This Cheese and Garlic Crack Bread is EPIC! “Crack bread” is an appropriate name for this because it’s garlic bread – on crack…..
It’s basically a cheesy garlic bread, but so much more fun AND delicious! Cheese, garlic and bread – in pull apart bread form. You can’t go wrong. Guaranteed to be the most popular thing at any gathering you take it to!
A CHEESY PULL APART GARLIC BREAD
“You will never be able to look at garlic bread the same again….”
If you haven’t tried this Cheese and Garlic Crack Bread before, let me warn you now: garlic bread will never be the same again. It’s like a pull apart bread, but tastes like garlic bread plus you have the mozzarella cheese which stretches wonderfully as you pull bits off.
This is INSANELY delicious. I especially love the way the bread is cut into diamond shapes so you can tear bite size pieces off. Every piece is garlicky and buttery and oh-so-cheesy…….
“Kids go NUTS over this…. and adults turn INTO kids when they get stuck into this!!”
This is one the kids go NUTS over, don’t say I didn’t warn you! And grown ups turn into little kids when they get stuck into this. I made this for a dinner and let me tell you, it took 5 hands about 30 seconds to demolish this!
HOW TO MAKE THE BEST CHEESY BREAD IN THE WORLD!
Best bread – The best bread to use for Cheese and Garlic Crack Bread is crusty sourdough or another dense type of bread, but it works well with plain crusty loaves as well.
The reason it works better with sourdough is because the bread is denser so the bread tends to hold together better when you pull bits off. But believe me, there is no compromise on flavour if you use other types of bread! In fact, in the photo I chose to use a crusty Vienna loaf because it was on special.
Best cheese – I really recommend using mozzarella cheese for this, you want it to stretch and pull when you tear the pieces off.
Other flavourings – I kept the flavours quite simple, going for a garlic bread with cheese, but you can go really wild with the flavours for this! Ranch dressing, kick of chilli, other herbs – the possibilities are endless!
When it comes out of the oven, it’s all golden, crusty and buttery on the inside and you know that’s just the start of the eating experience that’s about to commence….
….then the devouring begins…. that cheesy pull! That buttery, garlicky bread!! And yet, and yet, there’s even more to come….
THE BASE IS THE BEST BIT!!
Everybody goes so nuts over the cheese bits that you pull out, but my favourite part is the base of the bread. All the butter and cheese drips to the bottom and it bakes so nice and crispy…..
PULL APART BREAD for parties!
This is a great centrepiece for a dinner that could just be accompanied by a fresh salad to make a complete meal. Or as a fabulous appetiser or party food – think game day!
It’s by far the most requested party food by my family and friends. I usually make it at home then take it to the venue and bake it there. The best way to make ahead is to use softened butter instead of melted butter and slather it into the cracks, then stuff with cheese. Wrap and bake before serving.
But you can even bake it in advance then reheat quickly in the microwave as long as you use a crusty sourdough. The crust gets so crusty when you bake it, it stays crusty even if you reheat it in the microwave.
Go forth and enjoy! Make this cheesy garlic bread once, and you’ll be asked to make it again and again and again…. – Nagi x
CHEESE and GARLIC CRACK BREAD
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
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Cheese and Garlic Crack Bread (Pull Apart Bread)
Ingredients
- 1 crusty loaf , preferably sourdough or Vienna
- 1 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese (or other melting cheese)
Garlic Butter
- 100 g / 1 stick (8 tbsp) unsalted butter , softened
- 2 large garlic cloves , minced
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley , finely chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180C/350F.
- Combine butter, garlic and salt in a heatproof bowl and melt in the microwave. Stir through parsley.
- Cut the bread on a diagonal into 2cm/1" diamonds but do not cut all the way through the bread.
- Use your fingers or a knife to pry open each crack and drizzle in a teaspoon of butter and stuff in a pinch of cheese. This might sound like a bit of an effort, but I promise you it is worth it! You don't need to be super neat, it's nice to have some of the butter drizzled over the crust.
