Description
This Italian Herbs Cheese Bread is a deliciously savory treat featuring a crisp French bread base generously brushed with a garlic herb butter mixture and topped with melted mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Perfect as a flavorful appetizer or side dish, it combines classic Italian herbs and cheeses baked to bubbly perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Bread
- 1 loaf French bread
Herb Butter Mixture
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Cheese Toppings
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and prepare a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or foil to make cleanup easy.
- Prepare bread: Slice the French bread loaf horizontally into two halves and place both cut sides up on the prepared baking sheet for easy spreading and baking.
- Make herb butter mixture: In a small bowl, combine melted unsalted butter with minced garlic, dried basil, oregano, parsley, thyme, rosemary, salt, and black pepper to create a fragrant and flavorful spread.
- Brush bread: Evenly brush the herb butter mixture over the cut sides of the French bread halves, ensuring full coverage to infuse the bread with herbal garlic notes during baking.
- Add cheese toppings: Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the buttered bread surfaces, followed by a layer of grated Parmesan cheese for extra richness and flavor.
- Bake: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the cheese has fully melted, is bubbling, and the bread edges have turned lightly toasted and golden brown.
- Serve: Remove the bread from the oven and allow it to cool for a few minutes, then slice and serve warm to enjoy the melty, herb-infused cheesy bread at its best.
Notes
- You can use Italian bread instead of French bread for a slightly different texture but similar results.
- For extra garlic flavor, add a sprinkle of garlic powder to the herb butter mixture.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for the best flavor boost.
- To make it spicier, add a pinch of red chili flakes to the herb butter.
- Leftover bread can be stored in an airtight container and reheated in the oven for a few minutes.
