Bread Machine Jalapeño Cheese Bread

Prep: 15 mins

Cook: 2 hrs

Total: 2 hrs 15 mins

Servings: 12 servings

Yield: 1 loaf

Bread machines have allowed inexperienced bakers to enjoy deliciously crusty loaves of fresh bread. Since bread is one of those items that require a lot of technique and practice, and a good understanding of your oven, making bread is not always easy. Lots of kneading and proving—and kneading again, and punching your dough, among other things—might seem like one too many steps. But since you’re reading this, chances are you already have a bread machine or are trying it out for the first time with this flavorful recipe. You just have to invest 15 minutes of your time and the machine does the rest. Our bread gets a fresh kick of spiciness from fresh jalapeños and makes a great addition to many meals, from eggs with a slice of this bread with butter on top to cheese soups accompanied by a piece of jalapeño bread, to decadent sandwiches of brie, smoked ham and grilled vegetables made with two slices of this spicy bread. For a more colorful bread, use a combination of green jalapeño peppers and some finely minced Fresno or red bell pepper.

This wonderful bread gets a chewy texture thanks to the addition of shredded cheese, and the crumb is buttery and fluffy thanks to the butter and dry milk. We recommend using bread flour, a type of flour that is very high in protein, which leads to ample production of gluten, making the dough elastic and allowing proper rise. If you can't find bread flour at the store, you can make your own by removing a tablespoon of flour from each cup of all-purpose flour that you have and replacing it with a tablespoon of vital gluten, which is a powder made from wheat that is pretty much all gluten and helps improve the elasticity of baked goods.

Most bread machines work with similar standards, and a medium range one is similar in price to the next one. Before buying one, take into consideration the space you have in your kitchen and how often you're planning on using the machine. The advantage of some machines is that they make more than one loaf at the same time, but they occupy a lot of space. Others make just one small loaf but are small in comparison. Assess your needs before acquiring one or upgrading the one you already have. Follow the manufacturer's instructions on how to properly add the ingredients into the machine, and don't miss out on this tasty bread with a kick.

Ingredients

• 1 small jalapeño pepper

• 1 cup water

• 3 cups bread flour

• 3 tablespoons nonfat dry milk

• 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar

• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt

• 1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

• 2 teaspoons active dry yeast

• 1/4 cup finely shredded Monterey Jack cheese, or Mexican blend

Steps to Make It

1. Remove the stem end of the jalapeño pepper. Slice the pepper in half lengthwise. With a small spoon, scrape out the seeds and light-colored ribs. Mince the pepper finely.

2. Add the ingredients to the bread machine pan according to your bread machine manufacturer's suggested order, adding the minced jalapeño pepper along with the flour.

3. Select white or basic with a light or medium crust.

4. Allow​ bread to cool before slicing.