- Brush surface with remaining butter.
- Wrap with foil and bake for 20 minutes until the cheese has mostly melted, then unwrap and bake for 5 - 10 minutes more to make the bread nice and crusty.
- Serve immediately. (See note 1 for best make ahead methods)
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
LIFE OF DOZER
Yesterday, today, tomorrow… #HardLifeOfDozer
Zoe says
this is a delicious bread. It can be an appetizer or part of a meal with a salad or soup or anything. Thank you!!!
Kim says
Could i use garlic margarine instead??
Nagi says
Sure could Kim! N x
Janomac says
Pretty sure you got the servings a bit off here Nagi. My partner, ravenous toddler and I just polished this off with joy (though maybe if we shared it with 8 people I’d be moving a little better right now)
So so good…. Even if you shared it with the suggested numbers I’m sure! 😋
Janomac says
Forgot the rating!!!! 5 stars for sure!
Rose says
Oh yes Nagi, we had the bread with chowder of your recipe too. What an excellent partner to dunk the bread in.
Rose says
Oh yes Nagi, we had this bread with the chowder from your recipe too. What an excellent partner to dunk the bread in!
Rose says
Love it, Nagi! Well done to you. I baked the artisan bread from your recipe after having the dough stayed in the fridge overnight. The next day I baked it then turned it into this garlic cheesy bread for lunch.
The three of us finished the bread! Thank you for detailed instructions and the video has been always the greatest help.
Dawn says
I have made this recipe several times. The husband and daughter (an annoyingly picky 17-year-old) both love it. I’m making it again tonight, and this time I actually have parsley to add (thank you, hermit crabs, since the parsley is yours!). And to the previous poster asking about chicken, I would dip shredded pieces in the garlic butter and add it before adding the cheese. This would probably be amazing with Alfredo… 🤤
Anon says
Hey do you have any suggestions on how I can incorporate chicken into this recipe? I mean garlic bread is great but chicken garlic bread sounds even better to me
Rula says
Just wanna say that all your recipes are delicious and whatever I try from your recipes its a big hit! Thanks for sharing!
Nagi says
I love hearing this Rula, thanks so much! N x
Gillie says
This was crack bread! We couldn’t stop eating it! Used a homemade loaf of GF bread but followed all other instructions. Thank you for this fully delicious recipe!
Letitia says
This is another winning recipe. So easy, thank you
Karen Moore says
This is just outstanding, not a scrap left after our dinner with friends. We topped it with “everything bagel” seasoning. Froze one and hope it reheats well. Great recipe, thanks!
Jennie Lynn Peña says
What a great yummy idea! Will definitely try this on pasta night! Thank you!
Nagi says
Enjoy Jennie! N x
Michael W Mason says
Looks great, will definitely try!
Stacy says
Does it matter the weight of the sourdough or bread used? I make homemade sourdough and wasn’t sure if it had to be a specific weight or size.
Nagi says
Hi Stacy, the bigger the loaf, the more butter/garlic/cheese needed – but you really can’t go wrong here! N x
Pauline says
Lockdown change-I only had bread rolls…so yummy….can’t wait to get a sour dough loaf this week ty Nagi
Mel says
I made this recipe. 2 weeks in a row. My family loved it. Its so yummy. Once it came out of the oven, the whole family gather around the table. In a few seconda, the plate is empty. I wish i can send you the picture of the finish product. Hahahaha
Lena says
Could I make this with the no knead yeast bread recipe on your site? Thank you!
Nagi says
Yes you definitely can Lena!! N x
Veronica Whelan says
Made this with fish & a garden salad for dinner last night and it was a huge winner. I will try making it in a camp oven next time we’re out camping!
Glitter Donut says
OMG! SO FREAKING GOOD!
Nagi says
YESSS! Thanks! N x