Cheesy Garlic Party Bread
This easy cheesy garlic party bread is always a hit
Ingredients
- 1 loaf crusty dense bread like sourdough (round or oval shape works best)
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella or mixed cheeses (use melty cheeses if you prefer in combination for extra kick)
- 150 grams salted butter (1 1/2 sticks) (soften at room temperature)
- 3 large cloves fresh garlic (smash into paste or mince)
- 2 tbsp fresh Italian flat leaf parsley (chopped for sprinkling)
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the oven to 180C/350 F
- 2. Add smashed/minced garlic to softened butter and combine well
- 3. Cut the bread into alternate diagonals about 1 inch apart both ways so that the diagonal cuts form diamonds of the cut bread. Don't cut all the way through the bread, leave the crust intact at the bottom
- 4. Separate each diamond of bread and brush the garlic butter onto every side of each diamond. This is a bit time-consuming but it is totally worth it when you see the result! Preserve a little of the garlic butter to brush on top at the end.
- 5. Stuff each crack with the shredded cheese. Don't worry about being neat. The parts that stay on top may get a little crunchy and add even more deliciousness.
- 6. Brush a little more garlic butter on the top of the bread.
- 7. Sprinkle the chopped fresh parsley on top and, if you like, between some of the cracks as well.
- 8. Wrap the loaf in foil and bake in the oven on the middle shelf for 20 minutes.
- 9. Open the foil and bake for another 5 - 10 minutes until all the cheese is completely melted and the top is glistening.
- 10. Enjoy immediately!
Notes
- The amounts of butter, garlic, and cheese are slightly dependent upon the size and shape of loaf you use. These are basic quantities so feel free to adjust to ensure the right amount for your particular loaf.
- You can also melt the butter if you don't want to wait for it to soften enough to spread easily. Just be sure not to saturate some parts of the bread and miss other parts. The key to a successful loaf is even distribution of the ingredients.