This herb encrusted garlic and herb swirl bread is not only fragrant and flavorful, it’s also a thing of beauty and only needs 7 ingredients! Yum!
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This herb-encrusted swirl garlic bread is not only fragrant and flavorful, it’s also a thing of beauty! Soft on the outside with a gorgeous brown crust, this savory bread features garlic, butter, and parsley, giving it the perfect Italian touch that makes it the ultimate companion for hearty pasta dishes as well as soups, salads, and more.
If you’re like me, bread is one of those things that you can almost always find an excuse to eat.
Whether sweet or savory, there’s just something about a nice, fluffy piece of bread that just feels . . . right.
And it’s a million times better when it’s hot and fresh out of the oven. Am I right?
Then there’s the bread that you make yourself. On top of being delicious, you also get the sweet, sweet satisfaction of knowing that you made this flaky, crusty, buttery, sweet, or fragrant delicacy with your own hands (and a few tools).
Plus, bread is the perfect companion to another food group that’s a tastebud delight . . . pasta.
Seriously, there are few combinations (aside from chocolate and peanut butter) that are as beloved as a plate heaped with pasta and freshly baked garlic bread.
If you’re looking for a new favorite garlic bread recipe to pair with your homemade pasta dishes, I think you’re gonna love this one!
Baking Tips
Want to bring out the garlicky flavor even more? Try roasting it beforehand. Yum! You can also add a bit of culinary flair by drizzling the bread with a garlic butter glaze and then sprinkling it with fresh parmesan cheese while it’s still hot. But rest assured, even if you just make it “plain” according to the recipe below, it’s still going to be hard to resist eating it all in one go. So be sure to make sure you have enough to go around!
Need it baked faster? Swap out regular yeast with instant rise yeast. Here is a detailed article on Epicurious on how to do that. This change should cut your rising time in half. Just make sure to follow the suggested yeast percentage adjustments.
Ingredient Substitutes
Buttermilk
I love recipes with buttermilk but I don’t always have it in my fridge so when I found a shelf-friendly Buttermilk Powder I was thrilled to add it to my pantry, grab some for your next last-minute baking venture.
Today, mix 1 tbs apple cider vinegar into the 1 cup of milk, let sit 5 minutes, and then continue with the recipe. The mixture will create the same tangy flavor that buttermilk is known for.
Self Rising Flour
If you do not have self-rising flour you can make your own by using regular flour and adding 3 tsp baking powder and ½ teaspoon fine salt.
Garlic and Herb Swirl Bread Recipe
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Yeild: 1 Loaf of Bread
Time:
- 20 minutes prep
- 1 hour rise (shorter if you substitute recipe with quick rising yeast)
- 35 minutes bake
Supplies:
- 2 Medium Bowls
- Spatula
- Knife or Fork
- Loaf Pan
Ingredients:
- 2 Cups Self-Rising Flour
- 1 cup Buttermilk
- 1 tbsp Dry Yeast
- 3 Cloves Garlic
- 8 tbsp Softened Butter
- ½ tbsp Salt
- 6 tbsp Fresh or Dry Parsley
- Optional: Your favorite cooking oil for rolling dough
Directions:
For your convenience, printable directions are available at the end of this post.
Step 1: Mix Dry Ingredients Together
In a medium-sized bowl mix 2 cups flour, 1 tbs yeast, and ½ tbsp salt.
Step 2: Make Dough
Add buttermilk and 1 tbs of butter to the bowl. Mix everything using a spatula until a small ball of dough forms.
Cover the bowl and set it to the side somewhere warm for about 1 hour or until the dough has doubled in size.
Step 3: Roll Out the Dough
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Sprinkle extra flour or spread cooking oil on a flat surface to roll the dough out on. I like to use oil on my surface because it doesn’t dry out the dough and still makes it so it doesn’t stick.
Roll dough into a 16×10 in. rectangle.
Step 4: Make Garlic Mixture
In a separate bowl combine the remaining butter, chopped garlic and parsley. Using a knife or fork, spread the mixture onto the dough evenly, saving some butter for the top.
Step 5: Make a Dough Log
Roll the dough into a log. Stretch the dough out and spread more butter mixture on the top.
Step 6: Swirl the Dough
Use the knife to cut down the center of the log, longwise.
Twist the two pieces together like a rope.
Fold the twist in half and place it in a medium sized loaf pan.
Step 7: Bake
Bake for 35 minutes or until golden brown (190 degrees Fahrenheit in the middle)
Enjoy!
More to Love!
Print the Directions:
Garlic and Herb Swirl Bread Recipe
Equipment
- 2 Medium Bowls
- Spatula
- Spatula
- Loaf Pan
Ingredients
- 2 cups Self-Rising Flour
- 1 cup Buttermilk
- 1 tbsp Dry Yeast
- 1 1/2 tsp Minced Garlic
- 8 tbsp Softened Butter
- 1/2 tbsp Salt
- 6 tbsp Fresh or Dry Parsley
- Optional: Your favorite cooking oil or extra flour for rolling dough
Instructions
Step 1: Mix Dry Ingredients Together
- In a medium sized bowl mix 2 cups flour, 1 tbs yeast, and ½ tbsp salt.
Step 2: Make Dough
- Add buttermilk and 1 tbs of butter to the bowl. Mix everything using a spatula until a small ball of dough forms. Cover the bowl and set it to the side somewhere warm for about 1 hour or until the dough has doubled in size.
Step 3: Roll Out the Dough
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Sprinkle extra flour or spread cooking oil on a flat surface to roll the dough out on. I like to use oil on my surface because it doesn’t dry out the dough and still makes it so it doesn’t stick. Roll dough into a 16×10 in. rectangle.
Step 4: Make Garlic Mixture
- In a separate bowl combine remaining butter, chopped garlic and parsley. Using a knife or fork, spread the mixture onto the dough evenly, saving some butter for the top.
Step 5: Make a Dough Log
- Roll the dough into a log. Stretch the dough out and spread more butter mixture on the top.
Step 6: Swirl the Dough
- Use the knife to cut down the center of the log, longwise. Twist the two pieces together like a rope. Fold the twist in half and place it in a medium sized loaf pan.
Step 7: Bake
- Bake for 35 minutes or until golden brown (190 degrees Fahrenheit in the middle)Enjoy!
Notes
- If you do not have self-rising flour you can make your own by using regular flour and adding 3 tsp baking powder and ½ teaspoon fine salt.
- If you don’t have buttermilk mix 1 tbs apple cider vinegar into the 1 cup of milk, let sit 5 minutes, and then continue with the recipe.
- Need it baked faster? Swap out regular yeast with instant rise yeast.