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    Home » Recipes » Bread

    Traditional Italian Cheese Bread Recipe - Crescia

    Published: Apr 7, 2020 · Modified: Mar 20, 2024. This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

    Recipe Jump to Video
    Italian cheese bread pin
    This Italian cheese bread is a delicacy for Easter Monday picnic. It is eaten with salami and boiled eggs, and sometimes bacon or sausages are also added to the dough to make Italian sausage bread or bacon bread. Either way, it is good all year round!

    This easy Italian cheese bread recipe is a traditional delicacy from Marche and Umbria called Crescia di Pasqua or Pizza di Pasqua. A family favorite usually baked for Easter breakfast or Easter Monday picnic. It is a savory, cheesy bread with a soft, fluffy structure and is packed with Pecorino Romano cheese and Parmesan cheese. Sometimes bacon or sausages are also added to the dough and it is eaten in slices with salami and boiled egg. Either way, it is good all year round!

    Traditional Italian Cheese Bread with cut slice
    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • How to serve it
    • More Italian Easter recipes
    • Other recipes for an Easter picnic
    • 📋Traditional Italian Cheese Bread - Crescia

    This homemade Italian cheese bread has a crunchy golden brown crust and a soft inside with a deliciously cheesy and slightly spicy taste from the Parmesan and the Pecorino. The dough is made with butter, olive oil and eggs, which give it a fluffy structure. It is a cheesy Italian bread with crispy edges but does not have a gooey melted cheese.

    If you want to add some extra cheese, you can also add to the dough small cubes of fresh pecorino or pieces of bacon or sausages. A pleasant surprise to each bite.

    One slice is already very filling, but it is so good you have to get a second one.

    For more easy Italian bread recipes, you can check the recipes: Italian flat bread piadina, stuffed spinach bread recipe or Italian dinner rolls Panini al Latte

    hand holding a piece of Italian cheese bread Crescia di Pasqua

    Ingredients

    This bread is made with simple ingredients:

    • Flour: the best flour for bread is All purpose flour (USA), plain flour (UK), flour 55 (France), and Type 0 (Italy)
    • Butter: butter can be melted, but it shouldn't be added to the mixture when it is still hot otherwise, its heat will cook the eggs.
    • Olive oil: good quality olive oil; it is not necessary to be extra virgin
    • Fresh egg: it is an Easter bread, and it has a lot of eggs. I have my own chickens and therefore fresh eggs every day
    • Yeast for bread: I prefer the dry yeast as the fresh yeast tends to deteriorate easily, and if it does, the dough will not rise. Dry yeast is sealed in small packages and can be stored in the cupboard.
    • Parmesan and Pecorino cheese: I recommend using the two kinds of cheese. Parmigiano Reggiano is more delicate as it is made with cow's milk. The Pecorino instead has a stronger, almost spicy flavor, and it is made with goat cheese. If you prefer, you can choose only one of them, but their combination makes a perfectly balanced taste.
    • Salt and black pepper

    See recipe card for measurements.

    Parmigiano Reggiano and Pecorino on a wooden 
cutting board

    Instructions

    It is very easy to make, and you can either make it with a bread machine or a mixer.

    • Using a bread machine: If you use a bread machine, you just pour the wet ingredients in first, then the dry ingredients. Add the cheese only when the machine has finished the first kneading. It usually rings when it does.
    • Using a mixer: The recipe calls for fresh yeast, so if you make the cheese bread with a mixer, you need to make sure the yeast is activated.

    You can prepare it the night before and bake it fresh in the morning.

