Garlic Herb Pull-Apart Bread
There's nothing quite like warm garlic herb pull-apart bread fresh from the oven, with butter and herbs soaked into every golden piece. It's the kind of bread that disappears the moment it hits the table.
Simple, everyday ingredients and clear, step-by-step instructions — every recipe made in Dorothy’s kitchen before it reaches yours. Jump to the full recipe card below.
Garlic Herb Pull-Apart Bread
A soft, buttery pull-apart bread loaded with roasted garlic and fresh herbs in every bite.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes (includes rising time)
- Yield: 4 to 6 1x
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast (1 packet)
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 cup warm milk (110°F)
- 1 large egg
- 3 tbsp melted butter, plus 6 tbsp softened for filling
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh chives, chopped
- 1 tsp fresh rosemary, chopped
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- Flaky sea salt, for topping
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together warm milk, sugar, and yeast. Let sit 5-10 minutes until foamy.
- Add flour, salt, egg, and 3 tbsp melted butter to the yeast mixture. Mix and knead for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic (by hand or stand mixer).
- Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm spot for 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
- Meanwhile, mix softened butter, minced garlic, parsley, chives, and rosemary in a small bowl to make the garlic herb butter.
- Punch down the risen dough and roll it out into a large rectangle, about 12×18 inches.
- Spread the garlic herb butter evenly over the dough, then sprinkle with mozzarella and parmesan.
- Cut the dough into 6 long strips, then stack the strips on top of each other and cut into 6 even squares.
- Place the stacked squares on their sides into a greased loaf pan, layering them in like dominoes.
- Cover and let rise again for 30-40 minutes until puffy.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the bread for 30-35 minutes until golden brown on top.
- Brush with any remaining garlic herb butter and sprinkle with flaky sea salt as soon as it comes out of the oven.
- Let cool for 10 minutes in the pan before pulling apart and serving warm.
Notes
For extra flavor, roast the garlic cloves in olive oil for 20 minutes before mincing into the butter. Leftover garlic herb pull-apart bread can be wrapped tightly and stored at room temperature for 2 days, or reheated in a warm oven to restore its softness.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes garlic herb pull-apart bread so soft?
The combination of warm milk, egg, and butter in the enriched dough creates a tender, soft crumb, while stacking the dough pieces instead of rolling them keeps the layers light and pull-apart friendly.
Can I make garlic herb pull-apart bread ahead of time?
Yes, you can prepare the dough and shape the loaf, then refrigerate it overnight before the second rise. Let it come to room temperature and finish rising before baking.
Can I freeze garlic herb pull-apart bread?
Absolutely. Bake and cool the bread completely, then wrap tightly in foil and freeze for up to 2 months. Reheat in a 300°F oven until warmed through.
What can I serve with garlic herb pull-apart bread?
This bread pairs beautifully with soups, pasta dishes, roasted meats, or simply extra garlic herb butter for dipping.
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