Swirls of cheese, an insanely golden crispy cheese crust, and soft fluffy crumb. This cheese bread is every cheese-loving carb-monsters’ dream come true! A very easy, no-knead bread recipe based on the beloved No-Knead Crusty Artisan Bread – are you ready for this??!
Cheese Bread
This is a bread you’d struggle to buy. Because I just can’t see any bakery cramming in as much cheese as I do. 250g – that’s half a pound! For un-missable cheese flavour.
Indulgent? Excessive? Perhaps.
But if I’m going to make a cheese bread, I want to do it right! None of this wimpy barely-there sprinkle of cheese on just the surface. I’d rather just make a plain loaf of bread and make a cheese toastie!
About this no-knead bread business
This gorgeous loaf is made using a no-knead bread dough that has been read over 7 million times since I published it in 2020. It’s tried and tested miracle recipe (thank you New York Times!) that’s easy enough for beginners yet seasoned bread enthusiasts appreciate its Artisan qualities.
Here’s how it goes down:
Mix flour, yeast, salt and water with a wooden spoon (10 seconds).
Leave to double in volume (1 to 3 hours).
Fold in cheese, shape in a round (5 minutes).
Bake (40 minutes). Eat (30 seconds).
Ingredients
Here’s what you need to make this – yeast, flour, salt, water and cheese. Yep, really, that’s it!
For the bread dough
Bread flour is best, if you can – Use bread flour if you can. Bread flour has more protein in it than normal flour which means more gluten, and this makes the dough more elastic and yields a more fluffy yet chewy texture inside the bread, just like the (pricey!) artisan bread you get from your favourite bakery.
However, this bread is still fantastic made with plain/all-purpose flour. Put it this way – I wouldn’t make a special trip just to get bread flour if I have a hankering for this right now. But I would go and get it if I was making this for company!
Instant yeast – The base recipe calls for Instant Yeast (aka Rapid Rise yeast) which does not need to be dissolved in water and left to foam. You can also use normal yeast (“Active Dry Yeast” or just “dry yeast”) – you just need to change the order of the steps and dissolve the yeast in water first. The bread will come out the same!
The cheese
I use Colby but you can use (almost) any meltable cheese you want (thoughts below). But I really urge you to:
Don’t skimp on quantity. I use a whole 250g/8oz (2 1/2 packed cups) in this bread. The early versions started with 1 cup, then just creeping up and up. For full-on unmissable OMG cheese flavour, 250g/8z is the amount to use! (In case you’re curious, I did creep up a little more but it started to weight the bread down. Cheese greediness backfired!)
Shred your own cheese. Store bought cheese is chunkier (so it weighs the bread down and won’t rise as well) and doesn’t melt because it is coated with anti-caking agents. For the best cheese ribbons and best cheese crust, grate your own! (But, in the event of a Cheese Bread emergency – and it can happen – packet shredded cheese will do).
I use Colby – I like using Colby because it melts “softly” so it kind of melds into the bread crumb beautifully without weighing it down or bleeding oil. It also bakes up beautifully golden on the crust. For a premium version, I use gruyere. But it makes this considerably pricier!
Other cheese – Any cheese (other than mozzarella) that melts well will work great here, like cheddar, tasty, Monterey Jack, gruyere. I like Colby for it’s melting qualities and it doesn’t weigh the bread down as it rises in the oven, and it’s not greasy (like Tasty cheese). Re: mozzarella – it will work fine but it doesn’t have enough flavour in it compared to other cheeses.
How to make this No-Knead Cheese Bread
Heads up – There’s a lot of detailed information in this section to give bread first timers the confidence to make this. For experienced bread makers, this recipe is a cinch so I suggest you skip straight to the recipe or recipe video. 🙂
For those familiar with the beloved no-knead Crusty Artisan Bread – the method is the same except with cheese folded in and piled on top!
1. The no-knead bread dough
Dump everything in a bowl and mix. No kneading!
Shaggy dough – Using a rubber spatula, mix flour, salt and yeast in a large bowl. Add water, then mix using the handle of the spatula until you can no longer see flour.
Why the handle of the rubber spatula? Kind of mimics the dough hook of stand mixers. Less surface area to wipe gummy dough off.
Dough consistency – It should be too sticky to knead by hand, but not pourable like cake batter (see video at X seconds).
Rise – Cover with cling wrap and leave to rise in a warm place for 1 to 2 hours until the dough doubles in volume. The surface should be bubbly, and the mixture should jiggle when you shake the bowl.
What’s a warm place? 25°C/77°F+. Warmer = faster rise. Avoid direct sunlight, it dries out the surface of the dough. In winter, I sit the bowl next to a heater. In summer, anywhere in the house! TIP – your dryer Run it (empty) for a few minutes. Put bowl in, shut door. Nice and warm inside = perfect draught free dough rising location!
The proofed dough (ie rising the dough) – Aim for around double for the best bread rising. If it rises too much (eg triple) or not enough, then the bread will not rise enough or will collapse.
Dough, done – and you didn’t even get your hands dirty! Onto shaping, cheesing and baking.
