Cheddar and Herb Soda Bread (Printer-friendly)
Savory rustic bread with sharp cheddar and fresh herbs, ready in under an hour.
# What You Need:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 tsp salt
03 - 1 tsp baking soda
04 - 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
→ Cheese & Herbs
05 - 1 ½ cups sharp cheddar cheese, coarsely grated
06 - 3 tbsp fresh chives, finely chopped
07 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
08 - 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
→ Wet Ingredients
09 - 1 ⅔ cups buttermilk
10 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper or dust lightly with flour.
02 - Whisk flour, salt, baking soda, and black pepper in large bowl until thoroughly blended.
03 - Add grated cheddar, chives, parsley, and thyme to flour mixture. Mix evenly throughout.
04 - Create well in center of mixture. Pour buttermilk and melted butter into well. Stir with fork or spatula just until dough comes together—avoid overworking.
05 - Turn dough onto floured surface. Gently shape into round loaf approximately 7 inches across and 2 inches high. Transfer to prepared baking sheet.
06 - Cut deep cross pattern on top of loaf with sharp knife. Brush lightly with additional melted butter if desired.
07 - Bake 30–35 minutes until golden brown and loaf produces hollow sound when tapped on bottom.
08 - Cool on wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature with butter.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- No yeast means no waiting rise times just pure instant gratification
- The combination of sharp cheddar and fresh herbs creates incredible depth
02 -
- Overmixing will make the bread tough so stop as soon as the dough holds together
- The cross cut is not just for looks it helps the center bake through properly
03 -
- Cold buttermilk helps keep the butter from melting too early
- Grate your own cheese for better melting than pre shredded