on a wire rack before slicing.

Pro Tips for Success

  • For true Subway sweetness: keep the full sugar amount. For less sweet bread, reduce by half.
  • Cheese options: Parmesan is classic, but adding Monterey Jack gives extra flavor.
  • Shape like Subway: a silicone bread pan keeps loaves rounded and bakery-style.

Copycat Subway Italian Herb and Cheese Bread

Soft, fluffy, and loaded with savory herbs and melted cheese—this homemade bread is the perfect Subway copycat recipe for sandwiches, subs, or warm buttered slices.

Prep Time: 3 hrs (includes rise time)
Cook Time: 25 mins
Servings: 4 footlong loaves