2. Shaping and cheesing
This section is wordy. But in practice, it’s straight forward. You’ll see in the recipe video!
Pre-heat pot – 30 minutes before the dough is ready, put a 24-28cm / 4.5-8 quart heavy based pot with a lid in the oven. Then preheat the oven to preheat to 240°C/450°F (220°C fan-forced). We want that pot hot!
Curious why a hot pot? Read the Q&A in the No-Knead Crusty Artisan Bread. No dutch oven? That’s ok! Use a pan of water in the oven instead. Instructions in recipe notes.
Scrape dough out – Sprinkle a 30cm/12″ area with ~1 tablespoon flour. Scrape the dough out onto the flour using the rubber spatula.
Shape into disc – Sprinkle the surface with 1 teaspoon flour so you can pat it down into an approximate 20cm/8″ disc without the dough getting stuck all over your hands. No need to be meticulous about a perfect shape or size, just approximate is fine.
Cheese it – Set aside 1/3 of the cheese for topping. Cover surface with half the remaining cheese, leaving a 2cm/3/4″ border.
Folding the cheese inside the loaf
Fold inwards – Using a dough scraper or anything of similar shape (cake server, large knife, spatula), fold the sides inwards 4 times to roughly form a roundish shape. Sprinkle the scraper as needed to stop the dough from sticking to it.
Cheese each layer – After each fold, top the naked dough with some of the remaining cheese, but keep the final layer cheese-free as this will be the base of the bread.
Wonky is fine! Don’t worry about the shape at this stage. The purpose of the folding steps is to deflate the air bubbles in the dough and bury the cheese inside the bread.
Paper transfer – Place a 40cm/16″ sheet of baking/parchment paper next to the dough then flip it onto the paper so the seamside is (mostly) facedown.
Tidy the shape roughly, using the dough scraper, into an even round or oval shape. Don’t bother being too fastidious here because no matter what shape the dough is, it always expands and rises into a perfect round shape, as dictated by the pot.
Cheese crown – Pile the reserved cheese on. It piles up high. Such a satisfying vision!
Baking time!
3. Baking (& eating)
Unlike the bread shaping, this part is delightfully short to explain in words!
Take out hot pot – Remove hot pot from the oven.
Transfer dough – Hold the paper to transfer dough into the pot, keeping it on the paper. Put lid on.
35 minutes covered – Bake 35 minutes with the lid on.
10 minutes uncovered – Remove lid. Bake uncovered for 10 minutes to colour the surface.
Transfer to cooling rack – Remove pot from oven. Use paper overhang to transfer bread onto a cooling rack. Slide paper out from underneath.
Rest for at least 10 minutes before slicing. Resting is important for breads! In this step, the inside finishes cooking and dries out. If you’re impatient and cut bread straight out of the inside, the inside will smear like it’s uncooked dough – even if it’s not. Yep, been there, done that. Patience is not my virtue – and I get punished for it!
Now, it’s time to EAT!
Note: The artwork of the cheese ribboned throughout is different every time. It’s like a surprise-inside!
Matters of serving and keeping cheese bread
This bread, when hot and fresh, needs nothing to accompany it to be enjoyed. The cheese is molten, the bread is soft, the crust is salty and crispy.
However, you and I both know that a slathering of butter would only elevate the eating experience!
It stays fresh enough to eat un-toasted for around 24 to 36 hours. After this, just give them a quick toast in your toaster then slather with butter. The cheese on the surface of each slice goes golden and crusty, and you also get molten bits. It’s so good, you will forever hope for more cheese bread leftovers. – Nagi x
Watch how to make it
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Cheese bread (no knead!)
Ingredients
- 3 cups bread flour (Note 1 re: plain/all-purpose flour)
- 2 tsp instant yeast aka rapid rise (Note 2)
- 1 1/2 tsp cooking/kosher salt
- 1 1/2 cups very warm tap water (Note 3)
- 2 1/2 cups (tightly packed) Colby cheese , freshly shredded (or other cheese of choice – Note 4)
Instructions
SHORTHAND RECIPE – for experts
- Mix dry ingredients, mix in water. Rise 2 – 3 hrs until doubled.
- Preheat pot 240°C/450°F (220°C fan). Turn dough out. Reserve 1/3 cheese for topping. Fold inwards 4 times, stuffed/layered with remaining cheese. Flip onto parchment paper. Pile reserved cheese on top.
- Bake 35 minutes covered, 10 minutes uncovered. Rest 10 minutes. Eat!
FULL RECIPE
Magic no-knead dough:
- Shaggy dough – Using a rubber spatula, mix flour, salt and yeast in a large bowl. Add water, then mix using the handle of the spatula until you can no longer see flour. The dough should be too sticky to knead by hand, but not pourable like cake batter (see video at X seconds).
- Rise – Cover with cling wrap and leave to rise in a warm place for 2 to 3 hours until the dough doubles in volume (Note 5). The surface should be bubbly, and the mixture should jiggle when you shake the bowl.
