Description
Cheese and Garlic Crack Bread is a deliciously indulgent pull-apart bread featuring a crusty loaf stuffed with garlic butter, melted mozzarella cheese, and fresh parsley. Perfect for sharing as a flavorful appetizer or alongside a simple salad, this recipe transforms ordinary bread into a crowd-pleasing centerpiece with a crispy golden crust and oozy cheesy interior.
Ingredients
Scale
Bread and Cheese
- 1 crusty loaf (preferably sourdough or Vienna)
- 1 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese (or other melting cheese)
Garlic Butter Mixture
- 100 g / 1 stick (8 tbsp) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 large garlic cloves, minced
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F) to ensure it’s ready for baking the bread later.
- Make Garlic Butter: In a heatproof bowl, combine softened butter, minced garlic, and salt. Melt the mixture in the microwave and stir in the finely chopped parsley evenly.
- Cut the Bread: Carefully slice the crusty loaf diagonally into 2cm (1 inch) diamond shapes, taking care not to cut all the way through the bread so it remains intact but can be pulled apart easily.
- Stuff the Bread: Pry open each cut or crack gently using your fingers or a knife. Drizzle a teaspoon of the garlic butter inside each section and stuff with a small pinch of shredded mozzarella cheese. Don’t worry about neatness—some butter over the crust adds flavor and crispness.
- Brush and Wrap: Brush any remaining garlic butter over the bread’s surface. Then wrap the entire loaf tightly with foil to prepare for baking.
- Bake Covered: Place the wrapped bread in the preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes to allow the cheese to melt thoroughly inside.
- Bake Uncovered: Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 5 to 10 minutes so the crust becomes nicely golden and crispy.
- Serve: Serve the cheese and garlic crack bread immediately while warm and gooey for the best taste and texture.
Notes
- This garlic crack bread is perfect for sharing with a crowd or as a centerpiece for dinner accompanied by a simple salad.
- For best results when making ahead, bake fully and reheat wrapped in foil at a low temperature to preserve moisture and flavor.
- Feel free to experiment with different melting cheeses such as cheddar or fontina for varied flavors.
- The bread can be sliced on different angles based on your preference for chunk size and ease of pulling apart.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 58 g
- Calories: 191 kcal
- Sugar: 1.4 g
- Sodium: 374 mg
- Fat: 10.9 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4.9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 19.5 g
- Fiber: 1.4 g
- Protein: 2.5 g
- Cholesterol: 26 mg
