Nothing beats the warm, comforting aroma of fresh bread straight from the oven, especially when it’s packed with cheesy, garlicky goodness. This Garlic Herb Cheese Bread Recipe is exactly that—a beautiful blend of herbs, cheese, and garlic that creates a soft, flavorful loaf you’ll want to slice into again and again.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
I’ve made plenty of quick breads in my day, but this Garlic Herb Cheese Bread Recipe has this magical way of smelling like a cozy kitchen and tasting like a little slice of heaven at the same time. It’s straightforward enough for beginners but impressive enough to serve guests without breaking a sweat.
- Bursting with Flavor: The combination of fresh herbs and sharp cheddar cheese creates a bread that’s anything but boring.
- Quick and Easy: No yeast, no long rising times—just mix, layer, and bake for a foolproof loaf.
- Beautiful Herb Swirls: Those gorgeous green ribbons of rosemary, parsley, and oregano make each slice look like artisanal bakery magic.
- Perfect Snack or Side: Whether you’re serving it with soup, salad, or just buttering a slice for yourself, this bread hits the spot every time.
Ingredients & Why They Work
This Garlic Herb Cheese Bread Recipe shines because each ingredient plays its role perfectly. From the protein-packed cheese that melts into ribbons within the crumb, to the fresh herbs that brighten every bite, the components come together to form something better than the sum of their parts.
- Cheese: I use a block of sharp cheddar sliced into varying widths—this creates those playful ribbons of melted cheese throughout the bread. It's way more charming than shredded cheese and really holds its own flavor.
- Fresh Rosemary & Parsley: These add an aromatic lift and a fresh, herbaceous quality that feels like a garden in your bread.
- Dried Oregano & Thyme: These balance the fresh herbs with earthiness, rounding out the flavor profile beautifully.
- Garlic: Crushed fresh garlic gives that punch without overpowering; it’s the soul of this bread’s flavor.
- Plain Flour & Baking Soda: These are the backbone—flour for structure and baking soda for that quick bread rise.
- Plain Yogurt & Milk: The yogurt adds moisture and tang, which amps up the bread’s tenderness, while milk keeps it rich.
- Butter & Olive Oil: The fat combo here makes the crumb soft with a slight richness, plus the olive oil blends into the herb swirl perfectly.
- Salt: Essential to highlight the other flavors, just be mindful of type to balance correctly.
Make It Your Way
I love mixing it up with this bread—sometimes swapping out herbs, other times going full-on garlic overload. Feel free to play with this recipe to suit your taste buds or what you have on hand.
- Herb Variations: One of my favorite spins is swapping out some rosemary for fresh basil or thyme for chives—keeps it fresh and seasonal. Sometimes I'll blitz the herbs with olive oil for a pesto-like swirl, which creates a slightly different texture but the flavor is incredible.
- Cheese Choices: Cheddar is my go-to, but once I used a mix of cheddar and smoked gouda, and oh, the smoky depth was delightful! Just avoid mozzarella here since it doesn’t bring enough flavor.
- Make It Vegan: Swap dairy milk and yogurt with plant-based alternatives and use vegan butter; the herb and garlic combo still shines brilliantly.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Garlic Herb Cheese Bread Recipe
Step 1: Prep Your Pan and Herb Swirl
First things first—you want your loaf pan greased well (I like butter for flavor) and lined with parchment to guarantee the bread slips out easily. Mix your fresh rosemary, parsley, dried herbs, garlic, salt, and olive oil in a small bowl until it’s thick and dollop-able. This swirl is key—it adds the eye-catching ribbons and that herb punch in every slice.
Step 2: Whisk Dry and Wet Ingredients Separately
In one bowl, whisk together all your dry ingredients: plain flour, baking soda, and salt. In another, whisk the yogurt, milk, eggs, melted butter, olive oil, and crushed garlic. Mixing wet and dry separately helps you avoid overworking the batter—trust me, you want tender bread, not tough!
Step 3: Combine and Layer
Make a well in the center of the dry mix, pour in the wet, and fold gently until just combined. Resist the urge to overmix—it’s okay if some lumps remain. Then, pour a third of your batter into the pan, dollop a third of the herb swirl on top, and use a knife to swirl it through. Add a third of your cheese slices, pushing some beneath the surface and some sticking out—this is where the fun begins!
Repeat this layering two more times, finishing with your herb mixture and cheese showing on top—it bakes up looking rustic and oh-so-inviting.
Step 4: Bake and Cool
Bake for 30 minutes until the top is golden, then cover loosely with foil and bake another 20 minutes to finish cooking through without burning the top. Always test with a skewer—if it comes out clean, you’re good! Let it cool for a bit before slicing. This part is tough because the aroma calls you over, but cooling really helps it set for perfect slices.
Top Tip
One of the things I’ve learned from countless attempts with this Garlic Herb Cheese Bread Recipe is that the layering and swirling step is where the magic truly happens. Don’t rush it! This technique gives you those stunning ribbons of herbs and cheese that make this bread stand out at any table.
- Don’t Overmix: Gently fold the wet and dry ingredients to keep the bread light and tender—overmixing makes it tough and dense.
- Herb Chop Size: I like chopping rosemary and parsley finely to evenly distribute flavor; blitzing works fast but loses that fresh green punch.
- Cheese Slicing: Cutting the cheese into varied widths gives an unpredictable, delightful melt pattern, which is both fun to see and eat!
- Foil Bake Finish: Covering the bread after the first 30 minutes keeps the crust from getting too dark while allowing the inside to bake through perfectly.
