Mimi's Memorable Pepperoni Bread

I am warning you.. once you bring this to one gathering you won’t ever be able to bring anything else! My mom has been making this for 20+ years, my Nana before that, and about 10 years ago I started making it myself. With each generation, it has been updated. When I bring it to work functions, it’s asked about every year. One year, I made the mistake of NOT making one for the work Christmas party, and people were genuinely upset (you know who you are!). My mom and I make a few each Christmas to give out as gifts to family and friends who have especially loved it. I’ve had “pepperoni bread making parties”. Yes, it’s THAT good. Seriously. You’ve been warned.

I will also warn that this is a recipe you should definitely use the pictures for. It is difficult to fully explain in writing how to do the perfect technique, so use the pictures as guidance so you have a visual for what each step looks like.

Some easy accommodations include different types of cheeses. My mom (Mimi) always made it with American Cheese. I don’t personally love American, so in recent years I have started using sliced Mozzarella. Not the kind you slice yourself, the pre sliced stuff in packaging in a deli section or cheese section. She also loves pepperoni so hers are always pepperoni heavy, while I like a more balanced mix of pepperoni and cheese. There are different versions using other meats and cheeses coming your way soon! Leave me a comment for what combo I should try!

The perfect bite of this pepperoni bread, in my opinion, is a knotted end piece. These pieces have a little more bread and fold in ways that just makes the perfect combination of bread, meat, cheese & seasonings!

Ingredients:

-1 scratch pizza dough, thawed and room temp

-2 tbsp. all purpose flour

-3/4 lb. sliced mozzarella cheese (or cheese of choice)

-1lb deli sandwich pepperoni, sliced thin

-olive oil or spray butter to taste

-2 tbsp. garlic powder

-1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350*

2. Sprinkle flour on a counter or table

3. Using a rolling pin, roll out the dough into an oblong shape (see picture)

4. Once dough is rolled out, layer pepperoni horizontally, overlapping as you go. Then layer cheese on top of pepperoni. Keep layering cheese/pepperoni until you run out! Make sure to leave visible dough on edges. See picture.

5. Fold the top dough down & bottom dough up, to meet. Overlap one over the other & tuck underneath. It will now be a long, thin bread.

6. Fold in the right and left sides 1-2 inches, and tuck underneath to make a type of knot on the ends. Try to ensure there are no open areas or the cheese will ooze out (see picture below)

7. Spray a baking sheet with PAM or drizzle some olive oil.

8. Using both hands, transfer to baking sheet, folded side down.

9. Drizzle olive oil or spray butter onto top of bread and blend in with hand.

10. Sprinkle garlic powder on oil/butter.

11. Sprinkle with shredded parmesan cheese.

12.Bake for 22 minutes or until lightly brown on top.

13.Take out of oven, let cool, and cut into slices. Serve immediately or package in air tight container for 3-4 days in the fridge. Can be served warm or cold.

Send me pictures of how yours turned out!

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