Cheddar Cheese Bread

makes 2  5 x 9 loaves

recipe slightly adapted from Rachael Ray Magazine 

  • 3 1/2 cups flour
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 3 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 5 ounces sharp orange cheddar, coarsely shredded
  • 1 3/4 cups buttermilk

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees . Grease two 5-by-9-inch loaf pans. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt and baking soda. Using your fingers, mix 2 tbsp. butter into the flour mixture until well incorporated (it should look like sand). Add the cheese; toss to coat. Add the buttermilk and stir until the dough just comes together. Divide between the pans; smooth the tops.

Cut a shallow cross all the way across the tops of the loaves. Thinly slice the remaining 1 tbsp. butter. Place the butter in the cuts in each loaf. Bake until the top is browned and a tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool in the pan at least 30 minutes before slicing.