Description
This easy pull apart bread recipe creates a warm, cheesy, and garlicky appetizer perfect for sharing. Rustic crusty bread is stuffed with a mix of mozzarella and cheddar cheeses, then bathed in a homemade garlic butter sauce infused with fresh parsley. The bread is baked until golden and melty, resulting in a delicious combination of crispy crust and gooey cheesy pull-apart pieces that everyone will love.
Ingredients
Scale
Bread and Cheese
- 1 loaf crusty bread (rustic sourdough or boule)
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
Garlic Butter
- 8 tablespoons salted butter (1 stick)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, minced plus more for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it’s ready to bake the bread to a golden finish.
- Prepare the bread: Using a sharp bread knife, make deep cuts lengthwise and crosswise in the bread loaf, being careful not to cut all the way through. The goal is to create pull-apart squares without the bottom crust being sliced open.
- Mix garlic butter: In a small saucepan or microwave-safe bowl, melt the salted butter. Once melted, stir in the minced garlic and chopped fresh parsley until well combined.
- Stuff the bread: Carefully pull apart the cuts in the bread and evenly stuff shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese into the gaps, distributing the cheese throughout the loaf.
- Brush garlic butter: Generously brush or drizzle the garlic butter mixture over and inside the cuts of the bread, ensuring the butter seeps into all sections for maximum flavor.
- Bake the bread: Wrap the stuffed and buttered bread loosely in aluminum foil and place it on a baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for about 15-20 minutes until the cheese is melted and the bread is hot throughout.
- Broil for crust: Remove the foil and bake for an additional 3-5 minutes under the broiler if desired, to crisp up the bread crust and give it a nice golden finish. Keep a close eye to avoid burning.
- Garnish and serve: Remove the bread from the oven, sprinkle with additional fresh parsley, and serve warm as a shareable appetizer or snack.
Notes
- Use a crusty bread such as sourdough or boule for the best texture and flavor.
- You can substitute or add other cheeses like gouda, provolone, or pepper jack for variety.
- Be careful when cutting the bread to not slice through the bottom, so it stays intact for pulling apart.
- Make sure to spread the garlic butter generously so every bite is flavorful.
- Broiling is optional but adds a delightful crispy crust finish.
Keywords: pull apart bread, garlic bread, cheesy bread, appetizer, party bread, easy bread recipe, baked bread