Hawaiian Cheese Bread

There’s something about Hawaiian pull-apart bread that appeals to the child in me. It’s sweet, soft and tactile, so even just tearing off a hunk fills me with joy! This Hawaiian cheese bread takes things to a higher level of happiness. A loaf of sweet Hawaiian bread is packed with Swiss cheese and tons of buttery, garlicky flavor. After baking, unwrap the foil and soak in that rich garlic aroma. Then, enjoy the creamy strings of cheese with each bite.

Today, Hawaiian bread can be found in most grocery stores, but the original came from a single Big Island bakery in the 1950s. You could swap in different types of bread for similar results, but real-deal Hawaiian bread really makes this appetizer shine.

Ingredients for Hawaiian Cheese Bread

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• Hawaiian sweet bread: This soft, sweet bread is available as a loaf or individual rolls. Make sure to pick up a loaf for this recipe.
• Swiss cheese: This melting cheese is a great choice for cheesy pull-apart bread recipes. It’s mild flavored and gets really creamy when melted.
• Onion: Chopped red onion adds a little zing to each bite.
• Butter and garlic: Hot, garlicky butter seeps into the bread, providing the signature flavor of this Hawaiian pull-apart bread.
• Salt: Sprinkled on top, salt highlights the other flavors.

Directions

Step 1: Prepare the Hawaiian bread

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Cut the bread diagonally into 1-inch slices to within 1 inch of the bottom. Repeat the cuts in the opposite direction.

Editor’s Tip: The first set of cuts creates rows in the bread, and the second set creates a crisscross pattern.

Step 2: Stuff the Hawaiian bread with cheese

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Cut the Swiss cheese into 1/4-inch slices, then cut the slices into small pieces. Insert the cheese into the bread.

Editor’s Tip: Feel free to grate the cheese if you don’t want to hand-chop it. Whatever makes it easier to stuff cheese into the spaces between each hunk of bread.

Step 3: Add the garlic butter

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Combine the onion, butter, garlic and salt. Spoon it over the bread.

Editor’s Tip: If you have one, use a pastry brush to coat the top of the bread and every crevice with the melted garlic butter.

Step 4: Bake the Hawaiian cheese bread

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Wrap the loaf in foil and bake at 350°F for 25 to 30 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Serve warm.

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Hawaiian Cheese Bread Variations

• Use other cheeses: Experiment with different types of cheese. Try mozzarella cheese for its wonderful creaminess, or go for a strong-flavored cheese like sharp cheddar or spicy pepper jack.
• Add Italian seasoning: Shake some herby Italian seasoning on top to add lovely Mediterranean aromas to the pull-apart bread.
• Add chopped parsley: Just before serving, sprinkle chopped fresh parsley onto the bread to elevate the visual appeal.

How to Store Hawaiian Cheese Bread

Allow the bread to cool slightly, then wrap it tightly in foil or pack it in an airtight container. Store it in the refrigerator for up to four days.

Can you make Hawaiian cheese bread ahead of time?

You can prepare Hawaiian cheese bread ahead of time and store the unbaked bread in the refrigerator overnight. The next day, bake the bread as directed. Alternatively, you can transfer the foil-wrapped, unbaked bread to a freezer-safe bag and freeze it for up to four months. Bake it directly from the freezer, increasing the cooking time as needed for the cheese to melt.

Hawaiian Cheese Bread Tips

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What if I can’t find Hawaiian sweet bread?

If you can’t find Hawaiian sweet bread, it might be a blessing in disguise and your cue to learn how to make Hawaiian bread. If you don’t have time for homemade bread, try using a loaf of sweet brioche. Any round loaf of white bread works in a pinch, but without sweet bread, you’ll make regular party cheese bread instead of Hawaiian cheese bread.

What can I serve with Hawaiian pull-apart bread?

You can enjoy this Hawaiian pull-apart bread as an appetizer (like any garlic bread, but sweeter). Or serve it as a side for soup, pasta or stew. Wherever you’ve got sauce to mop up, this sweet, cheesy bread will oblige.

Why do I have to wrap Hawaiian cheese bread in foil?

Without foil, the outside of the loaf will turn crusty and dry while the inside remains undercooked. Wrapping the bread in tin foil or aluminum foil traps the heat inside and heats the bread evenly. That allows the cheese to melt and the butter to take its flavor into every corner.