Swirled Garlic Herb and Cheese Bread Recipe
This Swirled Garlic Herb and Cheese Bread is a perfect homemade yeast bread with layers of melted mozzarella, parmesan, and fresh herbs swirled into soft, buttery dough. It’s ideal for garlic lovers and makes a delicious accompaniment to any meal or a savory snack on its own.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 45 minutes
- Yield: 1 loaf (12 slices) 1x
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Dough
- 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1 cup warm milk
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
Filling
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 3 cloves garlic, minced or roasted
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- Salt and pepper to taste
Topping
- 1 egg, beaten for egg wash
- Extra herbs or shredded cheese for garnish
Instructions
- Activate Yeast: Combine warm milk and sugar in a small bowl. Sprinkle yeast on top and let sit for 5–10 minutes until foamy, indicating the yeast is active.
- Make Dough: In a stand mixer bowl, combine flour and salt. Add the egg, softened butter, and the activated yeast mixture. Mix and knead for 7–8 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic.
- First Rise: Transfer the dough to a greased bowl, cover with a clean towel or plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm area for 1 to 1.5 hours until it doubles in size.
- Shape Dough: Punch down the dough to release gas, then roll it out on a floured surface into a ¼-inch thick rectangle.
- Add Filling: Brush the rectangle with melted butter, then sprinkle evenly with mozzarella, parmesan, garlic, herbs, and season with salt and pepper.
- Form Swirl: Roll the rectangle tightly into a log from the long side. Slice the log lengthwise, then twist the two halves together with the filling facing upward.
- Shape and Proof: Form the twisted dough into a swirl or braid shape. Place it in a greased loaf pan or on a baking sheet, cover, and let it proof for 30–40 minutes until slightly puffed.
- Preheat Oven and Finish: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Brush the top of the loaf with beaten egg wash and optionally sprinkle extra herbs or cheese.
- Bake: Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until the bread is golden brown and cooked through.
- Cool and Serve: Let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.
Notes
- For best results, use room temperature ingredients except for the warm milk when activating yeast.
- You can substitute fresh herbs with dried herbs, but reduce quantity by half as dried herbs are more potent.
- Roasting the garlic beforehand will give a sweeter, milder flavor compared to raw minced garlic.
- This bread freezes well; slice and freeze portions, then reheat in a toaster oven.
- If you prefer, swap out mozzarella for cheddar or another melting cheese for a different flavor profile.
Keywords: Garlic bread, herb bread, cheese bread, homemade bread, savory bread, twisted bread, mozzarella, parmesan, fresh herbs
