Cheesy Garlic Pull Apart Bread

 

INGREDIENTS:

 

5 cloves garlic

1/3 cup parsley

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 small loaf country or sourdough bread

3 tablespoons butter

salt to taste

4 ounces deli sliced mozzarella cheese (or shredded)

 

Directions:

 

Empty yeast into a small bowl then pour in lukewarm water. Sprinkle sugar over the top then stir to dissolve the yeast and sugar. Set the mixture aside to activate the yeast.
After 5 minutes, the yeast will begin to bubble if it’s active. When the bubbles start to form, continue making the recipe. If the yeast does not activate, try again with a new envelope of yeast—but make sure the water is not too warm.

Meanwhile, combine the flour and salt in a large mixing bowl or in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment. Pour in milk, melted butter, and beaten eggs. Stir just a few times to begin mixing the ingredients, then add in the activated yeast mixture.

Mix until cohesive dough ball forms. If you’re using a stand mixer, mix the dough on medium speed for 5 minutes. If you are mixing by hand, turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for approximately 10 minutes, or until the dough becomes smooth and elastic.

Place the dough ball into a mixing bowl lightly coated with non-stick spray. Cover tightly with plastic wrap then allow the dough to rest in a warm place for 1–1½ hours until it has doubled in volume.
When the dough has doubled in volume, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface then roll into a rectangle. Brush the inside of a loaf pan and the entire surface of the dough liberally with melted butter.

Using a pizza cutter or sharp knife, cut the 16″ side of the dough into four 4″ wide strips, then cut five 3″ strips in the opposite direction.
Sprinkle the inside of the buttered loaf pan and the dough rectangles generously with garlic salt followed by the Parmesan and cheddar cheese.

Next, prop the loaf pan onto its end so that you can stack the rectangles on top of each other inside the pan. Use a spatula to move the cheese-covered rectangles from the board into the pan. There should be no need to compress them, so just stack them until they completely fill the pan.
Meanwhile, place a baking rack in the center of the oven then preheat to 350 degrees.
Bake for 35–40 minutes or until the cheese has become crispy and brown and the center of the loaf is cooked all the way through. Remove from the oven and brush the loaf with the remaining melted butter.