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Swirled Garlic Herb Bread Recipe

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★★★★★

4.7 from 125 reviews

Swirled Garlic Herb bread is a delicious homemade loaf featuring a soft, yeasted dough generously filled with garlic, fresh herbs, and melted mozzarella cheese. This aromatic, cheesy bread is perfect for serving warm alongside meals or as a savory snack. The bread is twisted into a beautiful swirl to showcase the flavorful filling and baked to a golden perfection.

Ingredients

Scale

Dough

  • 1 cup warm milk
  • 2 ¼ tsp active dry yeast
  • 2 tbsp granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 4 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
  • 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp salt

Filling

  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter (for filling)
  • 3 cloves garlic, finely minced
  • 2 tbsp chopped fresh herbs (thyme, parsley, or rosemary)
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Egg Wash

  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tbsp water

Instructions

  1. Activate yeast: In a bowl, combine warm milk, granulated sugar, and active dry yeast. Let the mixture sit for 10 minutes until foamy, indicating the yeast is active.
  2. Make dough: Add eggs, softened butter, all-purpose flour, and salt to the yeast mixture. Knead the ingredients until you achieve a smooth and elastic dough. Cover the dough and let it rise for 1 hour in a warm place until it doubles in size.
  3. Prepare garlic herb butter: While the dough is rising, melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a pan over medium heat. Add the finely minced garlic and cook for 2 minutes to release flavor. Stir in the chopped fresh herbs, then remove from heat and set aside.
  4. Roll out dough: On a floured surface, roll the risen dough into a large rectangle. Evenly brush the surface with the garlic herb butter, then sprinkle the 2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese over the entire area.
  5. Form the swirl: Carefully roll the dough into a log shape. Using a sharp knife, slice the log lengthwise into two halves. Twist the halves together with the cut sides facing upwards to reveal the swirled filling.
  6. Second rise: Place the twisted dough into a greased pan. Cover and let it rise again for 30 to 40 minutes to become puffy.
  7. Bake the bread: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Whisk together the egg and water to make an egg wash, then brush it over the loaf to give it a shiny golden crust. Bake in the preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes until the bread is golden brown and cooked through.
  8. Cool and serve: Remove the bread from the oven and allow it to cool for 15 minutes before slicing. Serve warm to enjoy the melty, herby, cheesy goodness.

Notes

  • Make sure the milk is warm, not hot, to properly activate the yeast without killing it.
  • Kneading the dough well helps develop gluten, resulting in a soft, chewy bread.
  • You can customize herbs based on preference; rosemary, thyme, and parsley all work well.
  • Use a sharp knife to slice the dough log to prevent crushing the filling.
  • Allow the bread to cool slightly before cutting to avoid losing the melted cheese filling.
  • If you prefer a stronger garlic flavor, add extra minced garlic to the filling.
  • This bread is best served fresh but can be reheated gently in the oven.

Keywords: Garlic herb bread, cheesy bread, homemade bread, savory bread, swirl bread, garlic bread with mozzarella, herbed bread

Find it online: https://liamjayne.com/swirled-garlic-herb-bread-recipe/