Baking
Garlic Cheese French Bread
| Level: Easy |
Total Time: 4 hours 35 min |
Yield: 6 servings |
This amazing warm cheesy French bread is a popular staple in our household. Topped with butter the flavor of this baked treat is reminiscent of Cheez-It cheddar crackers! Let us know how you like to use this recipe in the comments below.
Garlic Cheese French Bread
Print RecipeServings: 20 slices
Calories: 255kcal
We wanted to try our hand at more of an artistic bread that’s not everyday bread. We were inspired by Deep South Texas’s recipe Jalapeno Cheddar Cheese Bread – Easy. He does a great job with this video! If you're not so much of a fan of jalapenos, this recipe is a wonderful garlicy version!
Equipment
- 1 baking sheet tray
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups Bread flour
- 1 teaspoon Instant yeast
- 1 1/2 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
- 1 cup Cheese we use Kerrygold Irish Cheddar
- 1 1/4 cups Lukewarm Water 90°F - 100°F
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, add the bread flour, yeast, salt, and garlic powder. Mix together with a fork.
- Manually shred the cheese block and slowly add the 1/2 cup at a time to avoid clumps. Continue to mix into the dough using a fork.
- Slowly add in the warm water (between 90°F to 100°F or 32°C to 37°C) with a fork and mix in. The dough will be very sticky at this point and shaggy.
- After it’s formed into a rough ball (if it’s too sticky, add in small amounts of bread flour 1 teaspoon at a time). Oil the proofing bowl to avoid the dough sticking.
- Cover and allow to rest for 20 minutes in a warm place (an off oven with the light on is a good place).
- After 20 minutes, pinch and fold the dough by grabbing each side, stretching it out, and fold into the center. Let rest for 15 minutes. Repeat the fold and rest until you have done the fold a total of 4 times, every 15 minutes for 1 hour.
- When the dough is smooth and elastic, allow the dough to rise for 1 hour in a warm place.
- Roll the dough onto a lightly floured work surface. Gently roll the dough into a loaf shape. Place the dough onto a parchment lined baking sheet.
- Allow to rise again for 1 hour 30 minutes. After an hour has past, preheat your oven to 430°F (221°C).
- After the final resting time, score a few decorative designs to the top of the bread, we like to do 3 slices across the bread at an angle. Only score a half-inch or so onto the surface of the bread.
- Brush the loaf very lightly with room-tempered water on the top and sides, or lightly spritz water on the dough. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes.
- Remove from the oven, and allow it to cool on a wire rack before serving.
Notes
- We loved the bread, it tasted like crusted Cheez-it crackers! It's our new addiction!
In total, this takes about 4 hours of cooking time and prep. - Cooking time will depend on your oven; if it runs hotter you may need to bake for less time.
- Allowing the dough to rest for 20 minutes at first will let the moisture be absorbed fully.
- Typically, we will double this recipe because one loaf is never enough for our household. And if you have extra, it freezes well too!