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Easy Homemade Pull Apart Garlic Bread

This delightful Pull Apart Garlic Bread is a soft, buttery, and garlicky masterpiece perfect for sharing! Made from scratch with a simple yeast dough and coated in an aromatic herb and garlic butter, it's designed for effortless pulling and dipping. Ideal for family dinners, gatherings, or a comforting weeknight side.
Course Side Dish
Cuisine Italian
Keyword Bread
Prep Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • For the Dough:
  • 1 cup 240 ml warm water (105-115°F / 40-46°C)
  • 2 tablespoons 30g white granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons 6g active dry yeast
  • 2 tablespoons 28g unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup 240 ml warm milk (105-115°F / 40-46°C)
  • 2 ½ teaspoons 15g fine sea salt or kosher salt
  • 5 ½ - 6 ½ cups 660g - 780g all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
  • For the Topping:
  • 8 tablespoons 113g unsalted butter, melted
  • 4 teaspoons 5g dried parsley
  • 1 teaspoon 1g dried oregano
  • 4 medium cloves garlic minced
  • 2 teaspoons 12g kosher salt, for sprinkling

Instructions

  • Activate the Yeast: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, combine warm water (105-115°F / 40-46°C), sugar, and yeast. Stir gently. Let stand 5-10 minutes until foamy.
  • Combine Wet Ingredients: Add softened butter, warm milk (105-115°F / 40-46°C), and 2 ½ teaspoons salt to yeast mixture. Mix on low speed until just combined.
  • Form the Dough: Gradually add 3 cups flour, then remaining flour ½ cup at a time, until dough pulls away from bowl sides (still slightly sticky at bottom). Dough should be smooth, soft, and slightly sticky.
  • Knead the Dough: Knead on medium-low speed for 7-10 minutes until smooth and elastic. (By hand: 10-12 minutes on lightly floured surface).
  • Prepare the Topping: In a small bowl, combine melted butter, dried parsley, dried oregano, and minced garlic. Stir well and set aside.
  • Shape the Bread: Lightly grease two 9x5-inch loaf pans. Divide dough into 2 equal portions. Cut each portion into approximate 1-inch pieces.
  • Coat and Layer: Dip each dough piece into butter mixture, ensuring it's well coated. Layer buttery pieces into the greased loaf pans.
  • Second Rise (Proofing): Cover pans loosely with plastic wrap or a clean towel. Let rise in a warm, draft-free place for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
  • Preheat Oven: 15 minutes before rise ends, preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
  • Bake: Bake for 30 minutes, or until golden brown. Internal temperature should read 200°F (93°C).
  • Finish and Serve: Remove from oven. Immediately sprinkle tops with 2 teaspoons kosher salt. Cool slightly in pans, then serve warm or cool completely on a wire rack.

Notes

For best results, use unsalted butter and adjust salt to your preference.
Ensure your yeast is fresh and water/milk temperatures are accurate for proper activation.
This recipe yields two loaves of delicious pull-apart garlic bread. Perfect for feeding a crowd or enjoying leftovers!