    Italian cheese bread Cresci di Pasqua made with Pecorino cheese

    Activating the Yeast

    Whether you use fresh or dry yeast, you must melt it with lukewarm water in a small bowl and then set it aside until it forms a foam.

    yeast mixed with water and foam on top

    Preparing the wet ingredients

    1. Mix the yeast with the lukewarm water, put it aside, and let it rest
    2. Melt the butter in the microwave for 1 minute at medium heat or in a pan and let it cool down
    3. Add the oil and the eggs to the melted butter and mix
    4. Add the yeast, stir and set aside
    Preparing the wet ingredients

    Prepare the dry ingredients

    1. Mix the flour with salt and pepper in a large mixing bowl
    Prepare the dry ingredients

    Putting the wet and dry ingredients together

    1. In a mixer with a dough hook attachment, stir the wet and dry ingredients together
    2. making sure there are no lumps in the flour
    3. Add the Parmesan, and the Pecorino and stir
    4. Cover the large bowl with a cloth and let it rest for 30 minutes in a warm place
    Mixing the ingredients and adding the cheese

    Bake it

    1. Cover the bottom of a baking pan with parchment paper; best if it has a removable bottom. Butter the side of the pan
    2. Pour the dough into the pan, cover it with a cloth, and let it rest for another 30 minutes
    3. Bake in a hot oven at 320 F -160 C for 1 hour
    4. Once done, let it rest for 10 minutes before removing it from the pan
    Baking the Italian cheese bread

    How to serve it

    This cheese bread can be served freshly baked or at room temperature the next day. If you want it warm, it is great toasted.

    It is perfect for a picnic, a brunch, or a standing buffet party as it is easy to eat with your hand. It is usually served with a boiled egg and some slices of salami.

    That is why it is often baked for an Easter brunch or for an Easter Monday picnic. It is the perfect side dish with any Easter dinner leftovers.

    Italian cheese bread crescia

    More Italian Easter recipes

    If you want to try other traditional Easter bake, you can check out the Italian recipes:

    • Italian Easter cookies - Cuzzupe Cudduraci
    • Pastiera Napoletana - Wheat ricotta Easter pie
    Italian Easter cookies

    Other recipes for an Easter picnic

    If you are planning to make this bread for a picnic or a brunch/lunch buffet, here are some other recipes you may want to include in your menu:

    • Beef sausage hand pies
    • Casatiello Napoletano
    • Heidi pie
    • Brioche Sausage roll
    • Cheese gougere bourguignonne
    • Broad beans minestra
    • Wild asparagus flans
    • Rissole a la Dauphine
    The Chelsea Market Heidi Pie

    If you are making this Traditional Italian Cheese Bread - Crescia di Pasqua leave your comment below I would like to hear from you. You can find more delicious ideas if you Follow me on Facebook, YouTube, or sign up to my newsletter.

    Italian cheese bread

    📋Traditional Italian Cheese Bread - Crescia

    5 from 7 votes
    Laura Tobin
    Servings 8 people
    Prep Time 20 minutes mins
    Cook Time 1 hour hr
    Resting time 1 hour hr
    Print Recipe Save Saved! Pin Recipe
    This Italian cheese bread is a traditional delicacy from Marche and Umbria called Crescia di Pasqua, usually baked for the Easter breakfast or Monday picnic. It is a savory Easter bread with a soft, fluffy structure and packed with Pecorino and Parmesan cheese. Sometimes bacon or sausages are also added to the dough and it is eaten in slices with salami and boiled egg. Either way, it is good all year round!
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • KitchenAid Mixer
    • Bread machine
    • Measuring mugs
    • Mini Measuring Set
    • Cake Pan with RB 9 in - 24 cm

    Ingredients
     

    Wet Ingredients

    • ⅔ cup fresh water
    • 2 tablespoon yeast
    • ½ cup butter
    • 1 cup olive oil
    • 6 fresh eggs

    Dry ingredients

    • 4 cups flour
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 pinch pepper

    Cheese

    • 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan
    • ½ cup pecorino

    Instructions
     

    Prepare the wet ingredients

    • Mix the yeast with the lukewarm water, put aside and let it rest
    • Melt the butter in the microwave 1 minute at medium heat or in a pan and let it cool down
    • Add the oil and the eggs to the butter and mix
    • Add the yeast, stir and set aside

