Crispy crust, soft center, and irresistible cheesy aroma 🧄🧀
If you’ve ever dreamed of pulling a warm, golden loaf of homemade bread straight from your oven, this Parmesan Garlic Artisan Bread will make that dream come true! With its crunchy crust, fluffy center, and savory garlic-Parmesan aroma, it’s the kind of bread that makes everyone gather around the kitchen. Best of all, it’s shockingly easy to make — no mixer or kneading required! Perfect for cozy weekends, family dinners, or impressing guests at brunch, this bread is your new go-to for bakery-quality flavor right at home. 🍞
⏱️ Time Breakdown
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Rise Time: 2 hours
- Bake Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 40 minutes
- Servings: 1 large loaf (about 8 slices)
📝 Ingredients List
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoon instant yeast
- 1 ½ cups warm water (about 110°F / 43°C)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (plus more for brushing)
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs (optional)
- 1 tablespoon cornmeal (for dusting the pan)
✨ Kitchen Tools You’ll Need
This recipe doesn’t require fancy gadgets, just a few reliable kitchen basics to keep everything simple and stress-free.
- Large mixing bowl
- Wooden spoon or spatula
- Measuring cups & spoons
- Dutch oven or heavy oven-safe pot with lid
- Parchment paper
- Cooling rack
- Sharp knife or bread lame
👩🍳 Step-by-Step Beginner-Friendly Instructions
- Mix the dough: In a large bowl, whisk together flour, salt, and yeast. Add warm water and stir until a sticky dough forms.
- Add flavor: Mix in minced garlic, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil until evenly combined.
- Let it rise: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a towel and let it rest at room temperature for 2 hours, or until doubled in size.
- Preheat & shape: Place a Dutch oven (with lid) in your oven and preheat to 450°F (230°C). Turn the dough onto a floured surface and shape it into a round loaf.
- Second rest: Let the loaf rest on parchment paper for 20–30 minutes while the oven heats.
- Bake the magic: Carefully place the parchment with dough into the hot Dutch oven. Cover and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the lid and bake for an additional 10–15 minutes until golden brown and crisp. 🥖
- Cool & enjoy: Brush lightly with olive oil, sprinkle extra Parmesan, and let it cool on a rack before slicing. The crust should crackle as it cools — music to your ears! 🎶
💡 Pro Tips
- Storage: Keep at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate up to 5 days. Reheat slices in the oven for that just-baked crunch.
- Freeze-friendly: Freeze the whole loaf or individual slices, wrapped tightly, for up to 3 months.
- Cheese swap: Try Asiago or Romano for a bolder, nuttier flavor twist.
- Extra garlic goodness: Rub a cut clove of garlic over the crust while warm for extra aroma.