No Knead Cheddar Bread (Printable)

Rustic golden loaf with sharp cheddar, crisp crust and tender crumb—ready in minutes hands-on time.

# What You Need:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 3 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1½ teaspoons salt
03 - ½ teaspoon instant yeast

→ Cheddar

04 - 1½ cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated

→ Wet Ingredients

05 - 1¼ cups lukewarm water

# How To Make It:

01 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and instant yeast until thoroughly blended.
02 - Add the grated sharp cheddar cheese to the dry mixture and toss well to distribute evenly throughout the flour.
03 - Pour in the lukewarm water and mix with a wooden spoon or spatula until a shaggy, sticky dough forms. The dough will appear rough and slightly tacky—this is normal.
04 - Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel. Let the dough rise at room temperature for 3 to 4 hours, until it has doubled in size and bubbles appear on the surface.
05 - Preheat your oven to 450°F. Place a Dutch oven or heavy oven-safe pot with lid inside to heat for at least 30 minutes before baking.
06 - Once risen, lightly flour a clean work surface and your hands. Gently turn the dough out, shape it into a round loaf, and place it on a piece of parchment paper.
07 - Cover the shaped loaf with a towel and let rest for 20 to 30 minutes while the oven continues to preheat, allowing the gluten to relax.
08 - Using oven mitts, carefully remove the preheated pot from the oven. Lift the dough by holding the edges of the parchment paper and lower it into the hot pot.
09 - Cover the pot with its lid and bake for 30 minutes to create steam and develop the crust.
10 - Remove the lid and continue baking for 10 to 15 minutes longer, until the crust is deep golden brown and the loaf sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
11 - Transfer the bread to a wire rack and let cool for at least 30 minutes before slicing to allow the crumb to set.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The dough practically makes itself while you go about your day
  • That crispy crust giving way to warm, cheesy tender center is pure comfort
02 -
  • The dough will look wet and messy but this is exactly how it should be
  • That Dutch oven needs to be screaming hot when the dough goes in
03 -
  • Room temperature water should feel like a comfortable bath
  • Spritzing the dough with water before baking creates an extra crispy crust

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