Description
This delicious Pull Apart Garlic Bread recipe features soft, fluffy dough balls infused with garlic, butter, parsley, and Parmesan cheese, baked to a perfect golden brown. Ideal as a flavorful side for any meal or as a savory snack, this bread is easy to make and beautifully aromatic.
Ingredients
Dough Ingredients
- 1/2 cup warm water
- 1 tablespoon white sugar
- 1 teaspoon active dry yeast
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter (softened)
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 1/2 cups bread flour
Garlic Butter Mixture
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted)
- 1 pinch salt
- Some fresh parsley leaves (finely chopped)
- 3 cloves garlic (finely minced)
- 1 teaspoon grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
Instructions
- Activate yeast: Add warm water to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. Sprinkle sugar and yeast into the water and let it stand for 5-10 minutes until foamy, indicating the yeast is active.
- Make dough: Mix in softened butter, milk, and salt. Gradually add the bread flour and knead for 7-10 minutes until the dough sticks to the bottom of the bowl but clears the sides. Add 1-2 tablespoons more water if the dough feels too dense. Divide the dough into two equal portions.
- Prepare garlic butter mixture: In a small bowl, combine melted butter, salt, finely chopped parsley, minced garlic, and grated Parmesan cheese if using. Mix well.
- Shape dough balls: Cut the dough portions into small round pieces. Dip each piece into the garlic butter mixture, ensuring they are well coated.
- Arrange and proof: Arrange the coated dough balls into two mini loaf pans or one regular loaf pan. Cover and let them rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour. Reserve any leftover garlic butter mixture.
- Bake: Preheat the oven to 350°F (176°C). Bake the loaf pans for 30 minutes or until the bread is golden brown on top.
- Finish with butter: Immediately after removing from the oven, baste the pull-apart garlic bread with the reserved garlic butter mixture to enhance flavor and moisture.
Notes
- You can use a regular loaf pan if mini loaf pans are unavailable.
- Adding grated Parmesan is optional but adds a nice savory depth.
- Make sure the yeast mixture is foamy before proceeding or the bread may not rise correctly.
- For extra flavor, fresh chopped herbs like rosemary or thyme can be added to the butter mixture.
- Cool slightly before serving for the best texture.
