Cheesy Garlic Bread Bake

Cheesy garlic bread is comfort food at its best and one of the first things I ever made for friends when learning to cook for a crowd. This loaf delivers a triple hit of roasted garlic, loads of gooey cheese, and crisp edges without feeling heavy or greasy. The best part is you can make it on weeknights or dress it up for parties. Once you smell that garlic butter custard soaking into the bread you will see why this recipe is a regular in my house.

I first made this version when my neighborhood potluck needed something easy that everyone would hover around. Now this bread disappears in minutes every time I bring it out of the oven.

Gather Your Ingredients

• Garlic cloves: Roasted until sweet and mellow, choose firm, heavier bulbs with no green shoots for best flavor
• Olive oil: Adds richness and helps the garlic caramelize, pick a mild extra virgin style for balance
• Pinch of salt: Brings out sweetness and moisture in garlic, coarse kosher works well
• Butter: For classic richness, unsalted lets you control seasoning
• Egg: Makes the garlic butter creamy and helps bind everything together — use the freshest eggs you can find
• Milk: Helps form a light custard, use whole milk or your favorite barista oat milk for a creamy texture
• Salt and paprika: Seasons and gives warmth, smoked paprika is especially nice
• Chopped fresh parsley: Brings freshness and color, curly parsley stays perky if holding the dish for a while
• Kings Hawaiian Original Hawaiian sweet bread rolls or French baguette: For a golden base, select soft rolls for fluffy centers or crisp baguette for crunch
• Shredded mozzarella cheese: Melts to create that perfect cheesy pull, choose a low moisture block for best results and grate it yourself
• Extra parsley and chili flakes on top: Brighten and balance the richness, pick a flaky chili for a gentle heat

How to Make It

Roast the Garlic:

Preheat your oven to four hundred Fahrenheit. Take garlic cloves you have peeled and toss them with olive oil and a bit of salt. Place them into a small oven-safe covered pot or wrap in foil. Bake for about twenty minutes until the cloves are soft, golden, and fragrant. Mash them gently with a fork and set aside for later.

Mix the Garlic Butter Custard:

In a bowl combine the mashed roasted garlic with melted butter. Add a whole egg, milk, salt, paprika, and fresh chopped parsley. Whisk everything together until smooth and emulsified so the garlic is evenly distributed in the butter.

Toast the Bread:

Turn your oven down to three hundred fifty Fahrenheit. With a sharp knife, carefully slice your sheet of Hawaiian rolls or baguette in half horizontally to make two slabs. Arrange the bread on a large baking tray and toast for eight to ten minutes until the surface is light golden and beginning to crisp. This helps the bread soak up the butter without getting soggy.

Dip and Bake Again:

Pour your garlic butter custard into a large shallow pan. Working gently, dip each toasted bread slab into the custard so every surface gets a generous coating. Lay the soaked bread back on the tray and bake again for fifteen to eighteen minutes until puffed and deeply golden. The custard transforms into almost a savory bread pudding inside the loaf.

Cheese and Broil:

Sprinkle shredded mozzarella evenly over both bread slabs. Switch your oven to broil or grill setting and broil the loaf for about five minutes, keeping a close watch until the cheese is bubbling, melted, and spotted with golden brown.

Finish and Serve:

Take the bread out of the oven, scatter with extra parsley and chili flakes while still hot. Slice into pieces and serve right away while the cheese stretches and the flavors are at their best.

Roasted garlic really transforms this bread into something special. I love how sweet and mellow it tastes after just twenty minutes in the oven. The first time I made this at my parents house my dad ate half a loaf before dinner was on the table.

Flavor Boosters

Wrap leftovers in foil and store at room temperature for up to one day. For longer storage refrigerate in an airtight container then reheat gently in the oven or toaster oven. The bread keeps its texture best if reheated uncovered so the edges re-crisp.

Serving Suggestions

I love to serve this bread at pasta nights and as a side for cozy soups. It goes particularly well with tomato based dishes or rich stews. Slice small for appetizers or larger slabs for dipping at the dinner table.

Creative Twists

Swap French bread for Hawaiian rolls if you want a more rustic crunch. Use vegan butter and plant milk to keep this dairy-free. Monterey Jack or provolone works wonderfully in place of mozzarella. If you are out of fresh herbs dried parsley or basil are good substitutes but use half as much.

Friends who claim not to like garlic bread absolutely love this version thanks to the sweet roasted garlic. I once made two trays for a birthday dinner and everyone took a few extra slices home wrapped in napkins. Do not be surprised if people ask for the recipe.

Common Questions About the Recipe

→ How do I roast garlic for garlic bread?

Toss peeled garlic cloves with olive oil and salt, then roast covered at 400F for about 20 minutes until soft and golden.

→ Can I use another bread besides King's Hawaiian rolls?

Yes, a French baguette or any soft loaf of similar size can be substituted for the rolls.

→ What makes the bread extra buttery and soft?

The garlic butter custard—made from roasted garlic, melted butter, milk, egg, and seasonings—adds flavor and texture.

→ How do I achieve a crispy yet tender result?

Pre-bake the bread for a golden crust, dip in custard, bake again, and finish under the broiler for melted cheese.

→ What are the best toppings for cheesy garlic bread?

Fresh parsley and chili flakes add color, freshness, and a gentle kick to the cheesy, buttery bread.