Herb & Cheese Quick Bread
Herb & Cheese Quick Bread is a moist, tender bread infused with fresh herbs and savory cheese. Perfect for breakfast, snacks, or as a flavorful side, this quick bread requires no yeast or long rising times, making it an easy and delicious choice for busy days. Its simple pantry staples and versatile ingredients create a rich, aromatic bread suitable for all ages and dietary adaptations.
- Author: Emilly
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45-50 minutes
- Total Time: 60-65 minutes
- Yield: 1 loaf (8-10 slices) 1x
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Baking
- Diet: Gluten Free
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour (or gluten-free all-purpose flour blend for gluten-free version)
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened (or vegan butter/coconut oil for vegan version)
- 2 large eggs (or 2 flax eggs for vegan version)
- 1 cup milk or buttermilk (or plant-based milk for vegan version)
Flavorings
- 1/2 cup fresh herbs, chopped (such as rosemary, thyme, parsley, chives, or other preferred herbs)
- 1 cup grated cheese (cheddar, Parmesan, Gruyère, or cheese alternative)
- Prepare Your Ingredients: Gather all ingredients. Grate the cheese and chop the fresh herbs. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease or line a loaf pan to prevent sticking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt to evenly distribute the rising agent and seasoning.
- Cream Butter and Add Eggs: In a separate bowl, cream the softened butter until fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time until fully incorporated, forming a smooth base.
- Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures: Alternately add the dry ingredients and milk to the butter and egg mixture, starting and ending with the dry ingredients. Stir gently until just combined without overmixing to keep bread tender.
- Fold in Herbs and Cheese: Carefully fold in the chopped fresh herbs and grated cheese evenly, ensuring the herbs remain intact to preserve their flavor and texture.
- Bake to Golden Perfection: Pour batter into the prepared loaf pan, smooth the surface, and bake for 45-50 minutes. Check doneness with a toothpick inserted in the center; it should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
- Cool and Serve: Let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. Slice and serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- Use fresh herbs for brightest, most vibrant flavor.
- Do not overmix the batter to avoid dense bread.
- Choosing hard cheeses like Parmesan will crisp on top, while softer cheeses add richness inside.
- Bring eggs and butter to room temperature for a smooth batter.
- Start checking bread around 40 minutes for doneness to prevent overbaking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (about 1/10 of loaf)
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 250mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
Keywords: quick bread, herb bread, cheese bread, savory bread, gluten-free quick bread, easy bread recipe, herb & cheese, baking, snack bread