Braided Garlic Bread
I am a huge fan of garlic bread and I am always looking for a new way to make it. I took this idea from the bread at the local grocery store. They make a tear apart cheese bread that is pretty good. The concept however, is awesome. No need to cut the bread and you can serve it family style. Plus, since the bread is braided, there is garlic butter throughout the whole loaf of bread.
The braids allow for the center of the bread to be light and fluffy. So darn tasty!
Braided Garlic Bread
Dissolve yeast in warm water in 2 1/2 quart bowl. Stir in 1 cup of the flour, the oil, honey and 1 teaspoon salt. Beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour, scraping dough from side of bowl, until soft dough forms. Cover and let rise in warm place until double, about 45 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
Punch down the dough and then turn the dough onto generously floured surface; roll around lightly to coat with flour. Divide the dough into 4 even pieces. Then roll each piece out into a snake that is about 2 feet long.
On a sheet pan lined with parchment or a silpat, arrange the four braids side by side. Taking the braid that is to the farthest left, cross on top of the middle two braids and then go under the fourth braid.
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Next take the far left braid and cross the middle two and go under the far left braid. Continue crossing over the middle two braids and going under the far braid until the entire length of the braids are braided.
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Next place the butter in a bowl. Then grate the garlic into the butter using a grater or microplane. Next heat melt the butter in the microwave 30 seconds at a time until fully melted. You can do this in a pan over the stove if you do not have a microwave.
Make sure to mix the garlic butter before using. Then brush the garlic butter over the entire braided loaf. Make sure to get into the braids.
Bake at 400 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until the bread is nicely browned.
Take to the table whole and let the family or your guests tear off how much they want.
Braided Garlic Bread
Ingredients
Method
- Dissolve yeast in warm water in 2 1/2 quart bowl. Stir in 1 cup of the flour, the oil, honey and 1 teaspoon salt. Beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour, scraping dough from side of bowl, until soft dough forms. Cover and let rise in warm place until double, about 45 minutes.
- Punch down the dough and then turn the dough onto generously floured surface; roll around lightly to coat with flour. Divide the dough into 4 even pieces. Then roll each piece out into a snake that is about 2 feet long.
- On a sheet pan lined with parchment or a silpat, arrange the four braids side by side. Taking the braid that is to the farthest left, cross on top of the middle two braids and then go under the fourth braid. Next take the far left braid and cross the middle two and go under the far left braid. Continue crossing over the middle two braids and going under the far braid until the entire length of the braids are braided.
- Place the butter in a bowl. Then grate the garlic into the butter using a grater or microplane. Heat melt the butter in the microwave 30 seconds at a time until fully melted. You can do this in a pan over the stove if you do not have a microwave.
- Make sure to mix the garlic butter before using. Then brush the garlic butter over the entire braided loaf. Make sure to get into the braids. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Bake at 400 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until the bread is nicely browned.
- Take to the table whole and let the family or your guests tear off how much they want.
