Homemade Cheese Bread

The recipe today is a family recipe.  This dough can be used to make cheese bread, dinner rolls or cinnamon rolls. My mother has been making this bread since before I was born.  When I was little I used to love to be in the kitchen while my mom was making this bread.  She would always let me taste a little pinch after it was mixed up!!!  This is a yeast bread that requires little kneading.  It is a flavorful, light and tender.  I hope you will enjoy this as much as my family does!!!

Cheese Bread (Family Recipe)

¼ cup lukewarm water                                                  3 ½ cups all purpose flour

1 pkg. dry yeast (2 ¼ tsp.)                                             1 teaspoon salt

¼ cup sugar                                                                    1 cup milk, scalded

2 eggs                                                                              1 tablespoon butter

1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese(sharp or extra)

1/4 cup shortening

Soften yeast in ¼ cup water.  Measure shortening, sugar, salt and butter into a large mixing bowl.  Heat the milk until bubbles form.  Pour milk into mixing bowl with shortening, sugar, salt, and butter and stir until dissolved.  Let cool.  Beat eggs slightly and add to cooled mixture.  Next add yeast.  Then add flour gradually to make soft dough.  Cover and let rise until doubled in bulk (about 1 hour).  Add cheese and knead briefly.  Shape into 2 loaves.  Let rise for about 1 hour.  Bake at 350 degrees until brown and loaves sound slightly hollow about 20-25 minutes.

       

The first thing you want to do is get out your yeast.  I measure mine into a little prep bowl.

        

You want to add a teaspoon of sugar to the water and yeast.  The sugar is used to proof the yeast.  Make sure your water is lukewarm and not hot.

       

While the yeast is rising, measure the shortening, sugar, butter and salt into a large mixing bowl.

     

Add the scalded milk to the bowl with the shortening, butter, sugar and salt.  Stir till mostly dissolved. Let cool to room temperature.

       

Slightly beat the eggs and add to the cooled mixture. Stir till combined.

This is what it looks like when it is well incorporated.

Oh the smell of yeast!!!  I think it is wonderful…… It is now time to add it to the batter.  You can see it is ready by the bubbles and how its volume has increased.

         

Add the yeast to the batter and stir well.

      

Add the flour and mix it up till you have a soft dough.

Cover your dough and let it rise til it has doubled in bulk(about 1 hour).  I usually put wax paper over the bowl and then a kitchen towel.  Make sure it is warm in your kitchen.

While the dough is rising you will want to shred your cheese.  I used both white cheddar and yellow cheddar.

           

After the dough has doubled in volume it is time to add the cheese.

  

Mix the cheese in well and then turn it onto a floured surface and knead until no longer sticky.

Divide the dough in half and shape and put into 2 non-stick loaf pans(I usually spray the pan as well).  Cover with wax paper and let rise until doubled in volume(about 1 hour).

     

After about 1 hour put in a 350 degree oven for about 20 -25 minutes.  They should be hollow when you thump them.

When they come out of the oven take them out of the pans after a couple of minutes.  I usually run a spatula around the edges in case any cheese has stuck to the sides of the pan.

  

Let the bread cool.  I know it will be hard to do but it will cut better if you do.  Get ready for a real treat!!!!

I give this recipe plus out of 4!!!!!!