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Cheese Bread Recipe

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★★★★★

4.7 from 108 reviews

This Cheese Bread recipe features a soft, no-knead dough enriched with freshly shredded Colby cheese. The bread is baked in a preheated covered pot to create a crispy crust and melty cheesy interior, making it perfect as a savory snack or accompaniment to meals.

Ingredients

Scale

Dough Ingredients

  • 3 cups bread flour
  • 2 tsp instant yeast
  • 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 1/2 cups very warm tap water

Cheese

  • 2 1/2 cups Colby cheese, freshly shredded (reserve some for topping)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the no-knead dough: In a large bowl, combine the bread flour, instant yeast, and kosher salt. Add the very warm tap water and mix until the dough is sticky and all the flour is hydrated. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it rise at room temperature for 2 to 3 hours until the dough has roughly doubled in size.
  2. Preheat the oven and pot: Place a heavy covered pot, such as a Dutch oven, in the oven and preheat to 450°F (230°C). Preheating the pot ensures a crispy crust and proper baking environment.
  3. Shape the loaf: Turn the risen dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Pat it gently into a disc shape. Sprinkle the shredded Colby cheese evenly over the dough. Fold the dough edges over the cheese to enclose it, creating a stuffed dough ball. Transfer the dough ball onto a piece of parchment paper for easy handling.
  4. Add cheese topping: Sprinkle the reserved shredded Colby cheese on top of the shaped dough to create a cheesy crown.
  5. Bake covered: Carefully remove the hot preheated pot from the oven. Using the parchment paper, lift and lower the dough with cheese into the pot. Cover with the pot lid and bake for 30 minutes. Baking covered traps steam to help the bread rise and create a tender crumb.
  6. Bake uncovered: After 30 minutes, remove the lid and bake for an additional 15 minutes to brown and crisp the cheese-topped crust.
  7. Cool and serve: Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool in the pot for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Slice and enjoy the warm, cheesy bread.

Notes

  • Using warm water activates the yeast quickly for a faster rise.
  • The no-knead method yields a tender and airy bread with minimal effort.
  • Preheating the pot creates an ideal baking environment that simulates a steam oven, resulting in a crispy crust.
  • Feel free to substitute Colby cheese with other semi-hard cheeses like cheddar or Monterey Jack for different flavor profiles.
  • Allow the bread to cool before slicing to retain the structure and avoid gummy texture.

Keywords: cheese bread, no-knead bread, Colby cheese bread, homemade bread, easy bread recipe

Find it online: https://cookwithlea.com/cheese-bread-recipe/