Description
Halloween Brimstone Bread is a dramatic, spooky centerpiece loaf featuring black-and-orange swirls, molten cheese ‘lava,’ and smoky, garlicky flavors. It’s easy to make, perfect for parties, and guaranteed to impress both kids and adults.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 ½ cups bread flour (or all-purpose)
- 1 packet (2 ¼ tsp) instant yeast
- 1 ¼ cups warm water (about 110°F)
- 2 tbsp olive oil (plus extra for greasing)
- 2 tsp granulated sugar
- 1 ½ tsp salt
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- 2 tbsp activated charcoal powder (food-grade)
- Orange gel food coloring (a few drops, or mix red + yellow)
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- ½ cup crumbled feta or cream cheese (optional)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning or dried oregano
- 1 tbsp olive oil (for brushing)
- 1 tsp flaky sea salt
- Extra shredded cheese (for topping)
- Black sesame seeds or poppy seeds (optional)
- Chopped fresh herbs (parsley or chives, optional)
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine warm water, sugar, and yeast. Stir gently and let stand for 5 minutes until foamy.
- Add bread flour, olive oil, salt, and smoked paprika. Stir until a shaggy dough forms. Divide dough into two halves.
- To one half, add activated charcoal powder and knead until uniformly black. To the other half, add orange gel food coloring and knead until bold orange. Add a spoonful of water if dough feels dry.
- Knead each dough half for 5-7 minutes until smooth and elastic. Oil the bowl lightly, place both doughs inside, cover, and let rise in a warm spot for 45 minutes until doubled in size.
- In a small bowl, toss together mozzarella, cheddar, feta or cream cheese, garlic, and Italian seasoning.
- Turn out both doughs onto a floured surface. Flatten each into a rectangle (about 8×12 inches). Spread cheese filling evenly over orange dough, then lay black dough on top. Roll up jelly-roll style, pinching seam closed. Twist or gently braid for dramatic swirls.
- Place shaped loaf on a parchment-lined baking sheet or in a loaf pan. Cover loosely and let rise for 20 minutes while preheating oven to 400°F.
- Brush loaf with olive oil, sprinkle with sea salt, and add extra cheese for molten ‘lava’ bubbles.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes until crust is firm, cheese is bubbly, and bread sounds hollow when tapped. Tent with foil if edges brown too fast.
- Let bread cool at least 20 minutes before slicing. Serve warm for extra gooey goodness.
Notes
For best color, use gel food coloring and gloves to avoid stained hands. Freshly grated cheese melts better than pre-shredded. You can make the dough a day ahead and let it rise overnight in the fridge for deeper flavor. For gluten-free or dairy-free versions, use appropriate flour and cheese substitutes. Twist the dough gently for dramatic swirls and rustic charm.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/12 of loaf)
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 310
- Fat: 6
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 32
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 7
Keywords: Halloween bread, spooky bread, party centerpiece, brimstone bread, cheese bread, activated charcoal bread, Halloween recipes