Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. This ensures your oven is hot enough to bake the bread quickly, creating a crispy exterior without drying out the interior.
- In a medium bowl, combine the grated fresh garlic, softened salted butter, Parmesan cheese, very finely chopped fresh parsley, garlic powder, and ground black pepper. Use a fork or a sturdy spoon to mash these ingredients together until they are well combined. The mixture should have a creamy texture and smell wonderfully aromatic.
- Take your loaf of French bread and carefully cut it in half lengthwise. Place both halves, cut side up, on a rimmed baking pan. This type of pan will catch any melted butter and help with even baking.
- With a butter knife or a small offset spatula, spread the garlic butter mixture evenly over the cut sides of both bread halves. Take care to really spread the butter from edge to edge over the bread, or as one of my culinary school instructors would say, "crust to crust is a must!"
- Transfer the baking pan to your preheated oven. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes. Keep an eye on it during the last few minutes. You’re looking for the bread to be beautifully golden brown with crispy edges, and the butter to be bubbly and fragrant. It will smell absolutely divine when it’s ready.
- Carefully remove the garlic bread from the oven. Let it cool for just a minute or two on the pan, then transfer it to a cutting board. Using a serrated knife, cut the bread crosswise into individual slices. Serve immediately and enjoy the warm, garlicky goodness!
Nutrition
Notes
The garlic butter spread can be prepared up to 3 days in advance and stored in the fridge, or frozen for up to 3 months. Ensure even spreading ('crust to crust') for consistent flavor. For extra crispiness, briefly broil for 1-2 minutes after baking, watching closely. Avoid jarred garlic; use fresh for superior taste. Salted butter is preferred; add more salt if using unsalted. Leftover cooked garlic bread stores in an airtight container at room temperature for 1 day, or fridge for 3 days. Freeze individual slices for up to 1 month. Reheat at 350°F in oven (5-10 min) or 325°F in air fryer (3-5 min) to restore crispness. Nutrition information is estimated based on common ingredients and serving sizes and may vary.