Savory Herbed Cheddar Bread (Printable)

Hearty Irish quick bread featuring sharp cheddar and fragrant herbs, perfect alongside soups or stews.

# What You'll Need:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 3 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
03 - 1 teaspoon baking soda
04 - 1 teaspoon fine sea salt

→ Cheese & Herbs

05 - 1 ½ cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated
06 - 2 tablespoons fresh chives, finely chopped
07 - 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped
08 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme

→ Wet Ingredients

09 - 1 ½ cups buttermilk, cold
10 - 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
11 - 1 large egg, lightly beaten

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease surface.
02 - Whisk flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt in large mixing bowl until well blended.
03 - Stir grated cheddar, chives, parsley, and thyme into dry mixture until evenly distributed.
04 - Whisk buttermilk, melted butter, and egg in separate bowl until combined.
05 - Pour wet ingredients into dry mixture. Mix with wooden spoon until shaggy dough forms, avoiding overmixing.
06 - Turn dough onto lightly floured surface. Knead gently 4-5 times, then shape into 7-inch round loaf.
07 - Transfer to prepared baking sheet. Cut deep X across top with sharp knife. Bake 35-40 minutes until deeply golden and skewer comes out clean.
08 - Cool on wire rack for at least 20 minutes before slicing.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The combination of sharp cheddar and fresh herbs creates an irresistible aroma that fills your entire kitchen
  • This bread comes together in under an hour with no yeast or proofing time required
  • Every slice delivers that perfect crusty outside and tender, cheese-flecked inside
02 -
  • Overmixing develops gluten and makes the bread tough, stop mixing as soon as the dough comes together
  • The X on top isn't just decorative, it helps heat penetrate the center and allows the bread to expand properly
  • Soda bread is best eaten the day it's made, though leftover slices make excellent toast the next morning
03 -
  • Cold buttermilk and melted butter that's cooled to room temperature prevent the cheese from melting too soon and creating greasy spots
  • Grate your cheese from a block rather than buying pre-shredded, the coating on pre-shredded cheese prevents proper melting
  • Let the bread cool completely before wrapping it in foil or plastic, or moisture gets trapped and makes the crust soggy

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