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Parmesan Garlic Bread Recipe That’s Crisp and Flavorful

Parmesan Garlic Bread Recipe That’s Crisp and Flavorful

Crisp baguette is spread with softened garlic-Parmesan butter, baked until bubbling, and briefly broiled for a golden, flavorful finish. This recipe makes one loaf, about eight servings.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Bread
  • 1 large, 14-16 ounces (400-450 g) French or Italian baguette
Garlic-Parmesan Butter
  • 1/2 cup (113 g) Unsalted butter, softened
  • 4 medium cloves Garlic cloves, finely minced or grated
  • 1/2 cup (about 45-50 g) Finely grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons fresh, or 2 teaspoons dried Fresh parsley, chopped, or dried parsley
  • 1/4 teaspoon, plus more if needed Fine salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon Black pepper
Optional Seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1/4 teaspoon Red-pepper flakes

Method
 

Step-by-Step
  1. Heat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil. Slice the baguette in half lengthwise, or cut it crosswise into 1 1/2- to 2-inch sections without cutting completely through the bottom crust.
  2. In a bowl, stir the softened butter, minced or grated garlic, Parmesan, parsley, salt, black pepper, and either optional seasoning until evenly combined. Let the mixture rest for 10 to 15 minutes if you have time so the garlic flavor can infuse the butter.
  3. Spread the garlic-Parmesan butter generously over the cut surfaces of the bread. Push some butter into the cuts and along the crumb so the seasoning reaches more than just the top.
  4. Place the bread cut-side up on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until the butter is bubbling and the edges of the bread are crisp.
  5. For a deeper golden topping, switch the oven to broil and broil the bread for 1 to 2 minutes. Watch it continuously because exposed bread and Parmesan can darken quickly under the broiler.
  6. Remove the loaf from the oven and let it rest for 2 to 3 minutes. Slice through the sections and serve warm while the crust is crisp and the butter is still fragrant.

Notes

Use softened rather than melted butter so it spreads evenly and stays on the bread. Freshly grated Parmesan melts and browns more evenly than large pre-shredded pieces. A baguette gives the crispest result, while a soft Italian loaf creates a more tender center.