No Knead Cheddar Bread (Printable)

Rustic loaf with sharp cheddar, crisp crust and tender crumb. Simple no-knead method.

# What You'll Need:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 3 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1½ teaspoons salt
03 - ½ teaspoon instant yeast

→ Cheddar

04 - 1½ cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated

→ Wet Ingredients

05 - 1¼ cups lukewarm water

# Directions:

01 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and instant yeast until evenly combined.
02 - Add the grated sharp cheddar cheese to the flour mixture and toss thoroughly to distribute evenly throughout.
03 - Pour in the lukewarm water and mix with a wooden spoon or spatula until a shaggy, sticky dough forms. The dough will appear rough and slightly sticky—this is normal for no-knead bread.
04 - Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel. Let the dough rise at room temperature for 3–4 hours, until doubled in size with visible bubbles on the surface.
05 - Preheat your oven to 450°F. Place a Dutch oven or heavy oven-safe pot with lid inside to heat for at least 30 minutes while the dough finishes rising.
06 - Lightly flour a clean work surface and your hands. Gently turn the dough out and shape into a round loaf by folding the edges toward the center. Place on parchment paper.
07 - Cover the shaped loaf with a towel and let rest for 20–30 minutes while the Dutch oven continues to preheat.
08 - Using oven mitts, carefully remove the preheated Dutch oven from the oven. Lift the dough with the parchment paper and lower it into the hot pot.
09 - Cover with the lid and bake for 30 minutes. The trapped steam creates a crisp, golden crust.
10 - Remove the lid and continue baking for 10–15 minutes until the crust is deep golden brown and the loaf sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
11 - Transfer the bread to a wire rack and let cool for at least 30 minutes before slicing. This allows the interior structure to set and prevents the bread from becoming gummy.

# Cooking Tips:

01 -
  • The dough comes together in under ten minutes with nothing more than a bowl and spoon
  • That crispy golden crust gives way to the most tender cheesy interior you have ever tasted
02 -
  • The dough will look messy and shaggy but that is exactly how it should look so do not be tempted to add more flour
  • Using a very hot Dutch oven creates steam that gives you that bakery style crust you cannot get any other way
03 -
  • Weighing your flour instead of using cup measurements gives you the most consistent results every time
  • If you do not have a Dutch oven a heavy oven safe pot with a tight lid works just as well

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