Description
This Cheesy Pull-Apart Garlic Bread is a deliciously indulgent appetizer featuring a crusty sourdough loaf filled with a garlic-parsley butter and melted mozzarella cheese. Perfectly scored and baked to golden, gooey perfection, it’s ideal for sharing and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients
Scale
Butter Mixture
- 120 g (4½ oz) unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tbsp finely chopped fresh parsley
- 1 tsp freshly minced garlic
- 1 tsp sea salt flakes
- ¼ tsp cracked black pepper
Bread and Cheese
- 1 sourdough loaf (or thick pane di casa)
- 1½ cups (225 g) freshly grated mozzarella
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Heat your oven to 200°C (400°F), or 180°C (350°F) if using a fan-forced oven, ensuring it reaches the right temperature before baking.
- Prepare the butter mixture: In a medium bowl, combine the melted unsalted butter with finely chopped fresh parsley, freshly minced garlic, sea salt flakes, and cracked black pepper. Mix well to blend all flavors together.
- Score the bread: Using a sharp knife, carefully cut the sourdough loaf on an angle into diamond shapes. Take care not to slice all the way through the bread, so the loaf stays intact for pulling apart later.
- Stuff the bread: Spoon the butter mixture generously into every crevice in the scored bread, then stuff the grated mozzarella cheese evenly throughout the cuts. Rustic and uneven distribution is encouraged for a hearty, homemade feel.
- Wrap and bake: Wrap the prepared loaf tightly in a large sheet of foil and place it on an oven-safe baking tray. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes.
- Crisp the top: After 20 minutes, remove the foil from the top of the bread and bake for an additional 8 minutes, or until the cheese is completely melted and the top is golden and crispy.
- Serve and enjoy: Remove from the oven, let it cool slightly, then serve immediately so everyone can tear apart the cheesy, garlic-infused bread and enjoy together.
Notes
- Use a sharp serrated knife for scoring the bread to avoid squishing the loaf.
- For extra flavor, you can add a sprinkle of chili flakes or use a mix of mozzarella and cheddar cheese.
- If you prefer, add a little grated Parmesan on top before the final bake for a cheesy crust.
- Leftovers can be reheated wrapped in foil to retain moisture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 28 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: cheesy garlic bread, pull apart bread, sourdough bread recipe, cheesy appetizer, garlic butter bread
