Cheddar Jalapeño Bread

Cheesy Cheddar Jalapeño Bread can be made by hand, in the bread machine, or in a dutch oven. It's spicy, flavorful, and delicious! Use it as a toasting bread, for snacking, and in a variety of other ways.

This cheddar jalapeño bread was created and tweaked from my no-fail yeast bread recipes for sundried tomato basil bread, pepperoni bread, and cheese bread.

You can make it in the bread machine or by hand with an electric mixer. Then continue to bake right in the bread machine, on a sheet pan, or in a dutch oven. I give you instructions for every method below, so you can pick the one that suits you best.

And if you have an air fryer, you can even follow the steps for making the dough by hand or in your bread machine then bake it right in your air fryer.

This bread is absolutely delicious and can be used in a variety of ways!

Enjoy Cheddar Jalapeño Bread As

• a toasted snack spread with butter or cream cheese
• bread for a grilled cheese sandwich
• a dipping bread for spicy mango habañero salsa or salsa verde
• add it to charcuterie boards
• serve with your favorite saucy pasta dinners or soups
• scoop some chili over it and enjoy slathered in delicious chili broth!

Dinner Pairings

• Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meat Sauce
• Instant Pot Taco Pasta
• Garlic Butter Pasta with Bacon and Asparagus
• Tortellini with Tomato Spinach Cream Sauce
• Broccoli Garlic Pasta Shells with Olive Oil and Parmesan
• Creamy Mac and Cheese

Soup Pairings

• Instant Pot Broccoli Cheese Soup
• Instant Pot Vegetable Soup
• Slow Cooker Loaded Baked Potato Soup
• Spinach Tortellini Soup with Parmesan
• Thick and Hearty Homemade Vegetable Soup
• Instant Pot Minestrone Soup

More Bread Machine Recipes

• Bread Machine Cheese Bread
• Bread Machine White Bread
• Bread Machine Garlic Bread
• Bread Machine Focaccia: Rosemary Garlic Flavored
• Homemade Spinach Pasta Dough for the Bread Machine
• Bread Machine Cinnamon Bread with Raisins

Ingredients

Cheddar jalapeño bread uses:

• bread flour
• olive oil
• cheddar cheese (extra sharp for best flavor)
• jalapeños
• instant or active dry yeast
• King Arthur's Better Cheddar Cheese Powder (optional, but highly encouraged for the best taste)

Equipment Needed

You need a bread machine (if not making by hand), plus other tools to make baking, slicing, and storing the bread easier.

• Bread machine: I have this Cuisinart bread machine.
• Dutch oven: only if baking the dough in one. I love my Martha Stewart dutch ovens.
• Bread slicer or bread knife: this Calphalon bread knife is one of the best I've used.
• Bread box: to keep the bread stored in optimal conditions. Laura's Green Kitchen boxes are my favorite!
• Bread bag: I love the look of storing bread in a reusable bag. These are also great for gifting.

Methods

When using the bread machine, make sure to always add the ingredients by type in the order that your brand recommends.

For Cuisinart bread makers add ingredients in this order: water, olive oil, salt, flour, yeast, cheddar cheese. Mix-ins are added later, when the machine signals that it's time.

If your bread maker has a mix-in container, you should put them in there.

Method 1: Bread Machine

Kneading and baking the bread in the bread maker is the easiest way to make it. It's totally hands off and is temperature controlled for perfect risings. The only downfall here is that the bread will be the shape of your bread maker pan, which often isn't the prettiest.

Instructions:

1. Put all ingredients except the jalapeńos into the bread pan in the order listed (or in the order your brand recommends if you don't have a Cuisinart). Choose the basic white bread setting and a 1.5 lb loaf size. Select your preferred crust color and press start. Watch the dough the first 15 minutes of kneading. If it appears too wet, add more flour 1 tablespoon at a time. If it appears too dry and crumbly, add more warm water 1 tablespoon at a time until a smooth and sticky dough ball forms.
2. When the mix-in chime signals, add the 4 chopped jalapeños.
3. At the end of the last rise, brush the top gently with a little milk, top with the jalapeńo slices and ¼ cup more cheddar cheese.
4. Remove the bread from the pan when done baking and let cool for 30 minutes before slicing.

