Garlic Bread with Buttery Fresh Garlic and Crisp Golden Edges
By Sophia Reed
Prep
15 min
Cook
15 min
Total
30 min
Servings
8
Level
Easy
For a prep-friendly batch, make the garlic butter while the loaf is halved, then bake close to serving for eight warm portions. This semi-homemade garlic bread uses soft French bread for buttery garlic flavor, crisp golden edges, and a gooey center.
A 14- to 16-ounce soft French loaf, rather than a baguette, gives the recipe its fluffy interior and thin crust. Unsalted butter carries finely minced fresh garlic, while salt and dried parsley finish the spread. The garlic steeps in melted butter for about three minutes before the mixture is brushed or spooned generously over the cut sides.
The bread is ready when the exposed edges turn golden brown after baking at 400°F. Watch the loaf closely if using the broiler, since the extra two to three minutes can brown the surface quickly. Finely mincing fresh cloves with a knife matters here: the small pieces toast into the butter instead of disappearing into a smooth paste.
Slice and serve the bread warm alongside a meal or as a shared side. For planning ahead, keep the loaf whole until you are ready to spread and bake it, so the cut surface stays soft before it goes into the oven.
Why you'll love this recipe
- The garlic butter can be mixed while the bread is being sliced, so the components are ready to assemble quickly before dinner.
- Fresh garlic is steeped briefly in melted butter, which distributes its flavor across every portion instead of leaving dry bread underneath.
- A full loaf makes eight portions, giving a family meal enough bread to serve immediately without preparing several separate batches.
- Baking cut-side up creates golden edges and a soft center, so each slice reheats more evenly than bread wrapped around filling.
- The optional broiler finish lets you crisp the top at the last minute, which is useful when timing the bread with other dishes.
- Using five straightforward ingredients keeps batch shopping simple, and the butter mixture makes the loaf feel substantial without extra components.
Ingredients
- •1 loaf soft French bread (14 to 16-ounce; not baguette)
- •0.75 cup unsalted butter
- •4 large cloves garlic (finely minced; about 2 tablespoons minced)
- •0.5 teaspoon salt
- •1 tablespoon dried parsley flakes
Instructions
- 1
Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil.
- 2
Slice the loaf of bread in half.
- 3
Place the bread pieces cut-side up on the prepared pan.
- 4
Melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat.
- 5
Add the garlic to the melted butter and remove the saucepan from the heat.
- 6
Allow the garlic to steep in the butter for about 3 minutes.
- 7
Add the salt and parsley, then stir to combine.
- 8
Use a spoon or pastry brush to coat the cut sides of the bread with the garlic butter.
- 9
Bake for 15 minutes or until the edges are golden brown.
- 10
For extra crispiness, place under the broiler for 2 to 3 minutes, watching very carefully.
- 11
Slice and serve warm.
FAQ
Nutrition (per serving)
Calories
300
Protein
6g
Fat
19g
Carbs
28g
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