Jalapeño cheddar dutch over bread
TO A MEDIUM MIXING BOWL
3 1/2 cups bread flour
1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 can diced jalapeños
TO A LARGE MIXING BOWL
2 cups warm water
2 1/4 tsp dry active yeast (1 standard packet - 25oz packet)
FOR THE TOPPING
shredded cheddar cheese (add to your desire)
sliced jalapeños (add to your desire)
- Directions -
To a medium mixing bowl, add bread flour, salt, 2 cups cheddar cheese, and diced jalapenos. Stir and set aside.
To a large mixing bowl add the warm water and yeast. Water should be warm, but not hot. Add flour mixture to the yeast and water, using a rubber spatula to stir it all together until no flour streaks remain.
Use spatula to fold the dough from the outside of the bowl towards the center, turning the bowl a little each time, until you've folded the dough in on itself 8-10 times.
Cover with a towel and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour.
After 1 hour, use the rubber spatula to fold the dough in on itself again, 8-10 times. Cover with a towel and let rise in a warm place for 1 more hour.
Halfway through this second rise, add your dutch oven, with the lid on, to your oven and preheat it to 450°F. Let it preheat for a full 30 minutes. Set out a piece of parchment paper large enough to go inside your dutch oven with a bit of overhang.
Lightly dust a counter or cutting board with flour, and flour your hands as well. Turn out the dough onto the floured surface. Flip the dough over and brush off any excess flour.
Fold the corners of the dough in towards the center, about 6-8 times, until a rough ball is formed. Flip the dough over onto the piece of parchment paper, sprinkle with set aside cheese and add sliced jalapenos.
Use oven mitts to remove hot dutch oven from your oven and remove lid. Carefully use the parchment paper to transfer the dough to the dutch oven. Put the lid on, and return to the oven.
Bake for 30 minutes with the lid on, then remove lid and continue baking another 20 minutes.
After you've removed the dutch oven from the oven, tilt it slightly and use the parchment to sort of slide the bread and parchment out of the pot. It will come out easily.
Remove parchment paper and let bread cool on a wire rack for 1-2 hours before slicing. Texture is best when bread is completely cooled before slicing.
Rising tips - preheat your oven to the lowest it can go and leave on for about 10 minutes then turn it off and put dough in oven to help it rise in a warm and dark space.
Baking bread at home can be an incredibly rewarding experience, especially when you get to customize flavors like in this jalapeño cheddar Dutch oven bread. One thing I've learned through trial and error is the importance of maintaining the right water temperature when activating the yeast; it should be warm but never hot, to avoid killing the yeast and disrupting the rising process. Also, using a Dutch oven helps create an ideal baking environment that traps steam, leading to a crusty, artisan-style loaf. When working with the dough, I found that gently folding it in on itself several times during rising helps develop gluten, resulting in a better texture and chewiness. Don’t rush this process – giving the dough enough time in a warm, draft-free area is key for good rise. For this, I like to use my oven set to the lowest temperature for a few minutes, then turn it off before placing the dough inside. This creates a cozy, humid environment ideal for rising. Adding diced jalapeños directly into the dough infuses a delicious spicy kick throughout the bread, while topping with extra cheddar and sliced jalapeños enhances the flavor and visual appeal. Feel free to adjust the amount of jalapeños to suit your heat preference. If you want to reduce spice but keep flavor, try rinsing the jalapeños before adding them. Finally, letting the bread cool completely on a wire rack before slicing is worth the wait. This resting period allows the crumb to set properly, ensuring each slice holds together without becoming gummy. Serving this bread warm with butter or alongside a hearty soup elevates any meal, making it an excellent homemade treat for sharing with friends and family.