Spice up your bread game with this mouthwatering Jalapeño Popper Cheesy Bread! Inspired by the classic jalapeño popper, this bread is packed with the flavors of creamy cheese, smoky bacon, and a kick of heat from fresh jalapeños. It’s perfect as an appetizer, a savory side dish, or even as a delicious snack. Soft and fluffy on the inside with a golden, cheesy crust on the outside, this bread is sure to become a hit at any gathering.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup bacon, cooked and chopped (about 8 to 10 slices)
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup jalapeño pepper, diced (about 1 large jalapeño, seeds included for extra heat)
- 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
- 12 ounces buttermilk
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Instructions:
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Gently coat a 9×5-inch loaf pan with oil or line it with parchment paper to facilitate easy removal.
- Cook the Bacon: Fry the bacon in a skillet over medium heat until it reaches a crispy texture. Move it to a plate lined with paper towels to absorb any excess grease. After it cools, chop the bacon into small pieces and set aside.
- Prepare the Dry Ingredients: In a spacious mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, and granulated sugar, whisking them together until thoroughly mixed.
- Incorporate the Cream Cheese: Add the softened cream cheese to the dry ingredients. Use a fork or pastry cutter to cut the cream cheese into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs.
- Add the Jalapeños, Bacon, and Cheese: Stir in the diced jalapeño, chopped bacon, and 1 ½ cups of the shredded cheddar cheese, reserving ½ cup of cheese for topping. Mix until the ingredients are evenly distributed throughout the flour mixture.
- Mix the Wet Ingredients: In another bowl, mix the buttermilk and vegetable oil together. Pour this mixture into the bowl with the flour mixture and stir gently until they are just combined. Take care not to overmix; the batter should be thick and have a few lumps.
- Pour into the Pan: Transfer the batter to the prepared loaf pan and smooth it out evenly across the surface. Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup of shredded cheddar cheese over the top of the batter.
- Bake the Bread: Bake in the preheated oven for 45-55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the bread comes out clean and the top is golden brown. If the top begins to brown too fast, loosely cover it with aluminum foil for the final 10 to 15 minutes of baking.
- Cool and Serve: Let the bread cool in the pan for approximately 10 minutes, then move it to a wire rack to cool completely. Serve warm, sliced, and enjoy the cheesy, spicy goodness!
Conclusion:
This Jalapeño Popper Cheesy Bread is the perfect combination of spicy, cheesy, and savory flavors in every bite. The tender, fluffy bread with crispy bacon bits, gooey cheese, and the subtle heat from jalapeños makes it a standout dish that’s hard to resist. It’s a versatile recipe that works as a side for soups and salads, or as a standout appetizer on its own. Make it for your next gathering or family dinner and watch it disappear quickly!
Jalapeño Popper Cheesy Bread
Ingredients
- 1 cup bacon cooked and chopped (about 8 to 10 slices)
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- ¼ cup jalapeño pepper diced (about 1 large jalapeño, seeds included for extra heat)
- 2 cups cheddar cheese shredded
- 12 ounces buttermilk
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Gently coat a 9×5-inch loaf pan with oil or line it with parchment paper to facilitate easy removal.
- Cook the Bacon: Fry the bacon in a skillet over medium heat until it reaches a crispy texture. Move it to a plate lined with paper towels to absorb any excess grease. After it cools, chop the bacon into small pieces and set aside.
- Prepare the Dry Ingredients: In a spacious mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, and granulated sugar, whisking them together until thoroughly mixed.
- Incorporate the Cream Cheese: Add the softened cream cheese to the dry ingredients. Use a fork or pastry cutter to cut the cream cheese into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs.
- Add the Jalapeños, Bacon, and Cheese: Stir in the diced jalapeño, chopped bacon, and 1 ½ cups of the shredded cheddar cheese, reserving ½ cup of cheese for topping. Mix until the ingredients are evenly distributed throughout the flour mixture.
- Mix the Wet Ingredients: In another bowl, mix the buttermilk and vegetable oil together. Pour this mixture into the bowl with the flour mixture and stir gently until they are just combined. Take care not to overmix; the batter should be thick and have a few lumps.
- Pour into the Pan: Transfer the batter to the prepared loaf pan and smooth it out evenly across the surface. Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup of shredded cheddar cheese over the top of the batter.
- Bake the Bread: Bake in the preheated oven for 45-55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the bread comes out clean and the top is golden brown. If the top begins to brown too fast, loosely cover it with aluminum foil for the final 10 to 15 minutes of baking.
- Cool and Serve: Let the bread cool in the pan for approximately 10 minutes, then move it to a wire rack to cool completely. Serve warm, sliced, and enjoy the cheesy, spicy goodness!