Kale and Cheese Quick Bread

This Cheesy Kale Bread is a savory quick bread packed with kale and two kinds of cheese, making it the perfect treat for any time of day. Plus, it’s a great way to sneak some extra greens into your diet.

The kale and cheddar cheese quick bread recipe was developed for the reddit 52 weeks of baking challenge quick bread week. Quick breads are bread loafs made using chemical leavening instead of yeast. Think skillet cornbread, chocolate chip banana bread, or even a blackberry lemon loaf cake.

baked kale and cheese quick bread in the pan on a cooling rack.
Jump to:

Ingredients

ingredients to make the kale and cheddar cheese quick bread laid out on a countertop.

 
  • Cheese – use any hard cheese for the loaf like cheddar, Monterey Jack, Gruyere or Swiss cheese, and then top with Parmesan. It’s always preferable to grate your own cheese to avoid preservatives and fillers.
  • Kale – any type will work. Just make sure you wash and dry it well before removing the thick stems and chopping the leaves. Check out my cranberry kale salad for info on how to stem and chop kale.

Please see the recipe card below for complete information on ingredients and quantities.

Baking ratios for quick breads

When I was contemplating which quick bread to make, I knew that pound cakes like my chocolate chip loaf cake and coffee and walnut loaf cake have a standard formula. You probably know that pound cakes are classically made with one pound each of butter, sugar, eggs, and flour. I didn’t know that quick breads also have a classic baking ratio.

In his book, Ratio, Michael Ruhlman says that quick breads are, by weight, two parts flour to two parts liquid to one part egg to one part butter. And one part is another reason to get a kitchen scale! This recipe reduces the liquid just a bit because of the liquid in the kale.

The Food Network has gone away from these ratios and created a mix-and-match formula that anyone can use to create their own quick bread recipes. Scroll down to check out their list of 50 quick breads – I think I might want to bake everything on that list.

Variations and substitutions

  • sub spinach or another green for the kale, treating it the same way.
  • add chives, garlic, or herbs.
  • sub in chopped bacon or ham for some of the cheese.
  • replace the buttermilk with yogurt or milk.
  • add chopped walnuts or pecans on top.
  • use a muffin tin to make this recipe as kale and cheese muffins.

Recipe tips and tricks

This kale and cheese loaf is put together with the “muffin method” just my blueberry chocolate chip muffins and orange poppy seed muffins. The muffin method starts with all of your dry ingredients in a large bowl.

dry ingredients for the kale cheese bread in a large bowl.

Step 2: Combine your wet ingredients and then add them to the dry. I keep the melted butter separate to avoid curdling the buttermilk.

large bowl with wet ingredients added on top of dry.

Step 3: Stir the wet and dry ingredients together just until you can’t see any traces of flour. Do not over-mix your quick bread batter!

metal bowl with kale cheese bread batter and orange silicone spatula.

Step 4: add the grated cheese and chopped kale and stir to mix. Don’t be put off if your kale bread batter seems too stiff. I promise that it turns out right in the end. Add it to your prepared pan and top with the grated Parmesan.

two images showing the kale cheese bread batter in the loaf pan before and after topping with Parmesan.

Step 5: Bake in a 350 degree oven for 40 to 45 minutes, until the top has browned and a toothpick inserted into the quick bread comes out clean. Let cool in the pan for ten minutes and then turn out onto a cooling rack.

loaf of cut kale cheese bread on a cutting board with a piece and serrated knife on a plate.

What to serve with this cheesy kale bread

Recipe FAQs

Do I need to adjust the baking time if I bake two loaves?

No. You only would if you made it as one big loaf. Or reduce it if you’re making small ones or turn this recipe into kale muffins.

How long will this kale bread last?

This kale and cheese quick bread will typically stay fresh for a few days if stored at room temperature in an airtight container or wrapped in foil. You can also refrigerate it for up to one week.

My garden is overflowing with kale. Could I freeze the kale and make this loaf in the winter?

Greens don’t freeze particularly well straight. It would be better to make this recipe and freeze the loaf. Once it cools, double wrap it in plastic wrap, put it in a freezer bag, and remove all the air. It will keep in the freezer for about three months.

If you’re looking for more recipes using kale and other greens, check out:

Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-heart 💜💜💜💜💜 rating in the recipe card below. Let me know how much you loved it, or any problems you had, in the comments section further down.

Recipe

Kale and Cheese Quick Bread

5 from 1 vote
Category: Snack
Cuisine: Unspecified
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 9
Calories: 284kcal
This cheesy kale bread is a savory quick bread packed with kale and two kinds of cheese, making it the perfect treat for any time of day. Plus, it's a great way to sneak some extra greens into your diet.
Print Recipe

Equipment

  • 8½ by 4½ inch loaf pan

Ingredients

  • 2 cups (250 grams) bleached, all-purpose flour plus more for dusting the loaf pan
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted plus more for greasing the pan
  • ¾ cup buttermilk
  • 2 eggs
  • 4 ounces hard cheese (e.g. gruyere, cheddar, or swiss), shredded
  • ½ cup chopped kale (about two large leaves) stems removed and discarded
  • 1 ounce Parmesan cheese, grated

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  • Butter and flour an 8½ by 4½ in loaf pan.
  • In a large bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
    2 cups (250 grams) bleached, all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, 2 teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon salt
  • In a small bowl (or in the measuring cup for the buttermilk), combine the buttermilk, egg, and melted butter.
    8 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, ¾ cup buttermilk, 2 eggs
  • Pour the liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix only until just combined and no traces of flour remain. Do not over-mix. It will be quite thick.
  • Add in the shredded Gruyere or cheddar cheese and chopped kale, mix until distributed throughout, and put into the prepared loaf pan.
    4 ounces hard cheese (e.g. gruyere, cheddar, or swiss), shredded, ½ cup chopped kale (about two large leaves) stems removed and discarded
  • Top with the grated Parmesan.
    1 ounce Parmesan cheese, grated
  • Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, until the Parmesan is golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  • Cool in the pan for 10 minutes and then remove from the pan and cool.

Notes

This kale and cheese quick bread is made using the muffin method. Like all recipes using this method, be careful not to over-mix after adding the wet ingredients.
You can slice this quick bread while still warm, but it will be easier to cut after it reaches room temperature.

Nutrition

Calories: 284kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 81mg | Sodium: 370mg | Potassium: 90mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 902IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 254mg | Iron: 2mg
Love this recipe?Mention @Uglyducklingbakery or tag #uglyducklingbakery!

This cheesy kale bread recipe was first published March 12, 2021. It was last updated May 13, 2023.

You’re an adventurous home cook looking for inspiration in your weeknight meals and weekend baking. Get that inspiration here:

You’re an adventurous home cook looking for inspiration in your weeknight meals and weekend baking. Get that inspiration here:

dinosaur cookie jar on a slice of kale and cheese quick bread with quick bread in colorful letters.

5 Comments

  1. This cheesy kale bread looks delicious. Love cheesy breads. I never knew about quick bread ratios as well. Thanks for sharing

  2. This quick bread looks delicious, and I like that you added kale to it. I am looking forward to trying it!

  3. Your bread recipe sounds amazingly delicious, and I can almost guarantee it will be a massive hit with my family. Have a wonderful weekend! I’m looking forward to your new News Letter!
    Heidy M

  4. I love a good quick bread and this combo sounds insane!! I have all of the ingredients at home, so I am definitely giving this a go. Thank you so much for the recipe 🙂

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.