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Garlic Bread

Garlic Bread

Spaghetti just seems lonely without garlic bread, and it's so easy to make. There are several methods and twists for making garlic bread, the most simple being just rubbing a cut clove of garlic over slices of Italian or French bread, spreading the bread with butter and heating in the oven. Here are a couple of methods that make wonderful garlic bread, depending on how you like it, either toasty or soft.

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Garlic Bread Recipe

Ingredients

1 16-ounce loaf of Italian bread or French bread
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
2 large cloves of garlic, smashed and minced
1 heaping tablespoon of freshly chopped parsley
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

Method

Method 1 - Toasted

1 Preheat oven to 350°F.

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2 Cut the bread in half, horizontally. Mix the butter, garlic, and parsley together in a small bowl. Spread butter mixture over the the two bread halves. Place on a sturdy baking pan (one that can handle high temperatures, not a cookie sheet) and heat in the oven for 10 minutes.

3 Remove pan from oven. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over bread if you want. Return to oven on the highest rack. Broil on high heat for 2-3 minutes until the edges of the bread begin to toast and the cheese (if you are using cheese) bubbles. Watch very carefully while broiling. The bread can easily go from un-toasted to burnt.

4 Remove from oven, let cool a minute. Remove from pan and make 1-inch thick slices. Serve immediately.

Method 2 - Soft

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Preheat oven to 350°F. Make the butter, garlic, parsley mixture as above. Make 1-inch thick slices into the bread, but do not go all the way through, just to the bottom crust. Put a teaspoon or two of the butter mixture between each slice. Wrap the bread in aluminum foil and heat for 15 minutes in the oven.

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32 Comments

Yum! I like to also add a couple shakes of crushed red pepper to spice it up a bit. The parmesan cheese really adds a lot to the bread so I always add a bunch :)

Posted by: Jeff on September 7, 2006 3:50 AM

Both look yummy! We have garlic bread about once a week. The way I make it is to slice the bread in half the way you did in the top recipe, then use a silicone or pastry brush to spread olive oil lightly over the top of the bread, then spread a little chopped garlic on top of the olive oil. Next, I sprinkle generous amounts of dried oregano, basil and parsley on top of the garlic. Finally, I grind pepper and salt on top of the whole thing and spray gently with a little more olive oil so the spices won't burn when I put it in the oven (or, more likely, toaster oven). I usually bake it just until it turns golden and you can smell the oregano. I also like cheese on mine, but my husband is a purist. :)

Thanks for your recipe! As always, your fan.

Posted by: Deb on September 7, 2006 4:31 AM

Just wondering, can someone tell me why a cookie sheet is not durable enough for this? Is it because it sort of bends a little when you take it out of an oven that's very hot? Thanks!

Posted by: Marie on September 7, 2006 11:21 AM

Hi Marie - cookie sheets tend to be pretty thin and they warp easily under the high heat of a broiler. Sometimes they return to their original shape, but sometimes they stay warped forevermore. Broiling pans or roasting pans, however are sturdier and can take the heat without warping.

Posted by: Elise on September 7, 2006 1:15 PM

Hello Elise. I love garlic bread best made with roasted garlic and olive oil - very mellow and sweet. I might even add some Parmesan next time, now the idea has been planted!

Posted by: The Old Foodie on September 7, 2006 1:17 PM

I'd also like to add this tip. When butter is on a really good sale, I make a pound of garlic butter, just as you did in Method 1, and freeze it in sticks or rolls and then cut off as much or as little as I need for next time. This way I can always have garlic bread and not have to bother making the garlic butter.

Posted by: Fran on September 7, 2006 4:23 PM

Yum. I am a crunchy garlic bread person myself, my best method for making it is directly over the flames on my grill. Cook it nice and toasty, take it off and rub it lightly with a cut clove then top with olive oil, some sea salt and a little parm.

Uh oh.....got a mean craving going now

Posted by: Kate on September 8, 2006 6:04 AM

I make garlic bread a similar way, we call it killer garlic breath. Instead of using butter you use a cup of mayonaise and 3 tablespoons of garlic (I like to put mine in a garlic press) then spread it over the bread (with the fresh parmasean in it already) and then sprinkle the tops with dried basil. It is amazing!

Posted by: Leslie on September 8, 2006 8:31 PM

Hi. Both of these look really good. I like soft garlic bread. I usually only put the butter between every other cut. That way there's one buttery side and one not buttery side on each slice, which makes it a little less messy to eat. Leftover slices (if there are any) are great for mini grilled cheese sandwiches the next day--they're already buttered!

Posted by: Libby on September 9, 2006 9:41 AM

I absolutely love garlic bread & eat it about once a week. My tip is slightly different from The Old Foodie - I buy a dozen or so long rolls and make up the garlic bread (soft method), wrap it in aluminium foil and pop into a freezer bag (suck the air out) and pop into the freezer. Whenever I want garlic bread, it's so easy to just grab one from the freezer & pop it in the oven at 200c for 15 mins. mmmmm just right for two to share!

Posted by: wendy on September 11, 2006 1:30 AM

If you rub a fresh clove over bread that has been brushed with olive oil you end up with a very yummy alternative to traditional garlic bread. Its great for those people who are unable/choose not to eat dairy products.

You could simply use garlic infused olive oil if you dont have fresh cloves.

Posted by: Jo on May 31, 2007 1:05 AM

Does anyone know how to make leftover garlic bread soft again?

Posted by: Gail on August 7, 2007 12:43 PM

It might sound ridiculous but I have found if you put your old garlic bread in a veggie steamer you can put all that so very needed moisture back into it. somtimes it gets soggy if you leave it too long! Love the recipe.. just made some bread a second ago.

Posted by: Tom on September 2, 2007 2:16 PM

This bread is Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome AwesomeAwesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome !!!!!!!

Posted by: Billy on November 2, 2007 2:31 PM

I loved this garlic bread recipe! I cooked dinner for my family and instead of buying already made bread I decided to make my own, well this was a hit in my house, I will always go back to making this instead of buying it at the store. I loved it!

Posted by: Brandi on January 5, 2008 3:34 PM

Thank you so much for this recipe, it's amaizing, I was looking for it since I left the US. I'm glad that my husband "who is nagging all the time about food :)" loved it too.

Posted by: Noha on January 10, 2008 2:49 PM

A pinch of paprika also adds taste!

Posted by: Anonymous on February 14, 2008 10:30 AM

A note to Jo (May 31 2007) - how YOU do garlic bread IS the traditional way. The buttery stuff you buy in the shop is a Westernised corruption of the original garlic bread called "bruschetta" where wood fired Italian bread is lightly toasted/baked, rubbed with a cut clove of garlic & drizzled with extra virgin olive oil. It's origin dates back to at least the 15th century & the name is derived from the verb in the Roman dialect "bruscare," meaning "to roast over coals." In Tuscany it is called "fettunta", meaning "oiled slice". Actually, garlic need not be used at all - bruschetta was designed to show off the new season's oil at the time of the olive harvest. It was also a good way to invigorate stale bread. Bruschetta is now served in top restaurants and may also be topped with things such as diced roma tomatoes, red onion & fresh basil. Funnily enough, it is these additional toppings alone (& not the whole dish) that many Americans refer to, incorrectly, as bruschetta as, I understand, "bottled" bruschetta can be purchased in the US from some grocery stores. Now, how do you get a loaf of bread in a jar?? That IS a conundrum.

Posted by: The Impecunious Gourmet on February 15, 2008 5:24 AM

Had this a couple of nights ago with pasta. It was the best part!! Thanks for the recipe!

Posted by: Martina on April 9, 2008 10:40 AM

This recipe was great for tips. I'm a college kid, so we got stuck using two Portuguese rolls, sliced them horizontally, put the mixture together (1/2 stick soft butter, three garlic cloves minced, tsp. olive oil, heaping tsp. "Italian Seasoning", and tbsp. Parmesan cheese) Mixed it up, and put it in between the slices. What couldn't fit inbetween the slices, we put a line down the top of the rolls. Then wrapped it in foil and put it in the conventional oven: 350 for 10 minutes. Was great! Thanks for this idea :)

Posted by: Joey on September 15, 2008 2:41 PM

Thanks for the tip Elise! I never knew the correct way to make authentic garlic bread. When we do last minute spaghetti and don't have a loaf of nice bread, we just toast some sandwich bread, butter it, and sprinkle some garlic parsley salt over it. VERY elementary but tastes pretty good. I find myself using the garlic parsley salt often (I buy the Lawry's brand). Now I know how to make REAL garlic bread when I have someone to impress! Oh, and I agree with Billy... this is Awesome x 100!

Posted by: Shelly on October 23, 2008 10:17 AM

This may sound a little wierd but I've had garlic bread with some sugar sprinkled on top, before cooking. It comes out all crystallised and it tastes so good as a snack! I guess it's like the garlicky version of French toast (without the egg).

Soft garlic bread is the best though, it has to be said. You get the best of both worlds.

Posted by: Monica on December 24, 2008 2:51 AM

Hi. I need to know if I bake it with cake pan without non stick if I put oil in it, then would it work?

Yes, that should work. ~Elise

Posted by: nimra on February 6, 2009 11:46 PM

I have made it this way for years and absolutely LOVE it! I've also made it the "authentic" way but to be honest, I don't find it as tasty. I'm sure many do, but it's just not for me. Perhaps that's how it evolved into what it is in America. Just a thought.

Thanks so much for sharing a very enjoyable recipe that is a staple in our home. :)

Posted by: magnoliasouth on April 18, 2009 3:49 PM

Excellent recipe. I have been looking for easy to make garlic bread recipe and this really helps.

Posted by: Sarah on April 26, 2009 12:43 AM

I didn't have any parsley in the house so I used some chopped chives just to add some color. Delicious!

Posted by: ryan on August 30, 2009 1:29 PM

I make garlic blocks - get a French loaf, leave it a while until it is going slightly stale, smash it up into 1-inch squares then put then in a bowl and coat with the garlic butter. Heat in the oven for 10 mins and they are like big garlic bread crisps :D

Posted by: bendy on September 5, 2009 10:45 AM

Just made the garlic butter, with the bread and it was delicious! But I goofed up and cut the bread from the top down instead of through the side. Also I baked it for the 10 minutes, but left it in the oven for a extra couple of minutes and it was a little bit crunchie. I'll know next time

Posted by: taz in pgh on October 3, 2009 6:36 PM

Two words.....MOUTH WATERING! This is by far the best garlic bread recipe I've found. The instructions are easy to follow, the smell was amazing and the taste was incredible! THANK YOU for sharing!

Posted by: Giselle on November 20, 2009 10:12 AM

I am really craving some garlic bread and I have all the ingridients except parsley and I really don't feel like going out to the store right now so I was wondering could I substitute it with some thyme?

You could, or you could skip it altogether. ~Elise

Posted by: samantha on November 28, 2009 10:17 AM

According to my husband, garlic bread goes with EVERYTHING. We love any kind of garlic bread, but we LOVE to make it on sourdough (San Luis Sourdough or the Trader Joe's kind if you can get it - the two brands are actually the same thing FYI). Honestly, it's a bit like a giant buttery crouton but so, so much better!

Posted by: Amy on December 2, 2009 11:07 PM

So easy to make in no time at all and it was so delicious!! My husband thought i had bought it!! Way to go..Thanks

Posted by: Briana on February 22, 2010 8:37 PM

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