If you have ever wanted a soft, homemade sandwich bread that stays fresh for days, this cottage cheese honey oat bread is a great place to start.
The cottage cheese is the secret here. It keeps the crumb soft and moist without making the bread heavy or dense.
You get a light touch of sweetness from the honey and a gentle, nutty flavor from the oats.
The dough is easy to work with, and you do not need any special equipment to make it.
It is perfect for toast in the morning or a simple sandwich at lunch. I think you will end up making it again and again.
Why I Love This Recipe
Incredibly Soft Texture – The cottage cheese keeps every slice tender and moist, so this bread stays fresh and fluffy for days.
Gentle Sweetness – A quarter cup of honey adds a warm, cozy flavor that makes each bite feel comforting without tasting like dessert.
Hearty Oat Goodness – Softened rolled oats give the crumb a lovely chew and a wholesome, homey taste you will crave.
Beautiful Golden Top – The milk wash and sprinkle of oats create a bakery-style crust that looks stunning on your table.
The Ingredients
- 1 cup Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats
- 1/2 cup Hot Water
- 1 cup Small Curd Cottage Cheese (my absolute favorite for this - amazon)
- 1/4 cup Honey
- 2 tbsp Unsalted Butter, Melted
- 2 1/4 tsp Instant Yeast
- 2 3/4 cups Bread Flour (I always buy this one - amazon)
- 1 1/4 tsp Fine Salt
- 2 tbsp Whole Milk
- 1 tbsp Rolled Oats
How to Make This Recipe
Step 1
Stir the rolled oats and hot water together in a large bowl. Let the mixture stand for 10 minutes, until the oats soften and the water is mostly absorbed.
Step 2
Blend the cottage cheese, honey, and melted butter until smooth. Stir this mixture into the softened oats and let it cool until slightly warm.
Step 3
Add the instant yeast, bread flour, and salt. Mix until a dough forms, then knead for 8 to 10 minutes, until smooth and elastic.
Step 4
Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover, and let it rise for 60 to 75 minutes, or until doubled in size.
Step 5
Gently shape the dough into a loaf and place it in a greased 9 x 5-inch loaf pan. Cover and let it rise for 35 to 45 minutes, until the center is about 1 inch above the rim.
Step 6
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Brush the loaf with milk and sprinkle the remaining rolled oats over the top.
Step 7
Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until golden brown and the center reaches 195 degrees F. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack and cool completely.
Quick Tips
Let the Cottage Cheese Mixture Cool Enough
After you stir the blended cottage cheese, honey, and butter into the oats, wait until it feels just slightly warm to the touch before adding the yeast.
If it’s still hot, it can slow down or even ruin the yeast, and your bread won’t rise the way it should. I aim for about the temperature of a warm bath, never hot.
Blend the Cottage Cheese Until Fully Smooth
Small curd cottage cheese still has little lumps, so take the time to blend it with the honey and butter until it’s completely smooth and creamy.
From my experience, any leftover curds create odd little pockets in the dough and mess with the even texture of the finished loaf.
A quick spin in a blender or food processor does the job in under a minute.
Knead Until the Dough Passes the Stretch Test
This dough needs a full 8 to 10 minutes of kneading to build up enough strength for a good rise.
To check if it’s ready, stretch a small piece between your fingers – if it thins out enough to see light through it without tearing right away, you’re good to go.
If it rips easily, keep kneading for another couple of minutes and test again.
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Quick Answers
Why do I need to soak the oats in hot water first?
Soaking the oats softens them so they blend right into the dough instead of staying hard and chewy in your finished loaf.
The hot water also helps the oats soak up moisture, which keeps the bread soft and tender for days after baking.
Cottage Cheese Honey Oat Bread
Ingredients
- 1 cup Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats
- 1/2 cup Hot Water
- 1 cup Small Curd Cottage Cheese (my absolute favorite for this - amazon)
- 1/4 cup Honey
- 2 tbsp Unsalted Butter, Melted
- 2 1/4 tsp Instant Yeast
- 2 3/4 cups Bread Flour (I always buy this one - amazon)
- 1 1/4 tsp Fine Salt
- 2 tbsp Whole Milk
- 1 tbsp Rolled Oats
Equipment
- loaf pan
Instructions
- Stir the rolled oats and hot water together in a large bowl. Let the mixture stand for 10 minutes, until the oats soften and the water is mostly absorbed.
- Blend the cottage cheese, honey, and melted butter until smooth. Stir this mixture into the softened oats and let it cool until slightly warm.
- Add the instant yeast, bread flour, and salt. Mix until a dough forms, then knead for 8 to 10 minutes, until smooth and elastic.
- Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover, and let it rise for 60 to 75 minutes, or until doubled in size.
- Gently shape the dough into a loaf and place it in a greased 9 x 5-inch loaf pan. Cover and let it rise for 35 to 45 minutes, until the center is about 1 inch above the rim.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Brush the loaf with milk and sprinkle the remaining rolled oats over the top.
- Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until golden brown and the center reaches 195 degrees F. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack and cool completely.