How to Serve Garlic Herb Cheese Bread Recipe
Garnishes
I often sprinkle a little fresh parsley or finely grated parmesan on top just before serving to add a pop of color and extra cheesy flavor. A light brush of melted butter right out of the oven? Heavenly. For a bit of crunch, a few cracked black pepper crystals on top work wonders.
Side Dishes
This bread loves company! I usually serve it alongside a steaming bowl of tomato soup or a hearty green salad for weeknight dinners. For parties, it pairs beautifully with creamy dips, cold cuts, or alongside a cheesy fondue spread.
Creative Ways to Present
On special occasions, I slice the bread thick, toast it lightly, and arrange the pieces in a basket lined with a colorful napkin. You could even hollow out a loaf slightly to create an edible herb and cheese bread bowl for dips—always a conversation starter!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I keep leftover Garlic Herb Cheese Bread wrapped in foil inside an airtight container on the counter for up to four days. It stays soft and flavorful, perfect for quick snacks or breakfast the next day.
Freezing
This bread freezes beautifully—just slice it first, wrap the slices individually or as a loaf tightly in plastic wrap and foil, then pop it in the freezer. When you’re ready, defrost overnight in the fridge or toast slices straight from frozen.
Reheating
My favorite method to reheat is popping slices into a toaster oven or under the grill just until they crisp up on the edges but remain soft inside. Avoid the microwave if you can, as it tends to make the bread chewy and less enjoyable.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Yes! You can substitute 2 cups (around 200g) of shredded cheese for the sliced cheese. Just mix it into the batter after combining wet and dry ingredients before pouring it into the loaf pan. The appearance will be less ribbon-like, but the flavor remains delicious.
Absolutely! You can prepare the batter and store it covered in the fridge for a few hours before baking. The flavor might even deepen a bit. Just give it a gentle stir before layering and baking.
Store leftover bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. Beyond that, refrigerate and refresh in a toaster oven before eating to restore freshness.
Yes, freezing works great! Slice before freezing, wrap well with plastic wrap and foil, and thaw slices overnight in the fridge or toast directly from frozen for a quick snack.
Final Thoughts
This Garlic Herb Cheese Bread Recipe holds a special place in my kitchen because it brings together simple ingredients into something so satisfying you’ll want to make it your go-to weekend ritual. It’s a beautiful way to share comfort food with family and friends without fuss. So grab your loaf pan, some fresh herbs, and that block of cheese—I promise, you’ll love every slice.
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Garlic Herb Cheese Bread Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Western
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This Cheese, Garlic and Herb Quick Bread is a flavorful and moist savory loaf featuring a garlic and herb swirl layered with sliced cheddar cheese. Perfect for serving alongside soups, salads, or as a delicious snack, this bread bakes quickly and is packed with fresh herbs and rich cheese ribbons for a unique twist on traditional quick bread.
Ingredients
Cheese
- 7 oz / 200g block of cheddar or tasty cheese, cut into 3mm thick slices
Herb and Garlic Swirl
- 2 tablespoon fresh rosemary, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoon fresh parsley leaves, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed or finely grated
- 3 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- ½ teaspoon cooking salt / kosher salt (halve for fine table salt)
Dry Ingredients
- 2 ¼ cups plain flour (all-purpose flour)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¾ teaspoon cooking salt / kosher salt (halve for table salt)
Wet Ingredients
- ½ cup plain yogurt, Greek or regular (full fat, unsweetened)
- ¾ cup milk, full fat preferred
- 2 large eggs (~50-55g each)
- 3 ½ tablespoon (50g) unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 small garlic cloves, crushed or grated
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare pan: Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F. Lightly grease a 21 x 11 x 7 cm loaf pan with butter or oil spray, then line it with parchment paper.
- Make herb and garlic swirl: In a small bowl, combine the rosemary, parsley, oregano, thyme, crushed garlic, olive oil, and salt to form a thick dollop-able mixture.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the plain flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Mix wet ingredients: In another bowl, whisk together the plain yogurt, milk, eggs, melted butter, olive oil, and crushed garlic until smooth.
- Combine batter: Create a well in the dry ingredients and pour the wet ingredients in. Mix gently until just combined, being careful not to overmix.
- Layer and swirl: Pour one-third of the batter into the loaf pan. Dollop one-third of the herb mixture evenly over the batter, then use a knife to swirl it throughout. Add one-third of the sliced cheese, pushing some slices fully into the batter and leaving some sticking out. Repeat this layering process two more times until all batter, herb mixture, and cheese are used.
- Bake: Bake the bread for 30 minutes until the top turns golden. Remove from the oven, cover loosely with foil, and bake for an additional 20 minutes to ensure the center cooks through.
- Check doneness and cool: Insert a skewer into the center to check; it should come out clean. Let the bread cool in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack. Allow to cool for at least 10 more minutes before slicing.
- Serve: Slice thickly and serve warm or at room temperature. Optional butter adds extra richness but is not necessary.
Notes
- Cheese: Using slices about 3-4 mm thick with varying widths creates attractive cheese ribbons throughout the bread. Shredded cheese (200g) can be mixed into the batter instead.
- Cheese types: Colby, cheddar, or tasty cheese are recommended for good flavor; mozzarella is not advised due to low salt and flavor.
- Herbs: Feel free to experiment with different fresh or dried herbs. You can substitute fresh herbs with 1 tablespoon dried herbs or make a pesto swirl instead.
- Blitzing herbs: Use a stick blender to combine herbs and olive oil for a finer texture, adding extra oil if needed.
- Loaf pan size: Using a larger pan will produce a flatter loaf but will not affect the baking result significantly.
- Storage: Keeps well for 4 days at room temperature in an airtight container. Refrigerate for longer storage and toast to refresh.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (approx. ⅛ of loaf)
- Calories: 230 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg
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