Easy Cheddar Cheese Bread Recipe – Soft & Cheesy Perfection!

Prep Time: 20 minutes | Rise Time: 2 hours | Cook Time: 35 minutes | Total Time: 2 hours 55 minutes | Servings: 12 slices | Difficulty: Easy

Why This Cheddar Cheese Bread Will Become Your Family Favorite

Nothing fills your kitchen with more irresistible aromas than freshly baked cheddar cheese bread emerging from the oven! This easy cheese bread recipe creates the most incredibly soft, fluffy loaf packed with melted sharp cheddar cheese in every single bite. Picture golden, buttery crust giving way to pillowy-soft bread studded with pockets of gooey, melted cheese that stretches beautifully when you pull apart each slice. The rich, savory flavor combines perfectly with the tender crumb, making this bread absolutely impossible to resist. Whether you’re serving it alongside soup, using it for the ultimate grilled cheese sandwich, or simply enjoying warm slices with butter, this homemade cheese bread transforms ordinary ingredients into extraordinary comfort food that brings everyone to the kitchen.

Easy Cheddar Cheese Bread Recipe

Incredibly soft and fluffy homemade cheese bread packed with melted sharp cheddar cheese in every bite – perfect comfort food for any meal!

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Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 35 minutes mins

Rise Time 2 hours hrs

Total Time 2 hours hrs 55 minutes mins

Course Bread, Side Dish

Cuisine American

Servings 12 slices

Calories 210 kcal

Equipment

• Large mixing bowl
• 9×5-inch loaf pan
• Stand mixer with dough hook (optional)
• Kitchen towel or plastic wrap
• Wire cooling rack

Ingredients

  

Bread Dough

• 2½ cups all-purpose flour Plus extra for kneading, unbleached preferred
• 2¼ teaspoons instant yeast One packet, ensure freshness for proper rise
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar Feeds yeast and adds subtle sweetness
• 1 teaspoon salt Enhances flavors and strengthens dough structure
• ¾ cup whole milk Warmed to 105-110°F, not hot to avoid killing yeast
• ¼ cup unsalted butter Melted and slightly cooled for richness
• 1 large egg Room temperature, helps bind and creates tender texture

Cheese Layer

• 1½ cups sharp cheddar cheese Freshly shredded from block, never pre-shredded
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder Optional, adds aromatic depth
• ½ teaspoon dried Italian herbs Optional, for extra savory notes
• 1 tablespoon melted butter For brushing finished loaf

Instructions

 

• In a large mixing bowl, combine warm milk, sugar, and yeast. Stir gently and let sit for 5 minutes until foamy and bubbly. If it doesn’t foam, your yeast is dead – start over with fresh yeast.
• Add melted butter, egg, and salt to the yeast mixture. Whisk until well combined. Gradually stir in flour, one cup at a time, until a soft, slightly sticky dough forms.
• Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead by hand for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic. The dough should spring back when gently poked. Alternatively, use a stand mixer with dough hook for 6 minutes.
• Place dough in a greased bowl, cover with damp towel, and let rise in a warm, draft-free place for 1-1.5 hours until doubled in size.
• Punch down risen dough and transfer to floured surface. Roll into an 8×14-inch rectangle. Sprinkle shredded cheese evenly over surface, leaving ½-inch border. Add garlic powder and herbs if using.
• Starting from the short end, tightly roll dough into a log, pinching seam to seal. Place seam-side down in a greased 9×5-inch loaf pan. Cover and let rise 30-45 minutes until dough crowns the pan.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake for 30-35 minutes until golden brown and hollow-sounding when tapped. If browning too quickly, tent with foil during last 10 minutes. Internal temperature should reach 190°F.
• Immediately brush hot loaf with melted butter for a glossy crust. Cool in pan for 15 minutes before turning out onto wire rack. Let cool at least 30 minutes before slicing.

Notes

For best results, shred cheese fresh from a block. Pre-shredded cheese contains anti-caking agents that prevent proper melting. Store wrapped at room temperature 2 days or refrigerated up to 5 days. Can freeze shaped loaf before second rise for up to 1 month.

Keyword cheddar cheese bread, cheese bread recipe, Comfort Food, easy bread recipe, homemade cheese bread

Essential Ingredients for Bakery-Quality Results

For the Bread Dough:

• 2½ cups all-purpose flour – plus extra for kneading, use unbleached for best flavor
• 1 packet (2¼ teaspoons) instant yeast – ensure it’s fresh for proper rise
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar – feeds the yeast and adds subtle sweetness
• 1 teaspoon salt – enhances all flavors and strengthens dough structure
• ¾ cup whole milk – warmed to 105-110°F, not hot to avoid killing yeast
• ¼ cup unsalted butter – melted and slightly cooled for richness
• 1 large egg – room temperature, helps bind ingredients and creates tender texture

For the Cheese Layer:

• 1½ cups sharp cheddar cheese – freshly shredded from block, never pre-shredded
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder – optional, adds aromatic depth
• ½ teaspoon dried Italian herbs – optional, for extra savory notes
• 1 tablespoon melted butter – for brushing finished loaf

Step-by-Step Instructions for Perfect Cheese Bread

1. Activate the Yeast (5 minutes): In a large mixing bowl, combine warm milk, sugar, and yeast. Stir gently and let sit for 5 minutes until foamy and bubbly. (If it doesn’t foam, your yeast is dead – start over with fresh yeast.)
2. Create the Dough Base (3 minutes): Add melted butter, egg, and salt to the yeast mixture. Whisk until well combined. Gradually stir in flour, one cup at a time, until a soft, slightly sticky dough forms.
3. Knead to Perfection (8-10 minutes): Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead by hand for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic. The dough should spring back when gently poked. (Alternatively, use a stand mixer with dough hook for 6 minutes.)
4. First Rise (1-1.5 hours): Place dough in a greased bowl, cover with damp towel, and let rise in a warm, draft-free place until doubled in size. (Pro tip: Place bowl on top of the refrigerator or in a slightly warm oven.)
5. Roll and Fill (5 minutes): Punch down risen dough and transfer to floured surface. Roll into an 8×14-inch rectangle. Sprinkle shredded cheese evenly over surface, leaving ½-inch border around edges. Add garlic powder and herbs if using.
6. Shape the Loaf (3 minutes): Starting from the short end, tightly roll dough into a log, pinching seam to seal. Place seam-side down in a greased 9×5-inch loaf pan. Cover and let rise 30-45 minutes until dough crowns the pan.
7. Bake to Golden Glory (30-35 minutes): Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake until golden brown and hollow-sounding when tapped. If browning too quickly, tent with foil during last 10 minutes. Internal temperature should reach 190°F.
8. Finish with Butter Glaze (1 minute): Immediately brush hot loaf with melted butter for a glossy, flavorful crust. Cool in pan for 15 minutes before turning out onto wire rack.

Expert Tips for cheddar Cheese Bread Success

This easy cheddar cheese bread proves that homemade doesn’t have to be complicated! Store wrapped at room temperature for 2 days or refrigerated for up to 5 days. Toast slices for incredible texture and serve alongside our homemade loaded potato soup or tuna noodle casserole for the ultimate comfort meal. This bread also makes extraordinary grilled cheese sandwiches or breakfast toast topped with scrambled eggs. Try it with our dill pickle dip for an amazing appetizer combination. Love this recipe? Follow us on Pinterest for more homemade bread recipes and comfort food favorites!

FAQ About cheddar Cheese Bread