Yields: 6-8 servings
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 10-15 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1 Loaf of French Baguette or Italian Loaf (about 12-16 inches)
- ½ cup (1 stick / 113g) Unsalted Butter, softened
- 3-5 cloves Garlic, minced finely or pressed
- 2 tablespoons Fresh Parsley, finely chopped
- ¼ – ½ teaspoon Salt
- ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper (optional)
- Optional: ¼ cup Grated Parmesan Cheese, Pinch of Red Pepper Flakes
Step 1: Preheat Oven & Slice Bread
- Action: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Take your loaf of bread and carefully slice it in half lengthwise using a serrated knife. You’ll have two long, flat pieces with the soft interior exposed.
- Photo Description: Shows a loaf of French bread on a cutting board. A hand is holding a serrated knife, having just cut the loaf horizontally down the middle, revealing the soft white inside of the two halves.
Step 2: Prep the Garlic Butter Ingredients
- Action: Make sure your butter is nice and soft (leave it out at room temperature for an hour or so beforehand). Finely mince the garlic cloves (or use a garlic press). Finely chop the fresh parsley.
- Photo Description: Shows a small workstation: a stick of softened butter unwrapped, a small pile of finely minced garlic, and a small pile of bright green chopped fresh parsley.
Step 3: Combine Garlic Butter Mixture
- Action: In a small bowl, add the softened butter, minced garlic, chopped parsley, salt, and black pepper (if using). If adding red pepper flakes, add them now too.
- Photo Description: Shows a small bowl containing the softened butter, minced garlic, chopped parsley, salt, and pepper. A fork is resting in the bowl, ready to mix.
Step 4: Mix the Garlic Butter
- Action: Use a fork to mash and stir the ingredients together until they are thoroughly combined and the mixture is relatively smooth. Taste a tiny bit (if you’re comfortable doing so) and adjust salt if needed.
- Photo Description: Shows the same small bowl, but now the ingredients are fully mixed into a creamy, pale yellow butter speckled with green parsley and minced garlic.
Step 5: Spread the Garlic Butter
- Action: Place the two bread halves cut-side-up on a baking sheet. Using a spatula or butter knife, spread the garlic butter mixture evenly and generously over the entire cut surface of both bread halves, reaching all the way to the edges.
- Photo Description: Shows the two bread halves lying cut-side-up on a baking sheet. A hand is using a spatula to evenly spread the prepared garlic butter mixture over one of the halves. The other half might already be covered.
Step 6: Add Optional Cheese (If Using)
- Action: If making cheesy garlic bread, sprinkle the grated Parmesan cheese evenly over the top of the garlic butter on both bread halves.
- Photo Description: Shows the garlic butter-covered bread halves on the baking sheet. A hand is sprinkling grated Parmesan cheese from a small bowl over the top.
Step 7: Bake the Garlic Bread
- Action: Place the baking sheet with the bread into the preheated oven.
- For Crispier Bread: Bake for 10-15 minutes.
- For Softer Bread: Loosely tent with foil, bake 10 mins, remove foil, bake 3-5 mins more.
- Look for melted, bubbly butter and golden brown, crispy edges.
- Photo Description: Shows the baking sheet with the garlic bread inside the lit oven. The butter is visibly melted and bubbling, and the edges of the bread are turning a light golden brown.
Step 8: Rest Briefly
- Action: Carefully remove the baking sheet from the oven using oven mitts. Let the garlic bread rest on the baking sheet for 1-2 minutes. This makes it slightly easier to handle and slice.
- Photo Description: Shows the baked garlic bread, golden brown and bubbly, sitting on the baking sheet which is resting on a heat-proof surface or stovetop. Steam might be gently rising.
Step 9: Slice the Garlic Bread
- Action: Transfer the garlic bread loaves to a cutting board. Using a serrated knife or a sharp chef’s knife, slice the loaves crosswise into individual servings, typically 1-2 inches thick.
- Photo Description: Shows the two halves of baked garlic bread on a cutting board. A knife is cutting through one of the halves, creating individual slices. A few slices might already be cut.
Step 10: Serve and Enjoy!
- Action: Arrange the warm garlic bread slices on a platter or in a basket. Serve immediately while it’s warm, buttery, and delicious! Garnish with a little extra fresh parsley if desired.
- Photo Description: Shows a basket or platter filled with freshly sliced, steaming garlic bread. The edges look crispy, the center soft and buttery, perhaps with a sprinkle of fresh parsley on top.