Introduction

Oh, friends, do you remember those cozy afternoons when the aroma of freshly baked bread filled the house? There’s something incredibly comforting about a warm loaf of bread, especially when it’s packed with gooey, melty cheese. Today, I’m sharing a recipe that will bring back all those wonderful memories and create new ones: the absolute best Easy Cheese Bread. It’s so simple, you’ll wonder why you haven’t made it a thousand times before, and it’s guaranteed to disappear in a flash!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Fast: From start to finish, you can have this delicious bread ready in under an hour!
Easy: No fancy techniques here, just simple mixing and baking. Perfect for beginners!
Giftable: Wrap a warm loaf in some cute twine, and you’ve got the most thoughtful homemade gift.
Crowd-Pleasing: Who can resist cheesy bread? It’s a hit at potlucks, family dinners, or just for a cozy movie night.

Ingredients

Gather your goodies! This recipe is all about simple, wholesome ingredients that come together to create pure magic. Here’s what you’ll need:

For the Bread:

1¾ cups all-purpose flour: Your trusty base for a perfectly textured loaf.
1 tablespoon granulated sugar: Just a touch to balance the savory flavors and help with browning.
1 tablespoon baking powder: This is our secret for a light and fluffy rise!
½ teaspoon fine sea salt: Enhances all those delicious cheese flavors.
3 cups freshly shredded cheddar cheese: Don’t be shy! The more cheese, the merrier (and tastier!).
1 cup whole milk: Adds richness and helps create a tender crumb.
1 large egg: Our binder, ensuring everything comes together beautifully.
¼ cup unsalted butter, melted: For that extra bit of richness and a tender interior.

For the Topping:

¼ cup unsalted butter, melted: This is where the magic happens for that irresistible golden crust.
¼ teaspoon garlic powder: A hint of savory goodness.
⅛ teaspoon fine sea salt: To make those flavors pop.
⅛ teaspoon onion powder: Another layer of subtle savory deliciousness.
⅛ teaspoon dried parsley: For a touch of color and a whisper of freshness.

How to Make It

Alright, let’s get our aprons on and make some cheesy bread! It’s a joy from start to finish.

Preheat and Prep: First things first, get your oven preheated to 375°F (190°C). While that’s warming up, grab a standard 9×5 inch loaf pan. Give it a good grease and then a light dusting of flour. This little step ensures your beautiful loaf won’t stick!
Dry Ingredients Unite: In a nice big mixing bowl, whisk together your flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Think of it as creating a cozy little bed for the cheese.
Cheese Party: Now, stir in that glorious shredded cheddar cheese. Make sure it’s distributed evenly throughout the dry ingredients.
Wet Ingredients Assemble: In a separate bowl, give your milk, egg, and melted butter a good whisk. You want these to be well combined and ready to mingle with the dry stuff.
Gentle Mixing is Key: Pour your wet ingredients into the bowl with the dry ingredients. Now, here’s a little trick I learned: stir just until everything is combined. Overmixing can make your bread a bit tough, so gentle is the name of the game! A few little streaks of flour are okay; they’ll disappear in the oven.
Into the Pan: Pour your lovely batter into your prepared loaf pan. Spread it out evenly so you have a nice, flat surface for our topping.
Topping Time: In a small bowl, combine the melted butter for the topping with the garlic powder, salt, onion powder, and parsley. Give it a little stir to mix all those savory aromas.
Drizzle with Delight: Evenly drizzle this delicious topping mixture all over the batter in your loaf pan. It’s going to create such a wonderful crust!
Bake to Golden Perfection: Pop that pan into your preheated oven and bake for about 40-50 minutes. You’ll know it’s ready when a wooden skewer or toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Cool Down: Let the bread rest in the pan for about 10 minutes. This helps it firm up slightly. Then, carefully turn it out onto a wire rack to cool completely. The hardest part is waiting, but trust me, it’s worth it!

Substitutions & Additions

Feeling a little adventurous? This recipe is super forgiving and loves a little personal touch!

