Cheesecake Factory Brown Bread (Copycat Honey Wheat Bread)

This copycat Cheesecake Factory Honey Wheat Bread is soft, slightly sweet, and has that rich, hearty flavor you love from the restaurant version. Made with simple ingredients and a touch of honey and molasses, this homemade bread is perfect for sandwiches, toast, or serving warm with butter!

At a Glance: Cheesecake Factory Honey Wheat Bread (Copycat)

👩‍🍳 Skill Level: Intermediate
🥄 Flavor Profile: Slightly sweet, hearty, and earthy with a soft chew
🧁 Options Included: Mini loaves, sandwich rolls, or full loaf
🎯 Best For: Restaurant-style dinners, soup nights, or gourmet sandwiches

What is it about that Bread? 

I asked my friend Patti this question as we stared at the basket in front of us at Cheesecake Factory. What did they put in that brown bread to make it so magical? I couldn’t stop asking our waiter to bring us more. And more. 

He even gave us some to take home with us. 

I made up my mind to find out what was in that magical Cheesecake Factory bread, so that I could replicate it at home. Turns out, there are a zillion recipes for this bread online and they’re all basically the same. Oh, there were micro-variations, but they all pretty much called for similar ingredients. 

You Can Make Cheesecake Factory Brown Bread at Home

Ironically, it took me months to finally get around to making this bread. In my defense, I was busy learning how to make sourdough. And my own homemade starter. I even taught myself how to make Focaccia. Those things take time, trust me. . .especially if bread-making doesn’t come naturally to you. Until recently I wouldn’t have called myself a bread baker. 

A cake baker? Sure. A cookie baker? Absolutely. 

But, bread? Not so much, in spite of a few successes. 

After making this delicious Cheesecake Factory Brown Bread, I am now officially calling myself a bread baker! 

Cheesecake Factory Brown Bread Recipe

You will find a full printable recipe card at the bottom of this post but here’s a quick peek at what you will need. These are simple ingredients you probably already have on hand in your pantry or refrigerator. If not, they are readily available at your local grocery store. 

• 1 ¾ cups warm milk (whole milk) 
• 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
• 1 packet instant dry yeast (2 ¼ teaspoons)
• ¼ cup molasses
• ¼ cup honey
• ¼ room temperature butter
• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour (plus more, if needed)
• 1 tablespoon espresso powder (instant coffee powder)
• 1 tablespoons dutch cocoa powder (unsweetened)
• 1 ½ teaspoons salt
• ¼ cup rolled oats (for topping)

Note: You can substitute bread flour for the all purpose flour if you prefer.

How to Make Cheesecake Factory Honey Brown Bread

This bread has a lot of ingredients but it comes together seamlessly! Here’s how you’re going to make it. 

Combine flours, espresso powder, cocoa powder, and salt in a bowl and set aside. 

Spray a mixing bowl with nonstick spray and set aside. 

Place parchment paper on a cookie sheet and set aside. 

Place milk in a microwave safe bowl and heat for 30 - 60 seconds until warm, but not hot. 

Place in the bowl of a stand mixer and add yeast and brown sugar. 

Mix until combined and set aside for 5 minutes. 

Add butter, molasses, and honey and mix well. 

Now work the dry ingredients (everything but the oats) into the yeast mixture using the dough hook on your mixer. 

You’ll have a sticky dough, so stop the mixer after a couple minutes to check it. 

At this point you might want to add a bit more flour if the dough is too loose. (I added 4 tablespoons.) 

Keep mixing with the dough hook for another 3-4 minutes until it comes together and is smooth. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.

Transfer the dough to the prepared bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and set aside in a warm place for a full hour to proof. 

After an hour divide the dough into three even pieces on a lightly floured surface and form into balls. 

Place into three separate (oiled) bowls to rise (covering each with plastic wrap). 

Allow to rise for 45 minutes. 

Remove from bowls and stretch the dough balls to form loaves (about 8” in length). Roll them to smooth the edges. 

Place on prepared baking sheet. 

Cover and proof for 45 minutes. 

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. 

Brush the loaves with water and sprinkle with oats. 

Place in preheated oven and bake for 20 - 25 minutes or until bread reaches and internal temperature of at least 190 degrees and is golden brown in color. 

Remove and place baking sheet on wire rack to cool. (Check out those brown bread baguettes with their light dusting of oats! Bee-you-tee-ful!)

Slice and enjoy! 

Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature. They should stay good up to three days. You can freeze this bread to eat later. Place in a freezer bag and store in freezer up to two months.

What to Expect from This Bread

I am not exaggerating when I say that I told my family, “This is the best bread I’ve ever made.” It’s so soft. Buttery soft. But, unlike many of the white breads I’ve baked, this one is loaded with flavor. I don’t know if it was the espresso powder or the molasses or the honey. Could’ve been the cocoa powder. Or maybe that touch of brown sugar. Perhaps it had something to do with the oats on top. But this bread was so delicious, so light, and so perfect, that I found myself startled by its perfection. (Hey, when something works out this beautifully, you celebrate it.) Best of all, this was an easy copycat recipe that actually tastes like the bread you get in the restaurant. I heartily recommend this recipe. You’re going to absolutely love it. 

Variations to this Recipe

I loved this so much and I’m having a hard time thinking of ways to improve it. For the first time in the history of this website, I’m going to say, “No variations necessary!” Trust me when I say this is one of those copycat recipes you're going to use again and again!

Other Breads from Out of the Box Baking

Tangzhong Milk Bread: This Tangzhong Milk Bread is incredibly soft, tender, and pillowy. Slightly sweet and delightfully fluffy, it’s perfect for sandwiches, toast, or enjoying fresh from the oven with a pat of butter. A must-try for any home baker!

Quick Sourdough Dinner Rolls: Soft and fluffy, filled with buttery flavor, these yeasted dinner rolls are sheer perfection. 

Simple 2-Ingredient Biscuits: If you’re looking for the world’s simplest but most delicious biscuit, you’ve come to the right place! These light, fluffy biscuits are incredibly fast and easy to make and packed full of flavor and texture. 

Rustic Wheat Bread: If you’re looking for a simple what bread with an artisan feel, this is the recipe for you! In this post I’m going to show you how to bake up a loaf you’ll be proud to serve. 

That’s it for this post, friends! I hope you enjoyed this delicious recipe. 

---

If you make this recipe and love it, don’t forget to leave a review and a comment below. And while you're at it, go ahead and pin some photos to your Pinterest boards!

Loved this recipe? Get more like it straight to your inbox. Sign up for our newsletter now!

About the Author

Janice Thompson is an author, baker, and all-around mischief maker! She has overcome a host of baking catastrophes, including a toppled wedding cake, to learn more about the baking process. Janice has published over 165 books for the Christian market but particularly enjoys writing recipes and baking devotions. To learn more about Janice or to drop her a note, visit her About the Author page.