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
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Aliyah says
I made this bread twice but did it a little different the second time. I poured the butter over the top instead of in the cracks. However I did use a spatula to kind of open up the cracks as I was pouring. Then I also added a little bit of dried oregano to the butter instead of fresh parsley. When it came time for cheese I put it in the cracks and on top. I didn’t foil it when I put it in the oven, I just turned the oven down super low so the cheese melted that way and then I turned it up to crisp the bread. It was a huge hit at a party I made it for.
Samantha says
This was so incredibly easy, both to make, bake and eat! It was so indulgent, I know what my go-to will be from now on!
Diane Miller says
So so good!
Holly Somerville says
BEST GARLIC BREAD EVER!!!
Erin says
This bread was amazing. I took it to a party and it was the first dish to get finished. The cheese and butter melted down to the bottom of the bread it was the best part of all.
Ria says
I made this, and it was so good!
Brendon says
This is the best garlic bread recipe ever!!!!
The outside is oh so crunchy and the inside is so flavourful and moist.
If you want to make the best garlic bread and impress everyone this is the recipe for you
Brendon says
This is the best garlic bread recipe ever!!!
It tastes amazing, the outside is oh so crunchy and the inside is flavourful and soft.
This is an absolute must cook recipe
Diana says
My 15-year-old daughter made this bread for supper tonight, and it was delicious! Very easy and good!
Deb says
Heya Nagi! I made three of these loaves for a family reunion (gambled, new recipe for me, made in advance) and they were all devoured! Even my 7 yr old niece has asked for a loaf for her birthday!!
Thanks for your fantastic recipes! 🇨🇦
Biz Kern says
This bread is amazing!!! Everyone loved it and easy to make!!!
Tera Jane says
A few days ago I tried to make this following the recipe you gave and the results were pretty decent for a beginner like me.
Em says
Anyone tried this with nagi’s no knead yeast bread recipe?
Tara Jayne says
Yes I have and it’s so good! I make it all the time! Might take a few goes to get quantity ratios perfect for your oven type, but either way it’ll taste amazing
JaLo says
This was an instant hit with my 3 guys! We’re not big bread eaters, but the whole loaf was devoured in one sitting. It’s already been requested again. I will try cutting it with an electric knife this time to make the cuts more even. Recipe is perfect, didn’t need to change a thing!
Marian A. Fry says
Can the crack bread be made successfully using a gluten free bread loaf? Can an additional grated sharp cheese be added to the mozzarella for taste?
Sohail Swaleh says
I took my chance, whole wheat Sourdough bread was even better. It was center piece of attraction together with Christmas Trifle, from pomegranate. It was superior to cranberry for our taste.
Helen Fisk says
Made for the first time today. It is amazing! Used an artisan Italian bread loaf- all I could find on Christmas Eve. I added diced salami & pepperoni, and used a mozzarella/provolone mix. Next time I’ll distribute the butter a little better and add a bit more cheese (I eyeballed that and went a little light, I think, but not bad for a first time attempt). My sons shared/finished a loaf and they each took another half loaf home for later. My husband claimed the 3rd loaf (made with asiago cheese bread) and that won’t survive the evening. Thank you for sharing this recipe, it’s an instant new favorite!
Sohail Swaleh says
Just wondering how would the cheese garlic crack bread taste with whole wheat sourdough bread?
Catherine says
The best and most delicious garlic bread that is loved by all my friends.
Taysia says
This was delicious. A big hit at the family lunch I made it for!