Muffuletta Bread Recipe

Muffuletta sandwiches are a yummy, giant round sandwich layered with Italian meats and an olive tapenade. But the hardest ingredient to find is often the bread! It has to be just the right size, slightly flat, topped with sesame seeds, and sturdy but soft. No worries, you can make your own muffuletta bread easily enough!

Muffulettas are a great, easy dinner because you’re not really making anything, just assembling. And, best of all, you have to make them ahead of time. Perfect. And if you double this recipe and freeze one loaf, you’re even further ahead of the game.

Even if you don’t bake all your own bread, this is a recipe you’ll want to save, because it’s almost impossible to find the right kind of loaf in the store.

Ingredients and Tools You’ll Need

Too wet, and your loaf will spread instead of holding its shape. Too dry, and you’ll miss out on those lovely air pockets that make the texture so perfect. Start with the lower amount of water and add more only if needed. You want the dough to be slightly sticky but easy to handle.

You’ll want to use bread flour, not all-purpose. You can knead the dough by hand, in a stand mixer, or in a bread machine on the dough cycle. (See this if you need a little help using your stand mixer for bread dough.)

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This will make one large loaf with about eight slices. If you’d like to double or triple this recipe, you can make adjustments in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Equipment

• Parchment paper
• Baking Sheet

Ingredients

• 3 cups bread flour
• 1 cup water plus 2 tablespoons, up to 1¼ cups
• 1½ teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 teaspoons instant yeast (SAF brand recommended)
• 2 teaspoons sesame seeds

How to Make Muffuletta Bread

Since muffuletta sandwiches are best if made a few hours beforehand, you might want to bake this the day before you serve them! The loaf might not look like much, but it’s sturdy enough to hold your delicious sandwiches and has just the right size and texture.

Step One: Make the Dough

Dump everything together and mix until it looks like dough. Use your hands, a stand mixer with the dough hook, or toss it in a bread machine on the dough cycle. Whatever works.

Step Two: Knead

This is where the magic happens. You want smooth, stretchy dough that bounces back when you poke it. If it’s too dry, add water one teaspoon at a time. If it’s sticking everywhere, sprinkle in flour bit by bit. You’ll know it’s ready when you can stretch a piece thin enough to see through it without tearing. Takes about 7-12 minutes in a mixer, longer by hand.

Step Three: Rise

Shape into a ball, plop into an oiled bowl, and cover with a damp towel. Find a warm spot – about 90°F is perfect. Your oven with just the light on works great. Wait about an hour until it’s puffy and doubled.

Step Four: Shape and Prep

Turn that dough into a 9 to 10-inch round and put it on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Brush with water, press those sesame seeds on top. Cover with plastic wrap (spray it with cooking spray first so it doesn’t stick). Back to the warm spot for another 45 minutes.

Step Five: Bake It

Heat your oven to 400°F while the bread finishes rising. Bake for 40 minutes until it’s golden brown and sounds hollow when you tap the bottom. Cool on a wire rack for AT LEAST 30 minutes before you even think about cutting into it.

Serving & Storing

To make a muffuletta sandwich, layer on 1/3 pound of capicola ham, salami, sandwich pepperoni, sliced provolone, and olive tapenade. 

The bread stays fresh for two days when wrapped tightly at room temperature.

For longer storage, freeze for up to 3 months, double-wrapped in plastic. Thaw overnight at room temperature before using.

To refresh slightly stale bread, wrap it in foil and warm it in a 350°F oven for 10 minutes.

Make It Your Own

• Substitute up to 1 cup of whole wheat flour for a heartier texture.
• Add dried herbs to the dough for a herbed variation.
• Try different toppings like poppy seeds or everything bagel seasoning.
• Use as a base for other Italian-style sandwiches beyond muffuletta.

More Sandwich Bread Recipes

Sandwiches are a perfectly acceptable dinner, but you need good bread.

• These bread machine Italian hoagie rolls will hold up to any filling.
• Italian sandwich bread is a simple, basic loaf to make regularly.
• Stop spending so much money at sub shops and make your own Italian sub rolls.
• For the perfect grilled cheese sandwich, you need this jalapeno cheddar no-knead bread.

Printable Recipe