Pesto Braided Bread

An easy but impressive bread stuffed with freshly made pesto (or store bought). This pesto braided bread is easier than you think to make, and just as easily dunked in marinara sauce. This is a hit with adults and kids alike; whether you are making it for family dinner or a dinner party with friends.

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Pretty Pesto Braided Bread

This bread. It's braided, do you see it? I'm literally so proud of myself I can hardly take it. I shouldn't be though because this was easy. Like...so easy . I'm pretty much going to make this and stuff it with everything I can think of. Buffalo Chicken Braided Bread...why not? Pepperoni pizza bread...yes! HAM AND CHEESE SANDWICH BREAD...oh mah gah.

This bread pulls apart so nicely and get dunked in marinara so nicely. These two are a pair, forever and always. But also, there might be a love triangle going on:

ME > Pesto braided bread > Marinara

ME > Pesto braided bread > made into croutons > Marinara (just go ahead and pan fry some of this bread for croutons)

Things You Need To Know:

• It pulls apart and begs to be dunked in marinara sauce. Use my Magic Bullet Marinara Sauce recipe for the perfect sauce.
• You could actually put just about anything inside. Hi cheese and pepperoni!
• People will be impressed with your baking skills. I'm totally sometimes in it for the recognition.
• Super kid friendly! Anything that can be pulled apart and dunked your kids new favorite food. Im pretty sure you can put whatever you want in it (Me: Kale & Walnut Pesto), and they will love it.
• You can use your favorite store-bought Pesto, or use my Kale & Walnut Pesto recipe.
• If you have leftovers, this pesto bread makes the most magical croutons.

WHAT GOES IN THIS PRETTY BREAD?

• Instant Yeast: You can also use bread machine yeast if you are having trouble finding yeast. I recently found a pound of instant yeast here on Amazon.
• Olive oil: My bae.
• Water: Hydrates the mixture; you can also use warm milk.
• Sugar: Feeds the yeast, sugar substitutes do not work.
• Flour: You can use whole wheat or all-purpose flour; I used all purpose in this recipe.
• Salt: Flavor-flave.
• Pesto: I used our Kale and Walnut Pesto recipe (5 minutes), you can 100% use store bought pesto.

How Do You Make Pesto Braided Bread?

1. Proof the yeast: Not necessary with Instant Yeast, but I always like to spot a problem before I use a lot of ingredients. Finding out there is a problem with the yeast at the end is no good.
2. Add it to flour mixture and knead: Combine yeast and flour mixture and knead in a stand mixture with dough hook attachment or by hand.
3. Rise: I always spray the pot of the Instant Pot with cooking spray and allow my bread dough to rise on the yogurt setting for one hour. It is the perfect environment for rising dough.
4. Roll it out and spread it with Pesto: Once it has risen, roll it out to about ⅛" thickness and spread with pesto avoiding 1" on the far edge (where you will pinch the ends together).
5. Roll it up: Roll it using the long side, all the way to the end. Pinch the ends together.
6. Cut it in half: Cut it in half long ways with a sharp knife (into two pieces).
7. Braid it: Pull one layer over another, like a twist.
8. Swirl it to the side: Coil the top end toward the middle. Coil the bottom end toward the middle, in the opposite direction.
9. Stand back and admire it then bake: Bake it at 400° for 25 minutes.

THIS GOES GREAT WITH:

• Instant Pot Panera Creamy Tomato Soup
• My favorite: Instant Pot Panera 10 Vegetable Soup
• Instant Pot White Beans In Marinara
• Greek Moussaka Dinner

Hey- you've made it this far, and now we're BFF's.  If you make this recipe, I would love for you to give it a star rating below (scroll to the comments).  Make sure you follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook too!

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