This bread, this bread, this bread. I mean, really…Garlic Cheese Party Bread? The name says it all. So easy, so good, and so much fun!
Only five ingredients, a few minutes in a hot oven and you’re in.
Grab a loaf of unsliced crusty bread (I like sourdough), slice it into a crosshatch pattern (not as hard as it looks!), nestle some cheese into the little nooks, drizzle with a glorious melted butter-garlic-onion mixture and bake.
Don’t be afraid to make this your own… try a stronger flavored cheese like gruyere or swiss, or add some spice by sprinkling in some red pepper flakes or using pepper jack cheese. And I don’t think anyone would mind if you crumbled some crispy bacon on top.
With the Super Bowl right around the corner, I’m going to guess this Garlic Cheese Party Bread would be a huge hit alongside a heaping pot of chili or soup. When you’re ready to eat, just grab a little square and pull!
There you have it…in all of it’s cheesy-garlic-butter-and-onion toasted goodness.
Little Hands Can…
- Nestle cheese pieces into the bread (while snacking on a few, of course!)
- Drizzle the butter/garlic/onion mixture over the bread
- 1 unsliced round loaf sourdough bread
- 4-6 ounces Monterey Jack cheese (depending on how cheesy you like it)
- ¼ cup butter
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 4 green onions, chopped (about ¼ cup)
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a sheet pan with a layer of aluminum foil.
- Using a serrated knife (very important that it's serrated, or else you'll just tear the bread), cut vertical 1-inch slices into the bread, but don't cut all the way down. Leave about a ½ inch at the bottom of the slice intact so the loaf doesn't fall apart. When you've made your slices across the whole loaf, turn the bread 90 degrees and make another set of slices just as you did before. Hold the bread together with your other hand while you slice so the loaf stays intact. When done cutting, place the bread on your prepared sheet pan.
- Cut the cheese into slices, and then into small sticks. Nestle cheese pieces into the nooks in the bread.
- In a small bowl, melt the butter and minced garlic together in the microwave, about 30-45 seconds. Add the chopped green onions and stir. Using a spoon, drizzle the butter mixture over the whole loaf of bread, getting into all the cracks.
- Wrap the bread in foil and bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Take off the top layer of foil and bake another 10 minutes until the cheese is melted.
- Serve warm.
Recipe adapted from a cookbook given to me by my brother-in-law’s father, Keith K. The book is called “From Great Grandmothers to Great Granddaughters” by Julie Ruef.
On the Side
What do you see in the crosshatch pattern we made in our bread? Why, horizontal and vertical lines, of course!
To the toddlers and preschoolers, vertical lines are those that go “up and down” or “top to bottom.” Horizontal lines are those that go “side to side” or “left and right.” With this recipe, there are many ways to practice manipulating and drawing vertical and horizontal lines.
- Invite your child to watch while you slice the bread for your recipe. “What kind of lines did I make when I cut the bread?” “What happens when I turn my loaf the other way?”
- Before making your party bread, use your cheese sticks to build some vertical and horizontal lines. Em LOVED lining up the little sticks. You could also try making a pattern…horizontal, vertical, horizontal, vertical…
- Get out some paper, or a chalkboard/whiteboard and draw! I drew some vertical and horizontal lines and then invited Em to do the same.
After introducing this vocabulary, you will (or hopefully they will!) start to notice vertical and horizontal lines everywhere. Next time you’re out somewhere, ask your child to find examples of these types of lines.
Disclaimer: As with all of our recipes, my suggestions for how kids can help with a particular recipe are based on what has worked in our kitchen. Your child may be able to help more or less based on their age and/or ability. As always, make sure you are properly supervising kids in the kitchen.
Stacy says
March 6, 2016 at 10:40 AMThis looks fantastic and beautiful photographs! Thanks for stopping by my site, glad to have found yours. My kids love all things bread and cheese so we will definitly by trying this soon.
Sally says
March 10, 2016 at 2:21 PMThank you, Stacy! I’m glad we found each other as well. Let’s keep in touch, would love to work together on something too!