Garlic And Herb Bread (Printable)

Fluffy golden loaf with fresh herbs and aromatic garlic, perfect as a side or appetizer.

# Ingredient List:

→ Bread Dough

01 - 3 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 packet (2¼ tsp) active dry yeast
03 - 1 tsp sugar
04 - 1 tsp salt
05 - 1 cup warm water (110°F)
06 - 2 tbsp olive oil

→ Garlic and Herb Mixture

07 - 4 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
08 - 4 cloves garlic, finely minced
09 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
10 - 1 tbsp fresh rosemary, finely chopped
11 - 1 tbsp fresh chives, finely chopped
12 - ½ tsp black pepper
13 - ¼ tsp salt

# How to Make:

01 - Combine sugar, yeast, and warm water in a large bowl. Let stand for 5 minutes until mixture becomes foamy, indicating yeast activation.
02 - Add flour, salt, and olive oil to the yeast mixture. Stir until a shaggy dough forms, bringing all ingredients together.
03 - Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Proper kneading develops gluten structure for a fluffy texture.
04 - Place dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap or a clean towel, and let rise in a warm, draft-free area for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
05 - While dough rises, combine softened butter, minced garlic, parsley, rosemary, chives, black pepper, and salt in a small bowl. Mix thoroughly until uniform.
06 - Punch down risen dough to release air. Roll out into approximately 9x13 inch rectangle on a lightly floured surface.
07 - Spread garlic and herb butter evenly across the entire surface of the rolled dough, leaving a small border around edges.
08 - Starting from the short end, roll dough tightly into a log. Place seam-side down in a greased 9x5 inch loaf pan.
09 - Cover pan and let dough rise for 30 minutes until puffy. Preheat oven to 350°F during the final 10 minutes of rising.
10 - Bake for 30–35 minutes until loaf is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped on top. Crust should be firm and nicely colored.
11 - Allow bread to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. Slice with a serrated knife and serve warm for best flavor.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The herb butter seeps into every layer creating pockets of intense flavor
  • Your kitchen will smell like an Italian bakery while this bakes
  • It comes together with basic pantry staples and minimal effort
02 -
  • Don't skip the first rise, even if you're impatient, those bubbles are what make the bread light and airy
  • Spread the butter all the way to the edges so every bite gets that herby garlic flavor
  • The hollow sound when tapping the baked loaf is your sure sign it's fully cooked inside
03 -
  • Set your flour out beforehand to come to room temperature for better dough development
  • If your kitchen runs cold, let the dough rise in your oven with just the light on

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