Method 2: Bread Machine Dough Cycle & Bake in Oven

Using the dough cycle to knead and rise the bread is ideal if you want to control the shape of the bread but don't want to do the hands on kneading. Shape your bread into a circle, oval, or even a braid before baking!

Instructions:

1. Put all ingredients except the jalapeńos into the bread pan in the order listed (or in the order your brand recommends if you don't have a Cuisinart). Choose the dough setting and change loaf size to 1.5 lb. Press start. Watch the dough the first 15 minutes of kneading. If it appears too wet, add more flour 1 tablespoon at a time. If it appears too dry and crumbly, add more warm water 1 tablespoon at a time until a smooth and sticky dough ball forms. When the mix-in chime signals, add the 4 chopped jalapeños.
2. When the cycle completes, remove dough and reshape into a ball. Transfer to a baking sheet, make 2-3 slits in the top and cover with a heavy towel. Put in a warm place and let rise for 40 minutes.
3. Brush the dough with a light coating of milk, sprinkle with additional cheddar cheese and add the jalapeño slices. Bake for 35 minutes at 350°F. Cool for 30 minutes before slicing.

Method 3: Knead by Hand & Bake in Oven

Making bread by hand is the most labor intensive way, but using an electric stand mixer makes it pretty simple.

Instructions

1. In a stand mixer, combine bread flour, salt, cheese, cheddar seasoning and yeast. Add the olive oil and mix on the low setting using the dough hook until a smooth ball has formed. The dough will be sticky.
2. Add the chopped jalapeños. Turn the speed to medium and knead for 5 minutes.
3. Remove dough from the mixer and put in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a heavy cloth, and set in a warm place to rise for 1 hour.
4. Knead a few more times, then shape into a smooth circle or rectangle. Cover and let rest for 30 minutes while the oven preheats to 350°F.
5. Brush the dough with a light coating of milk, sprinkle with additional cheddar cheese and add the jalapeño slices. Bake for 35 minutes at 350°F. Cool for 30 minutes before slicing.

Method 4: Dutch Oven Bake

With the dutch oven method, you can make the dough in the bread machine or by hand. While the bread rests, the oven is preheated with a dutch oven inside. The dough is placed on parchment paper into the preheated dutch oven and covered.

Baking your bread in this way creates a round, highly risen and consistently golden brown crusty bread. Dutch oven bread looks like artisan bread and is great for bringing to holiday dinners or serving to guests.

Instructions

1. Follow the instructions for either making the dough by hand or in the bread machine. When the dough has completed its last rise, spray a piece of parchment paper big enough to fit in your dutch oven with oil and dust with flour.
2. Transfer the dough to the parchment paper, reshape into a ball, cover with a towel and let rest for 30 minutes. While dough is resting, preheat the oven to 450° F with the dutch oven inside.
3. When the dough has completed the 30 minute rest, place it carefully into the hot dutch oven, keeping it on the parchment paper. Slice an X in the top and sprinkle with additional cheddar cheese and jalapeño slices. Cover and bake for 30 minutes.
4. Remove lid and bake another 20 minutes.
5. Lift the bread out of the dutch oven using the parchment paper and let cool for 30 minutes.

Method 5: Air Fryer Bake

To make this bread in your air fryer, make the dough according to the bread machine or by hand instructions.

Then heat your air fryer to 380 degrees F. Put the dough into a loaf pan or on parchment paper and air fry for about 20 minutes.

The internal temperature will be 200 when the bread is done. Alternatively, tap the top and if it sounds hollow, it should be cooked through.

Then let cool for 30 minutes.

Expert Tips

• Water should always be warmed to approximately 110-115 degrees Fahrenheit. Any colder and the yeast will not activate. Any warmer and you risk killing the yeast.
• To prevent dense bread, make sure the salt and yeast do not interact when they are added to the bread pan
• Use properly measured bread flour. Don't pack it down when measuring. Instead, fill the measuring cup and run your finger along the top to remove the excess.
• Test proof a little yeast before adding it to the dough. This will ensure you don't use old, dead yeast that will cause your bread not to rise.
• To create a browned crust, brush the risen dough with milk or egg before baking. Milk will give you a dull golden brown, slightly crisp crust and egg produces a shiny golden brown crust. Brushing with a little bit of oil is another way to brown your crust.

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