Easy Cheese Bread

Tips & Tricks:

• 🔪 Skip steps with knife if you completed the prep ideas!
• 🚨 Check out the Leftover Alert at the end of this recipe.
• 🧀 Use block cheese (for parm and cheddar), and manually grate or cut. Pre-shredded cheeses can be harder and sometimes are coated with starch (to help with preservation) which messes with the melty-ness of the cheese.

Ingredients:

• 3 oz Parmesan cheese
• 3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour (15 ounces)
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp salt
• ⅛ tsp ground black pepper
• 4 oz extra-sharp cheddar cheese
• 1 ¼ cups whole milk
• 3 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
• 1 large egg beaten lightly
• ¾ cup sour cream

Directions:

1. 🔪 Cheese Prep (can be done up to 5 days ahead).
1. Shred the parmesan on the large holes of a box grater.
2. Cut cheddar cheese into ½-inch cubes.
2. Baking Prep
1. Adjust oven rack to middle position; heat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Spray 5 by 9-inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray.
3. Sprinkle 1/2 cup Parmesan evenly in bottom of pan.
3. Dough Prep
1. In large bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, cayenne, salt, and pepper to combine.
2. Using rubber spatula, mix in cheddar until cheese is coated with flour.
3. In medium bowl, whisk together milk, melted butter, egg, and sour cream.
4. Using rubber spatula, gently fold wet ingredients into dry ingredients until just combined (batter will be heavy and thick). Do not overmix.
5. Scrape batter into prepared loaf pan; spread to sides of pan and level surface with rubber spatula.
6. Sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan evenly over surface.
4. Bake and Cool
1. Bake until deep golden brown and toothpick or skewer inserted in center of loaf comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes.
2. Cool in pan on wire rack 5 minutes (seriously! wait! I learned this the hard way 😭); flip the pan over onto the wire rack to help release the loaf from the pan. Continue to cool until warm, about 45 minutes.
5. Serve
1. Cut desired amount of slices and serve.
2. Enjoy on its own or topped with eggs your way.
3. Store in a cool, dry place for up to 5 days. This bread can also be wrapped in tinfoil and frozen for up to 3 months. Defrost on the counter for 24 hours before toasting.

Reheat Options

1. Toast slices in a toaster oven or on a baking sheet in a 425-degree oven for 5 to 10 minutes, not in a conventional toaster, where bits of cheese may melt, burn, and make a mess.

🚨Leftover Alert

1. This bread is great topped with tomato, eggs your way, avocado, bacon, butter and everything but the bagel seasoning!
2. It will also be great to scoop up sauce from the Chicken Cacciatore, to dip in soup, or as a sandwich!