Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease or line a 9x5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper.
Prepare the Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and black pepper.
Add the Cheddar and Bacon: Stir in the shredded cheddar cheese and crumbled bacon, making sure they’re evenly distributed throughout the dry mixture.
Combine the Wet Ingredients: In another bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, melted butter, and honey (if using).
Mix the Wet and Dry Ingredients: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Be careful not to overmix. The batter should be slightly lumpy.
Bake the Bread: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Bake for 45-55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Cool and Serve: Let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing and serving.