Baked Bread Dumplings

Name: Baked Bread Dumplings
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: Stale bread 3.3 cups; Whole milk &frac23; cup; Type 00 flour 0.8 cup; Mountain cheese 0.7 oz; Eggs 1; Rosemary to taste; Fine salt to taste; Semolina for the pastry board to taste; Mountain cheese 4.2 oz; Butter 3 tbsp; Sage 5 leaves; Fine salt to taste; Black pepper to taste

Vegetarian

Difficulty: Average
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 10 min
Serving: 4
Cost: Low
Note + soaking time for the bread (1 h)

PRESENTATION

When the weather turns chilly in Northern Italy, you’ll find folks cozied up with baked bread gnocchi. It is a hearty dish that just warms you up. Really good stuff. Made with leftover bread mixed with eggs and a handful of strong, local cheese, it’s a dough that’s a bit different from your usual potato gnocchi.

What sets these bread gnocchi apart? It’s that rustic charm. And the way they're smothered in melted butter and fragrant sage—plus even more cheese on top! A quick trip under the broiler gives them this golden crust, while inside stays melting and soft. It's the core of winter comfort food, really.

Unlike the classic Italian dumplings, these baked gnocchi offer a heartier, more tender bite. Watching the cheese bubble and brown in the oven is super satisfying—like, super super satisfying. And you know what, it looks amazing too!

Typically served "in bianco," which means no heavy tomato sauce—just butter, fresh herbs, and cheese doing all the talking. Which is great. In some Alpine regions, cooks get creative with the types of bread and cheese they use. So every batch feels personal and warming.

The oven-baked finish gives the top a crispy touch, while keeping the inside moist and rich. Whether you're after an easy baked gnocchi recipe or just want a twist on homemade gnocchi, this version is a seriously satisfying way to use old bread. I mean, it’s a filling, cheesy meal that tastes like something straight from a small Italian kitchen.

It’s always bringing a sense of cozy comfort to the table. For sure. Perfect for sharing with friends or family, this dish captures the essence of Italian home cooking, making every bite a great experience. Enjoying baked bread gnocchi is like taking a trip to the beautiful mountain towns of Italy—where simple ingredients transform into something really special.

INGREDIENTS

For the Dough: Stale bread 3.3 cups (200 g); Whole milk ⅔ cup (150 g); Type 00 flour 0.8 cup (100 g); Mountain cheese 0.7 oz (20 g); Eggs 1; Rosemary to taste; Fine salt to taste; Semolina to taste - for the pastry board

For the Seasoning: Mountain cheese 4.2 oz (120 g); Butter 3 tbsp (40 g); Sage 5 leaves; Fine salt to taste; Black pepper to taste

Preparation

How to prepare Baked Bread Dumplings

To prepare the baked bread dumplings, start by cutting the stale bread 1 by removing the crust and cutting it into cubes 2. Heat the milk in the microwave or in a saucepan. Pour it over the bread 3 and mix.

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it rest for about an hour 4. Remove the rind from the mountain cheese 5 and grate it using a coarse grater 6.

Finely chop the rosemary as well 7. After the bread resting time, knead it with your hands 8. Once you have obtained a homogeneous mixture, add the flour 9.

Season with 0.7 oz of grated mountain cheese 10, the rosemary 11, salt, pepper, and the egg 12.

Knead again to combine everything 13. Transfer the dough to the work surface and form a loaf 14. Now take about 0.35 oz of dough and form a ball, using some semolina flour for dusting 15.

Score the balls with a gnocchi board 16 and place the dumplings on a tray dusted with semolina 17. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the dumplings 18.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet, melt the butter and season with sage 19, pepper 20, and salt. Dilute the base with a bit of cooking water 21.

When the dumplings rise to the surface, drain them 22 and transfer them to the skillet, then add a ladle of cooking water 23 and a small handful of mountain cheese 34.

Mix to blend 25. Pour half of the dumplings into a 8x8 inch baking dish 26, sprinkle the surface with half of the remaining cheese 27.

Add the other half of the dumplings 28 and the rest of the remaining cheese 29. Broil in the oven under the grill mode for about 5-6 minutes, just long enough to melt the cheese and gratin them. Serve the baked bread dumplings hot and gooey 30.

Storage

Baked bread dumplings can be stored in the fridge for 1-2 days after cooking.

You can freeze the raw dumplings by first placing them on a tray until they are firm, then transferring them into freezer bags, which are more practical for storage in the freezer. You can then cook them directly from frozen.