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No-Knead Cheese Bread Recipe

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★★★★★

4.5 from 150 reviews

This No-Knead Cheese Bread recipe creates a rustic, flavorful loaf that’s crusty on the outside and soft and cheesy on the inside. Using simple ingredients and minimal hands-on work, it combines bread flour, instant yeast, and shredded Colby Jack cheese to produce a melt-in-your-mouth experience. The dough is allowed to rise naturally, then baked in a preheated Dutch oven to achieve an ideal crust and crumb texture, making it perfect for cheese lovers looking for an easy homemade bread.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

  • 3 cups bread flour (or all-purpose flour in a pinch)
  • 2 tsp instant yeast
  • 1½ tsp kosher salt

Wet Ingredients

  • 1½ cups very warm water (~120°F)

Add-ins

  • 2½ cups freshly shredded Colby Jack cheese (or your favorite meltable cheese)

Instructions

  1. Mix: In a large bowl, whisk together the bread flour, instant yeast, and kosher salt until combined. Gradually stir in the very warm water (around 120°F) until a sticky, shaggy dough forms. Gently fold in the shredded Colby Jack cheese, ensuring it is evenly distributed throughout the dough. Cover the bowl with a clean towel or plastic wrap and let the dough rise at room temperature for 1.5 to 2 hours, or until it has doubled in size.
  2. Preheat: About 30 minutes before the dough has finished rising, place a Dutch oven with its lid inside your oven and preheat the oven to 450°F (230°C). This step ensures the Dutch oven is very hot and ready for baking the bread.
  3. Shape: Lightly flour a sheet of parchment paper and scrape the risen dough onto it. Gently shape the dough into a rough ball shape—there’s no need to knead or create a perfectly smooth surface, as its rustic charm is part of the appeal.
  4. Bake: Carefully lift the dough on the parchment paper and place it into the hot Dutch oven. Cover with the lid and bake for 30 minutes. After that, remove the lid and bake for an additional 10 to 15 minutes until the bread develops a deep golden crust and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
  5. Cool: Remove the bread from the Dutch oven and place it on a wire rack. Let it rest for 15 to 20 minutes to allow the interior to set before slicing. Once cooled, slice, share, and enjoy this cheesy, crusty bread!

Notes

  • Ensure the water temperature is about 120°F to activate the yeast properly without killing it.
  • The bread flour gives a better structure and crust, but all-purpose flour works fine if that’s what you have.
  • You can substitute Colby Jack with other meltable cheeses like mozzarella, cheddar, or a blend.
  • Letting the dough rise until doubled is crucial for light texture.
  • Use caution when handling the hot Dutch oven to avoid burns.
  • The crust will be crispest if the bread is left to cool completely on a rack.

Keywords: no knead bread, cheese bread, easy bread recipe, Dutch oven bread, homemade bread, Colby Jack cheese bread

Find it online: https://platedbyemma.com/no-knead-cheese-bread-recipe/