Savory Garlic Cheese Bread

Savory Garlic Cheese Bread is a mouthwatering creation featuring ciabatta bread slathered with roasted garlic butter, generously topped with a blend of mozzarella and parmesan cheese, and baked to golden perfection. Whether made in the oven or air fryer, this cheesy, garlicky delight is sure to tantalize your taste buds!

Ingredients & Substitutions

• Roasted Garlic: Elevate the flavor profile with roasted garlic, obtained from three heads, each containing approximately 10-12 cloves. (Alternatively, you can use about a tablespoon of minced garlic for convenience.)
• Butter: Utilize 2 sticks of softened salted butter to create the luscious garlic butter that permeates the bread.
• Parmesan Cheese: Incorporate shredded parmesan cheese both into the garlic butter mixture and as a topping for the bread.
• Parsley: Finely chop fresh parsley to infuse the garlic butter with vibrant flavor and for garnishing.
• Bread: Opt for ciabatta bread, prized for its airy interior and crisp crust. Alternatively, French baguette or another rustic loaf can be used, adjusting the baking time as needed.
• Mozzarella: Shredded mozzarella cheese provides the gooey, melty texture that perfectly complements the savory garlic butter.

Preparation Tips

Making Roasted Garlic Butter Ahead of Time: Prepare the roasted garlic butter in advance by roasting the garlic cloves and combining them with butter, parmesan, and parsley. Store the butter in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week, allowing it to come to room temperature before spreading over the bread.

Storing Garlic Cheese Bread: While best enjoyed fresh, leftover garlic cheese bread can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Reheat in the oven or air fryer before serving.

Ingredients

Roasted Garlic

• 3 heads (10-12 cloves each) garlic
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

Bread

• 1 cup (2 sticks / 227 g) salted butter, softened
• ½ cup (50 g) parmesan cheese, shredded, divided
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped (plus more for garnish)
• 1 loaf ciabatta bread, cut in half horizontally
• 2 cups (226 g) mozzarella cheese, shredded, divided
• Salt, to taste
• Parsley, for garnish

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Roasted Garlic

1. Prepare a 10-inch square of aluminum foil.
2. Peel away the outer layers of the garlic heads, leaving them intact with all cloves connected.
3. Trim about ¼ inch off the tops of the garlic heads to expose the cloves.
4. Place the garlic heads in the center of the aluminum foil square.
5. Drizzle with olive oil.
6. Fold the sides of the aluminum foil to seal, creating a packet with the garlic inside. Bake for 45-50 minutes until the cloves are soft and golden brown.
7. Once roasted, allow the garlic to cool slightly, then squeeze the cloves into a medium bowl, discarding the skins.
8. Mash the roasted garlic with a fork until it forms a paste.
9. Add the softened butter, ¼ cup of shredded parmesan, and chopped parsley to the bowl. Mix until well combined.

Assembly

1. Spread the garlic butter evenly over each cut side of the ciabatta bread halves (about a heaping ½ cup of garlic butter per half).
2. Evenly distribute the shredded mozzarella cheese over the garlic butter, then sprinkle with the remaining parmesan cheese.
3. Bake for 15-20 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
4. Slice the bread into 12 portions or your desired servings. Garnish with parsley and serve warm.

Notes

Air Fryer Instructions:

1. Follow the instructions until baking the bread in the oven.
2. Place the bread halves in the air fryer basket, adjusting the size as needed.
3. Air fry at 350°F (180°C) for 3-4 minutes until the cheese is melted and golden brown.