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Swirled Garlic Herb Bread Recipe

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★★★★★

4.5 from 128 reviews

This Swirled Garlic Herb Bread is a savory, aromatic loaf featuring a tender dough swirled with a flavorful garlic herb butter blend of parmesan, basil, thyme, and sage. Perfectly golden and soft, this bread is ideal as a side for soups, salads, or as a delicious snack on its own.

Ingredients

Scale

Dough Ingredients

  • ¾ cup warm whole milk
  • 2 ¼ teaspoons instant yeast
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 3 large eggs
  • 3 ½ – 4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 6 tablespoons salted butter, at room temperature, plus more for serving

Herb Butter Spread

  • 1–2 cloves garlic, grated or finely chopped
  • ¼ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
  • ½ cup fresh basil, finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage

Instructions

  1. Activate the yeast: In a large mixing bowl, combine the warm milk, instant yeast, and honey. Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes until it becomes foamy, indicating the yeast is active and ready to use.
  2. Mix the dough: Add the eggs, 3 ½ cups of flour, and kosher salt to the yeast mixture. Using a dough hook or mixing by hand, combine until a dough forms. If too sticky, gradually add the remaining flour. Add 2 tablespoons of the butter and knead for about 5 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic.
  3. Let the dough rise: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and allow the dough to rise in a warm place for approximately 1 hour, or until it has doubled in size.
  4. Prepare the herb butter: In a small bowl, mix the remaining 4 tablespoons of room temperature butter with grated garlic, freshly grated parmesan, chopped basil, thyme, and sage. Set this flavorful butter mixture aside.
  5. Roll out the dough: Lightly flour a clean surface and roll the risen dough into a 12×18 inch rectangle. Spread the herb butter evenly over the entire surface of the dough ensuring full coverage.
  6. Shape the bread: Roll the dough tightly into a log starting from the long side. Using a sharp knife, carefully slice the log lengthwise, leaving one end slightly intact. Twist the two halves over each other to expose the swirled herb layers. Coil the twisted dough into an “S” shape and place it onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.
  7. Second rise: Cover the shaped dough and allow it to rise again for about 45 minutes until slightly puffed.
  8. Bake the bread: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the bread for 30 to 35 minutes, or until it turns golden brown and is cooked through. Once out of the oven, brush the warm bread with additional butter to enhance flavor and serve.

Notes

  • Make sure the milk is warm, not hot, to avoid killing the yeast.
  • Adjust flour quantity as needed to achieve a soft but not sticky dough.
  • Fresh herbs provide the best flavor, but dried herbs can be substituted at about one-third the quantity.
  • Letting the bread cool slightly before slicing helps maintain its shape.
  • For a dairy-free option, substitute butter with a plant-based alternative.

Keywords: garlic herb bread, swirled bread, homemade bread, soft bread, parmesan bread, herb butter bread

Find it online: https://nayabaker.com/swirled-garlic-herb-bread-recipe/