Description
Soft, fluffy bread swirled with a savory garlic herb butter and melted mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. This deliciously aromatic bread is perfect as a side dish for pasta, soups, or enjoyed on its own as a flavorful snack.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 1/4 teaspoons (1 packet) active dry yeast
- 1 cup warm water (110°F to 115°F)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
Garlic Herb Butter
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Cheese Filling
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, grated
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Instructions
- Activate Yeast: In a large bowl, combine the warm water, sugar, and active dry yeast. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy and bubbly, indicating the yeast is active.
- Make Dough Base: Add olive oil, beaten egg, salt, and 2 cups of flour to the yeast mixture. Mix using a dough hook or by hand until it forms a shaggy dough.
- Add Remaining Flour: Gradually incorporate the remaining 1 cup flour, mixing until a soft, slightly sticky dough forms.
- Knead Dough: Knead on a lightly floured surface for 6-8 minutes until the dough becomes smooth, elastic, and springs back when pressed.
- First Rise: Place dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover it with a damp cloth, and let it rise in a warm place for 1 to 1.5 hours or until doubled in size.
- Prepare Garlic Herb Butter: While dough rises, mix melted butter, minced garlic, chopped parsley, and Italian seasoning in a small bowl.
- Shape Dough: Punch down the risen dough and roll it out on a floured surface into a 9×12 inch rectangle.
- Apply Filling: Brush the dough evenly with the garlic herb butter mixture, leaving a small border around edges. Sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan cheese evenly over the buttered dough.
- Roll and Seal: Starting from one long side, roll the dough tightly into a log and pinch the seam to seal.
- Second Rise: Place the log seam-side down in a greased 9×5 inch loaf pan. Cover and let rise for 30-45 minutes until it rises about an inch above the pan.
- Preheat Oven: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Bake: Bake the loaf for 25-30 minutes until golden brown on top and the loaf sounds hollow when tapped.
- Cool: Let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool for at least 15 more minutes before slicing.
Notes
- Ensure your yeast is not expired and that water temperature is between 110-115°F to properly activate the yeast. The foaming step confirms yeast activity.
- Grate cheese from blocks for better melting and richer flavor compared to pre-shredded cheese.
- If the top browns too quickly during baking, loosely tent it with foil for the last 10 minutes to prevent burning.
- Grease the loaf pan well with butter, oil, or cooking spray to prevent sticking and aid in loaf removal.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: garlic herb bread, cheese bread, savory bread, homemade bread, garlic butter bread, cheese swirl bread, baked bread, American bread
