This is an easy-to-make, flavorful artisan bread topped with melted cheddar cheese and spicy jalapeños. No fancy stand mixer or equipment required. You only need a few basic ingredients and you're good to go. With only 6 ingredients, this jalapeño cheese bread is incredibly easy, so even if you have no bread-making experience, you'll be able to pull it off with no problem!
For more recipes with jalapeños, try ours Jalapeño Popper Dip or us Jalapeño Scalloped Potatoes.
Why our recipe?
- A simple artisan bread that's quick to put together and topped with cheddar cheese and spicy jalapeños.
- No stand mixer required!
- Bakery-quality bread can be made at home by anyone, even without baking experience.
It can sometimes seem daunting to make bread, but it's actually a lot easier than you think! Mixing a loaf or two isn't too much work, especially if you have a stand mixer. Even if you are new to baking, this recipe is totally doable. Dough is easy to work with. This bread will come out as good as any you've made in the bakery.
Material notes
- Yeast: This recipe uses instant yeast, which does not require proofing in water beforehand. Just add directly to your dry ingredients. If you only have active dry yeast, you can substitute it using the same amount, but you must first dissolve it in warm water and let it sit for about 5-10 minutes until foamy before proceeding.
- Warm water: Make sure the water is between 100-110℉. You don't actually have to measure the temperature. It should be warm to the touch, but not hot, like bath water.
- All-Purpose Flour: You can also use bread flour for better texture and crumb.
- Cheddar Cheese: Feel free to switch up the cheese variety! Cheddar and jalapeños work so well together that we hate to stray away from such a classic combo, but a pepper jack would be amazing, as well as smoke gouda.
- Jalapeño: We love the flavor and heat of jalapeños and they really are the star of this bread! If you're concerned about heat, you may want to test how hot the jalapeño is beforehand, or you can buy it in smaller chunks so the flavor spreads a bit more.
making dough
Making bread dough can sometimes feel stressful, but you have nothing to worry about here! This bread dough comes together so easily you won't believe it. If you have a stand mixer, use your bread dough hook, put the ingredients in and mix until the dough starts to pull away from the bowl but is still firm to the touch. Mixing by hand will take more time, but if you don't have a stand mixer, it's still an option! Just keep kneading until it's no longer sticky and you can handle and shape it without the dough sticking to your hands.
Measurement of flour in bread making
When it comes to making bread, the amount of flour you add is always a guess. The actual amount you need may vary due to several factors, including how accurately you measure your ingredients and the humidity of the air. Don't let that scare you though! As long as you know it's a guess, you'll be ready to feel.
You can always add more flour, but you can't remove a strainer or add more liquid to make too much dough. So, add the last bit of flour slowly and gradually. You're aiming for a dough that's soft and firm to the touch, but shouldn't stick to your fingers or hands.
Double the recipe
Easy to make large batches of bread without any special modifications! If you love this bread as much as we do (and we think you do!), you may want to make a few loaves at a time. Just double, or even triple, the ingredients and divide the dough into multiple loaf shapes. Perfect if you have a large family, want leftovers, or want to share some fresh, homemade artisan bread with friends or neighbors.
Storage instructions
shop Once the bread is completely cooled, transfer leftovers to a resealable bag or airtight container.
to freeze: It freezes well if you want to make bread ahead of time or save some for later! Let the bread cool completely, then wrap it tightly in plastic wrap with aluminum foil, or store it in a reusable plastic freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to use, thaw at room temperature.