Cheese Swap: Don’t have cheddar? Monterey Jack, Colby, or even a blend of your favorite cheeses work beautifully. For a sharper flavor, try Gruyere or a sharp white cheddar.
Herb Heaven: Feel free to add other dried herbs like chives, dill, or a pinch of Italian seasoning to the batter or topping.
Spicy Kick: Love a little heat? Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or some finely diced jalapeños (seeds removed!) to the batter.
Garlic Lovers: For an extra punch of garlic, mince a clove or two of fresh garlic and add it to the wet ingredients.

Tips for Success

A few little secrets to ensure your cheese bread is absolutely perfect every time:

Don’t Overmix: I can’t stress this enough! A light touch will give you the fluffiest, most tender bread.
Freshly Shredded Cheese: Pre-shredded cheese often has anti-caking agents that can affect how it melts. Shredding your own cheddar will give you that beautiful gooeyness we all crave.
Check for Doneness: Ovens can vary, so the skewer test is your best friend. If the top is browning too quickly before the center is cooked, you can loosely tent it with foil.
Prep Ahead: You can whisk together all the dry ingredients for the bread and store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. Then, when you’re ready to bake, just mix in the wet ingredients and cheese!

How to Store It

Once your glorious cheese bread has cooled, you’ll want to keep it fresh. Store it in an airtight container or wrap it tightly in plastic wrap at room temperature. It should stay delicious for about 2-3 days. If you want to keep it longer, you can slice it and freeze it for up to 2 months. Just pop a slice in the toaster or microwave to warm it up!

FAQs

Q: Can I use a different type of cheese?

A: Absolutely! Monterey Jack, Colby, Swiss, or a combination of your favorites would be delicious. Just make sure to shred it yourself for the best melting results.

Q: My bread is browning too fast, what should I do?

A: If the top of your cheese bread is getting too dark before the inside is cooked, you can loosely cover the loaf pan with aluminum foil. This will help the inside cook through without burning the top.

Q: How can I make this bread even cheesier?

A: You can definitely add more cheese! Try adding an extra ½ cup to the batter, or even sprinkle a little extra on top before baking.

Enjoy every warm, cheesy bite of this delightful homemade cheese bread. It’s simple, it’s comforting, and it’s guaranteed to bring smiles to faces. Happy baking!

Easy Cheese Bread

A quick, cheesy, and utterly delicious homemade cheese bread recipe that's perfect for beginners and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 50

Servings 10 slices

Equipment

Mixing bowl one large and one separate bowl
Whisk
Loaf pan standard 9x5 inch
Wire rack
Wooden skewer or toothpick

Ingredients

For the Bread

1.75 cups all-purpose flour Your trusty base for a perfectly textured loaf.
1 tablespoon granulated sugar Just a touch to balance the savory flavors and help with browning.
1 tablespoon baking powder This is our secret for a light and fluffy rise!
0.5 teaspoon fine sea salt Enhances all those delicious cheese flavors.
3 cups freshly shredded cheddar cheese Don't be shy! The more cheese, the merrier (and tastier!).
1 cup whole milk Adds richness and helps create a tender crumb.
1 large egg Our binder, ensuring everything comes together beautifully.
0.25 cup unsalted butter, melted For that extra bit of richness and a tender interior.

For the Topping

0.25 cup unsalted butter, melted This is where the magic happens for that irresistible golden crust.
0.25 teaspoon garlic powder A hint of savory goodness.
0.125 teaspoon fine sea salt To make those flavors pop.
0.125 teaspoon onion powder Another layer of subtle savory deliciousness.
0.125 teaspoon dried parsley For a touch of color and a whisper of freshness.

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and prepare a 9x5 inch loaf pan by greasing and lightly flouring it.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
1.75 cups all-purpose flour
Stir in the shredded cheddar cheese until evenly distributed.
1.75 cups all-purpose flour
In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, egg, and melted butter.
1.75 cups all-purpose flour
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir gently until just combined. Avoid overmixing.
Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and spread evenly.
In a small bowl, combine the melted butter for the topping with garlic powder, salt, onion powder, and parsley.
1.75 cups all-purpose flour
Drizzle the topping mixture evenly over the batter in the loaf pan.
Bake for 40-50 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
Let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes before carefully turning it out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

This recipe is forgiving and can be customized with different cheeses or herbs. For best results, use freshly shredded cheese and avoid overmixing the batter.