Ingredients
Scale
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped (or 2 teaspoons dried dill)
- 1 cup dill pickles, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup pickle juice from the jar
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
For the Topping:
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped
- 1/4 teaspoon coarse sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x5-inch loaf pan and line with parchment paper, leaving overhang on the sides for easy removal.
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper.
- Pat chopped pickles dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
- Add chopped pickles, fresh dill, and shredded cheese to the dry ingredients. Toss to coat evenly.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, buttermilk, melted butter, and pickle juice.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir just until combined. Do not overmix - the batter will be thick.
- Transfer batter to the prepared loaf pan and spread evenly.
- For the topping: Brush the top of the loaf with melted butter, then sprinkle with shredded cheese, fresh dill, and coarse sea salt.
- Bake for 50-55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. If the top is browning too quickly, tent with aluminum foil.
- Allow the bread to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then use the parchment overhang to lift the loaf out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
- For best flavor, wrap the cooled bread in plastic wrap and let it sit overnight before slicing.
Notes
- For the best flavor, use good quality dill pickles with a strong flavor.
- If you don't have buttermilk, you can make a substitute by adding 1 tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice to 1 cup of milk and letting it sit for 5 minutes.
- This bread is excellent toasted and served with cream cheese, or used for grilled cheese sandwiches.
- Add 1/4 cup finely chopped onion to the batter for extra flavor.
- The bread keeps well at room temperature for up to 3 days, or refrigerated for up to a week.
- This recipe can also be made as muffins - bake for 18-22 minutes at the same temperature.
- For a spicier version, add 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes or 1 tablespoon chopped jalapeños.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes