How to Make Garlic Bread

Oh, garlic bread, you’re both a blessing and a curse: a blessing because you’re so easy to make and a curse for the same reason.

Now the only thing stopping us from eating it nonstop is our willpower – and let’s be honest, the will to devour garlic bread is stronger than anything anyone could conjure.

Here’s a quick and simple garlic bread recipe so you can battle your self-control. Who knows? Maybe you’ll be one of the lucky few who can resist the temptation – or maybe, like the rest of us, your willpower is as good as dead. 

How To Make Garlic Bread

Equipment

• Knife
• Oven
• Bread machine (optional)
• Skillet
• Spatula/Flipper
• Plate

Ingredients

• 3 cloves of garlic
• 1 teaspoon of olive oil
• 2-3 cups of bread flour
• 1 tablespoon of butter
• 2 teaspoons of instant yeast
• 1-1¹/₄ cup warm water
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• 1 tablespoon of powdered milk (for bread machine)
• 1 tablespoon of white sugar (for bread machine)
• 2 tablespoons of parsley
• Optional: grated mozzarella or parmesan cheese

This garlic bread recipe serves one loaf, and portions may vary depending on the size of loaf.

For that matter, once you get a whiff of its intoxicating aroma, the entire loaf may become a single serving!

How To Make Garlic Bread

Use a Bread Machine

1. Add the warm water, butter, powdered milk, sugar, salt, parsley, garlic, flour, and yeast into the bread machine, then choose the “Basic Bread” option and press start. Some bread machines have specialty garlic bread buttons; if yours does, be sure to consult your manual, and if it makes sense for your machine, select that option.
2. Remove the bread from the bread machine and set it aside to cool. Before the bread cools completely, add grated cheese for flavour. Either way, wait at least 10 minutes before slicing and serving the garlic bread.

Make Garlic Bread by Hand

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit or 200 degrees Celsius.
2. Combine flour, yeast, salt, and water into a dough.
3. Knead for five to ten minutes on a floured surface. If the dough is too sticky, add more flour. Flatten the dough or braid it so the flavor is more noticeable.
4. Place the dough in a greased or parchment paper covered tin or pan.
5. Mix the butter and garlic and spread them across the exposed part of the dough. Add the parsley and cheese to the dough then cover the dough in oil covered saran wrap. Leave the dough to rise for an hour so the yeast can act and the garlic bread can double in size.
6. Remove the saran wrap, and once the dough is done rising, bake the bread for thirty minutes or until golden brown.
7. Remove the garlic bread and set it aside to cool for 30 minutes before cutting and serving. If you would prefer to add more cheese, sprinkle some along the top before the bread cools completely.

Garlic bread keeps for about a week in an airtight bag, tinfoil, or saran wrap.

If you would like to save the dough, store the flour, yeast, salt, and water soft dough for up to a week in airtight packaging. Once you would like to make garlic bread, use that dough as your base and continue the steps from there.

Use Plain Bread

If you’re starting with thick, plain bread and would like to only make a few slices of garlic bread, follow the proceeding steps.

1. Cut as many slices as you would like, making sure that each slice is at least an inch thick.
2. Combine garlic—or garlic powder if you don’t have fresh garlic—with butter and parsley, then spread the mixture on both sides of your slice of bread.
3. Heat your slice in a skillet, flipping hallway through. This would also work with a sandwich press or a grill. You do not need to oil or butter to the pan because the butter, garlic, and parsley mixture will also help prevent sticking. A general rule with skillets is avoiding metal utensils with nonstick covered cookware to prevent scratching.
4. Once your bread crisps on both sides, add the cheese to one side so that it melts before removing the slice from the heat. Repeat as many times as you wish.
5. Place the garlic bread on a plate and allow the slices to cool for two to three minutes before serving.

This version of garlic bread works with most white breads and even baguettes. Here’s a video showing how to make garlic bread dinner rolls.

Usually, garlic bread is served alongside Italian dishes such as most pasta platters, although it also pairs well with soups, salads, and most lunch/dinner dishes.

Garlic bread isn’t usually served as a snack and seldom if ever eaten for breakfast.

This dish is also customizable in terms of its garnishes—some suggestions include: thyme, various cheese, tomatoes, and olives.

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Have you tried making your own garlic bread?