Jalapeño Cheddar Rolls
As a kid, one of my favorite snacks after a long day at school, was a piece of Jalapeno cheese bread from the supermarket. It was a free-form loaf covered in a crusty lava flow of caramelized cheddar, studded with slices of pickled jalapenos. I relished the way one bite would be an explosion of nutty caramelized cheddar, while the next bite might light my mouth on fire with a rush of capsaicin and vinegar. Beneath the crust, the tender bread hid pockets of cheddar that made eating a piece a bit like mining for gold.
Servings 9 roll
Ingredients
- ½ cup whole milk
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 285 grams bread flour (about 2 ¼ cups)
- 4 tablespoons cultured unsalted butter
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs
- 240 grams Cheddar cheese (shredded about 2 cups)
- 120 grams pickled jalapeno slices (about 1 cups)
Instructions
- Heat the milk until warm, about 105 degrees F (40 C). Stir in the sugar, yeast, and ⅓ of the flour. Cover and let this mixture rest in a warm place until it's doubled in size (about 2 hours).
- Put the butter and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and beat until the butter is soft and creamy. Add the eggs, one at a time until fully incorporated (it's okay if the mixture looks a little chunky).
- Add the yeast mixture to the mixer along with the remaining flour and mix to combine. Switch to the dough hook and knead until the dough is smooth and elastic.
- Turn the dough out onto a well floured surface and roll it out into an 18 x 18 inch square (45 cm x 45 cm).
- Sprinkle evenly with cheese, putting a little extra cheese towards the edge closest to you and then scatter the drained jalapenos evenly over the top.
- Roll the dough up and then slice the roll into thirds and then slice each third into 3 wheels.
- Arrange them in a 8" x 8" non-stick pan, cover with a damp towel and let it rise in a warm place. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- When the dough has risen to fill the pan, place it in the preheated oven and bake until golden brown (30-40 minutes).
