Copycat Outback Steakhouse Bread

By
Leah Maroney
Leah Maroney
Leah Maroney
A recipe developer and food photographer, Leah Maroney is an ardent home cook and food blogger who has written over 300 recipes for The Spruce Eats.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 08/10/21
Tested by
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Tested by Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Copycat Outback Steakhouse Bread

The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn

Prep: 25 mins
Cook: 18 mins
Rise: 80 mins
Total: 2 hrs 3 mins
Servings: 16 servings
Yield: 8 loaves


Everyone loves when the warm honey wheat bread comes to the table when dining out at Outback Steakhouse. It’s soft, sweet, and perfect with whipped butter. It’s the best way to start any steak and potato meal. Or serve it alongside a salad or soup. The rolls are easy to make and store super well in the freezer. Simply pop back in the oven for a few minutes to reheat when you’re ready to eat. 

This bread is dairy and egg free, just like the Outback Steakhouse bread. It uses molasses, honey, whole wheat flour, and dark cocoa powder to get the signature color and flavor. The soft and fluffy texture is achieved by kneading the dough thoroughly with the dough hook on your stand mixer. A baking sheet is dusted with cornmeal before baking the rolls, just like at the restaurant. Serve with whipped butter and of course, a giant steak knife.

"The bread was excellent and tasted like the Outback bread, and it was especially yummy with whipped butter and a little cinnamon sugar. Make sure to check the loaves a little early in case they get too dark." —Diana Rattray

copycat Outback Steakhouse bread
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups warm water (105 F to 110 F)

  • 1/4 cup brown sugar

  • 1/4 cup honey

  • 3 tablespoons molasses

  • 1 1/2 tablespoons active dry yeast

  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 1/4 cup canola oil

  • 2 1/2 cups bread flour, or more as needed

  • 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour, or more as needed

  • 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

  • 1 to 2 tablespoons cornmeal, for the pan

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    ingredients for outback steakhouse bread

    The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn

  2. Combine the warm water, brown sugar, honey, and molasses in a measuring cup. Add the yeast to the top and allow it to soften in the warm water, about 5 minutes.

    yeast and warm water in a measuring cup

    The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn

  3. Add yeast to the bowl of a stand mixer, once it has softened. Add in the salt, canola oil, bread flour, whole wheat flour, and cocoa powder. Mix together with the hook attachment until the ingredients are just combined. Scrape down the bowl looking for any flour pockets to incorporate.

    bread ingredients in a stand mixer

    The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn

  4. Mix with the dough hook attachment on medium speed for 5 to 10 minutes, adding more bread or whole wheat flour if necessary, until a ball of dough forms. It should be just slightly sticky to the touch. It should not leave residue on fingers. It should feel elastic and will bounce back when touched. Cover the bowl with a clean dish towel and set aside to rise.

    bread dough in a stand mixer

    The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn

  5. Punch down the dough, once it has risen to double its size (about one hour), and form it into a ball.

    honey wheat bread dough mixed in a bowl

    The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn

  6. Cut the ball of dough into 8 equally sized balls.

    balls of bread dough on parchment paper

    The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn

  7. Roll each ball into a rectangle, about a 1/4 inch thick.

    roll out bread dough on parchment paper

    The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn

  8. Roll up the rectangle into a log and press the ends under and place the seam side down on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.

    dough on parchment paper

    The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn

  9. Place all of the logs onto a baking sheet that is coated with cornmeal. Then cover the rolls with a towel. Allow to rise for 20 minutes in a warm place. Preheat the oven to 400F.

    bread dough on a cornmeal lined baking sheet

    The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn

  10. Once they have risen again, bake in the preheated oven for 14 to 18 minutes.

    risen rolls on a baking sheet

    The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn

  11. Remove the rolls from the oven when they are puffy and browned and have a slight crust. Allow them to cool. Serve with whipped butter.

    Copycat Outback Steakhouse Bread on a baking sheet

    The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn

Recipe Tips

  • To achieve the fluffy and slightly chewy texture of the bread it is essential to knead for at least 5 minutes. This works best with a dough hook on a stand mixer for a sweet, sticky bread like this because you won't have to add as much flour to it. The kneading helps the glutens form and creates elasticity.
  • You don't have to use bread flour but it definitely creates the best texture.
  • If you can, let the bread rise in a warm place. This will help it rise faster and more efficiently.
  • You can heat your oven to 100 F to create a warm environment.
  • If your oven doesn't have a "proof" setting, place the covered bowl of dough in the oven and turn the oven light on. Or place the covered bowl of dough on the upper rack in the oven and a pan with about 3 cups of boiling water on the lower rack.

Recipe Variations

  • To make this recipe vegan, just replace the honey with agave syrup.
  • Serve the warm bread with whipped butter or maple butter. Or make simple whipped honey butter. Beat together 4 ounces of softened butter with 3 tablespoons of honey and a pinch of salt until fluffy. If desired, add a dash of ground cinnamon.
  • Instead of 8 small loaves, shape the dough into 4 larger loaves and bake them for 25 to 30 minutes, or until it reaches an internal temperature of about 195 F.
  • For darker color, add 2 teaspoons of caramel food coloring to the bowl along with the oil and dry ingredients.

How to Store

  • Store the loaves in an airtight container or zip-close food storage bags at room temperature for up to three days. Just make sure they are cooled first so they don’t have condensation.
  • You can also freeze the rolls. Wait until they have cooled and then place them in a plastic freezer bag. They can be stored in the freezer for up to 6 months. When you are ready to heat, preheat your oven to 400 and bake for about 5 minutes or until heated through. 

Can I use instant yeast instead of active dry yeast?

Yes, you can use instant yeast in this recipe. To substitute, multiply the amount of active dry yeast by 0.75 to get the amount of instant yeast you'll need. Reduce the 1 1/2 tablespoons to about 3 1/2 teaspoons. There is no need to soften instant yeast in the warm water; just add it to the water mixture along with the flour mixture.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
195 Calories
4g Fat
35g Carbs
5g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 16
Amount per serving
Calories 195
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 4g 5%
Saturated Fat 0g 2%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 150mg 7%
Total Carbohydrate 35g 13%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Total Sugars 10g
Protein 5g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 19mg 1%
Iron 1mg 7%
Potassium 140mg 3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)