Description

This Swirled Garlic Herb And Cheese Bread is a deliciously soft and flavorful bread, perfect as an appetizer or side. It combines aromatic garlic and fresh herbs with a blend of mozzarella, sharp cheddar, and Parmesan cheeses swirled into the dough. The bread is pleasantly buttery, cheesy, and aromatic, baked to a golden perfection with a beautiful twisted swirl that makes every slice irresistible.

Ingredients

Scale

Dough Ingredients

3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
1 ¼ cups warm water
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons olive oil

Garlic Herb Butter

4 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons chopped fresh herbs (parsley, thyme, or rosemary)
4 tablespoons butter

Cheese Filling

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
¾ cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

Activate Yeast: In a large bowl, dissolve the active dry yeast and sugar in the warm water. Let this mixture sit until it becomes frothy, indicating that the yeast is active, which should take about 5 to 10 minutes.
Make Dough: Add the all-purpose flour, salt, and olive oil to the yeast mixture. Knead the ingredients together until a soft dough forms, which should take about 8 to 10 minutes by hand or less with a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook.
First Rise: Cover the dough with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap. Let it rise in a warm spot until it doubles in size, approximately 1 hour.
Prepare Garlic Herb Butter: While the dough is rising, melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and chopped fresh herbs, sautéing until fragrant but not browned, about 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
Assemble Bread: Once the dough has risen, roll it out on a floured surface into a large rectangle. Spread the garlic herb butter evenly over the surface, then sprinkle the mozzarella, sharp cheddar, and Parmesan cheeses evenly on top.
Shape Bread: Carefully roll the dough up jelly-roll style, starting from one long edge to the other. Slice the roll lengthwise down the middle to reveal the swirled layers, then twist the two halves around each other to form a twisted loaf.
Second Rise: Place the twisted loaf into a greased baking pan. Cover and let it rise for 30 more minutes to puff up slightly before baking.
Bake: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the bread in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Cool and Serve: Remove the bread from the oven and allow it to cool slightly for about 10 minutes. Slice and serve warm to enjoy the gooey cheese and fragrant garlic herb flavors.

Notes

You can substitute the herbs with your favorites such as basil or oregano for a different flavor profile.
Use room temperature ingredients for easier kneading and a better rise.
For a crispier crust, bake on a preheated baking stone or pizza stone if available.
Store leftovers in an airtight container and reheat gently to preserve freshness and melty cheese.
This bread freezes well; wrap it tightly and thaw before reheating.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
Category: Appetizer, Bread
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: garlic herb bread, cheesy bread, twisted bread, appetizer bread, homemade bread, savory bread