- Preheat pot – Half an hour before the dough is ready, put a 24-28cm / 4.5-8 quart heavy based pot with a lid in the oven to preheat to 240°C/450°F (220°C fan-forced). Note 7 for no dutch oven method.
Shape loaf:
- Pat into disc – Sprinkle work surface with 1 tbsp flour. Scrape dough out, sprinkle surface with flour, pat into a ~20cm/8" disc.
- Cheese it – Set aside 1/3 of the cheese for topping. Cover surface with half the remaining cheese.
- Fold inwards stuffed with cheese – Using a dough scraper or anything of similar shape (cake server, large knife, spatula), fold the sides inwards 4 times to roughly form a roundish shape, topping each layer of with the remaining cheese (but keep the final layer cheese free, it will be the base of the bread). (Note 6 for tips)
- Paper transfer – Flip the dough onto a sheet of parchment/baking paper so the seamside is (mostly) facedown. Tidy the shape if desired. (Note 6)
- Cheese crown – Pile the reserved cheese on.
Bake
- Hot pot transfer – Remove hot pot from the oven. Use paper to transfer dough into the pot, keeping it on the paper. Put lid on.
- Bake 35 minutes. Remove lid. Bake 10 minutes to colour the surface.
- Cool – Remove pot from oven. Use paper to transfer bread onto a cooling rack. Remove paper. Cool at least 10 minutes before slicing! (Note 8)
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Life of Dozer
Freshly laundered bucket of Dozer toys. Let’s see how full that bucket is by the end of tomorrow.
Karen W says
Just made tonight and it is awesome!! Gobbled up two slices already. I followed the “no cook pot “ directions and it came out perfectly. Used Asiago cheese. Delicious!
Stefanie Fincham says
I have made this 3 days in a row. I got one piece the first 2 days finally on day three I made 2 so I could have some! Me and my family love it! I cut a slice and top it with mayo, lettuce, and some sliced tomato’s and it was soooo good.
Chris says
I made this a couple of days ago to have with a pot of creamy chicken & vegetable soup – a match made in heaven!
Very easy, very cheesy, now my pants are all squeezy, LOL.
Also excellent toasted and topped with wilted spinach, poached eggs and hollandaise for brunch the next morning. Superb.
Jana Gale Connell says
This is so yummy. I want (need!) to know what that whisky-spoony thing is called that you used? Or maybe that was in the halloumi recipe I just watched of yours. Either way, what’s it called? I must have one!!!
Lois Demers says
I made this tonight for the first time, easiest bread I’ve ever made! I added some diced jalopenos, as we were having this with chili. So good!
Yvonne Bousfield says
Hi Nagi, will this recipe work with Laucke Multi grain flour mix?
Cheers
Pam Chalmers says
Absolutely amazing, but I’ve made a rod for my back. Everyone wants me to make. Thankyou Nagi 💗
Rehoboth says
Nice recipe
Bry says
You must have been working on a fix, lol, cause now they are working again! Thanks!
Pete says
This recipe looked simple enough, and interesting enough that I went ahead and took a chance. This is the first time that I have ever made. Any kind of bread in my life. I’m 66 by the way. It turned out beautifully.
Caroline says
I have just made this for second time in 2 weeks – loving it! I tried a different cheese and added fresh chopped chives! It looks so professional and tastes so delish particularly when still warm. I would like to make this into rolls but am unsure on cooking times – any help/suggestions would be appreciated?
Sarah says
I made this with Creamy Tuscan Chicken Soup, & both were phenomenal!
I can confirm that leaving the dough in the fridge overnight and cooking it next day does indeed work… Although it’s summer here in the UK & I did make sure the dough was room temperature before baking, so might not work so well if cold? Hope this helps you guys out
Jayne Gormley says
My husband LOVES this bread. I have made it 5 times but on the last loaf I made a few modifications. I used Pepper Jack cheese fresh grated and 2 fresh jalapeños seeded and cut into quarters. iI added the chopped jalapeños to every layer along with the cheese!
AWESOME!! A little spicy but we like spicy!
I love that this bread is so quick to make and the dryer tip really works!!
Thank you Nagi!
Penny says
Unbelievable and unbelievably easy. It’s taken me 66 years to become a domestic goddess and I now have thanks to Nagi and her recipes.
Rebecca says
So delicious and easy! Tastes like my favorite cheese bread from the market but so much fresher. I can’t wait to make it again and add some sliced jalapeños on top!
Lee says
Oml this bread is next level. First time making it and I must say it’s the best bread I’ve ever eaten.
Barbara says
Turned out perfectly the very first time I made it. Now I’m anxious to try again with cheese and herbs. Thanks so much. Great directions too!
Caroline says
This looked brilliant and tasted amazing! Will be making time and time again!
Thank you so much 😊
Jas says
I made the bread using Asiago cheese. The bread was delicious. Two of us ate half the loaf within 15 mins after it cooled. Already moving on to make the Crusty Artisan Bread.
Ly says
This recipe is fantastic, thank you for sharing!
Does this need to be stored in the refrigerator because of the cheese, or can it stay out?