Whether you enjoy spicy food or prefer milder flavours, today I'm going to tempt you with these delightful cheddar and chilli buns — tender, warm, and utterly irresistible. These cheesy buns with a spicy kick are the perfect excuse to gather everyone around the table. And if you prefer them without the spice, feel free to leave out the chilli.
These cheese buns make a fantastic snack or appetiser, and they are also ideal as a side for a casual dinner. We prepare them with cheddar, but you can use your favourite cheese. As you can see, they’re wonderfully adaptable to your tastes and fill the kitchen with an incredible aroma while baking.
For baking, there’s no better ally than the Le Creuset Bread Cocotte. Its cast-iron construction and domed lid allow steam to circulate inside, recreating the conditions of a bakery steam oven. And with its spectacular design, you can take it straight from the oven to the table — a sure showstopper, just like the cheesy buns inside.
Ingredients
- 550 g strong bread flour (plus extra for kneading)
- 10 g dried yeast or 30 g fresh yeast
- 1 ½ tsp salt
- 25 g caster sugar
- 250 ml lukewarm milk
- 125 ml warm water
- 2 eggs
- 45 ml olive oil
- 120 g grated cheddar cheese
- 1 jar crispy chilli sauce
Preparation
- Put the flour, yeast, sugar and salt into a bowl and mix well. Make a well in the centre and add the milk, water and eggs.
- Lightly beat the liquids with a fork before combining them with the dry ingredients to form a dough.
- Lightly flour the surface and knead the dough by hand for about 10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Shape into a ball, place in a lightly oiled bowl, cover, and leave to rise in a warm place until doubled in size.
- Deflate the dough, add two-thirds of the cheddar in the centre, fold and knead again until the cheese is evenly distributed.
- Divide the dough into 11 equal portions, shape into balls, grease the base of the bread cocotte, and arrange the dough balls with some space between them.
- Cover with the lid and let them rest for another 20 minutes. Preheat the oven to 200 °C.
- After 20 minutes, spoon some crispy chilli sauce over each bun and sprinkle with the remaining cheddar.
- Cover and bake for 30–35 minutes at 200 °C.
- Remove the lid and bake uncovered for another 5 minutes.
- Bring the cocotte straight to the table for everyone to enjoy.
Suggestions
- These buns are delicious as they are. If you prefer, serve them with some rosemary and basil butter or garlic butter.
- Although the dough is easy to knead by hand, you can also use a stand mixer if you prefer.