    Prepare the dry ingredients

    • Mix the flour with salt and pepper

    Mix the wet and dry ingredients

    • With the mixer stir the wet and dry ingredients together making sure there are no lumps in the flour
    • Add the Parmesan, the Pecorino and stir
    • Cover the bowl with a cloth and let it rest for 30 minutes

    Bake it

    • Cover the bottom of a baking pan with parchment paper, best if it is a pan with removable bottom. Butter the side of the pan
    • Pour the dough into the pan, cover with a cloth and let it rest for another 30 minutes
    • Bake in a hot oven at 320 F -160 C for 1 hour
    • Once done, let it rest for 10 minutes before removing it from the pan
    • Serve with prosciutto, salami and boiled eggs

    Video

    Notes

    • If you have a bread machine, you can pour the wet ingredients first and the dry ingredients last and set up the bread machine to make bread dough. Add the cheese only when the machine has finished the first kneading. It usually rings when it does. 
    • Make sure the butter is not hot when you add the eggs and the yeast
    • You can use fresh yeast, dry yeast or sourdough yeast 
    • You can replace the parmesan and pecorino cheese with other cheese based on your taste. Although best not to add creamy cheese as they will change the consistency of the dough
    • The top of the bread tends to burn easily because of the cheese, keep the oven temperature at 320 F -160 C
    • If you prefer a higher bread shape you can use a 7 in - 18 cm baking pan
    • It is best to eat the same day, but if covered with cling wrap it will last for 3 days

    Nutrition

    Calories: 508kcalCarbohydrates: 53gProtein: 21gFat: 24gSaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 168mgSodium: 722mgPotassium: 231mgFiber: 5gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 656IUCalcium: 249mgIron: 4mg
    Tried this recipe?Please consider Leaving a Review!
    important notes on ingredients

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Julia

      April 09, 2020 at 2:48 pm

      5 stars
      This looks delicious! Is it OK to half the recipe?

      Reply
      • Laura

        April 10, 2020 at 6:38 am

        Thanks, sure just adjust the measurements

        Reply
    2. Monica

      April 09, 2020 at 3:10 pm

      5 stars
      Oh, I just love Easter breads - we always make a traditional Slovak bread called Paska, which is pretty much a standard enriched loaf. The addition of tangy cheese here really adds a great dimension of flavor. Happy Easter!

      Reply
      • Laura

        April 10, 2020 at 6:38 am

        Thanks, happy Easter to you

        Reply
    3. Jen

      April 09, 2020 at 3:17 pm

      5 stars
      I love adding new traditions for each holiday and this looks perfect for Easter. It'll be fun to make with the kids.

      Reply
      • Laura

        April 10, 2020 at 6:39 am

        Thank you, yes the kids will love to make and eat it too

        Reply
    4. Angela

      April 09, 2020 at 4:00 pm

      5 stars
      My family loves cheese bread. I have all of these ingredients in my pantry and frig. I will be trying it today!

      Reply
      • Laura

        April 10, 2020 at 6:39 am

        Great, let me know how it goes

        Reply
    5. Jessica Formicola

      April 09, 2020 at 4:05 pm

      5 stars
      You just can't beat homemade bread! I can't wait to make this cheese bread with dinner tonight!

      Reply
      • Laura

        April 10, 2020 at 6:39 am

        Thank you, I am sure you will enjoy

        Reply
    6. Beth

      April 12, 2020 at 7:39 pm

      5 stars
      Can't wait to give this a try. I think I could eat this any time of the year!

      Reply
      • Laura

        April 12, 2020 at 8:28 pm

        Thank you, yes me too

        Reply
    5 from 7 votes (1 rating without comment)

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    Laura Giunta Tobin

    Hi, I’m Laura. Welcome to my blog! While many talk about Italian food, I’ve lived it firsthand. Here, I share real Italian home cooking, just as it’s made in Italy. Won’t you join me?

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