Cheesy Garlic Pull-Apart Bread (Printable Version)

Golden sourdough stuffed with melted cheese, garlic butter, and fresh herbs. Warm, shareable starter ready in 40 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Bread

01 - 1 large round sourdough loaf (about 1.1 lbs)

→ Garlic Butter

02 - 7 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
03 - 4 cloves garlic, finely minced
04 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
05 - 1 tbsp fresh chives, finely chopped (optional)
06 - ½ tsp salt
07 - ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper

→ Cheese

08 - 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
09 - 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
10 - ½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
02 - Using a serrated knife, carefully cut the bread diagonally into ¾-inch wide slices, making sure not to cut all the way through the base. Rotate the loaf and repeat to create a crosshatch pattern.
03 - In a bowl, mix together the softened butter, minced garlic, parsley, chives (if using), salt, and pepper until well combined.
04 - Gently pry apart the bread sections and spread or brush the garlic butter mixture into all the crevices.
05 - Stuff the mozzarella, cheddar, and Parmesan cheese evenly into the cuts, ensuring cheese is distributed throughout.
06 - Place the stuffed loaf on the prepared baking tray. Wrap loosely with foil and bake for 15 minutes.
07 - Uncover and bake for an additional 8–10 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and the top is golden.
08 - Serve hot, pulling apart pieces to enjoy.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The combination of three different cheeses creates these incredible stretchy cheese pulls that make everyone at the table gasp a little when they tear their piece away.
  • Its seriously impressive looking but secretly takes just 15 minutes to prepare, leaving you looking like a kitchen wizard without breaking a sweat.
02 -
  • The crosshatch cutting pattern is absolutely crucial, as I once made the mistake of only cutting in one direction and ended up with cheese that melted out rather than staying nestled in the bread.
  • Dont skip the foil-covered baking stage or youll end up with burnt tops and cold centers, a lesson I learned the hard way when rushing for unexpected guests.
03 -
  • Grate your own cheese rather than using pre-shredded varieties which often contain anti-caking agents that prevent that gloriously gooey melt we're after.
  • If your bread is super fresh, pop it in a 100°C oven for 5 minutes before cutting, as slightly day-old bread holds its shape better when stuffed.
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