EASY! How to Bake Garlic Bread in the Oven PERFECTLY: Exact Temp and Time for Crispy or Soft, by Lifey Guy on YouTube. 5 min 28 s.
- Video length
- 5 min 28 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Heat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and let it come fully up to temperature. A hot oven browns the bread fast and keeps the middle from drying out.
Choose a sturdy loaf such as a baguette, Italian loaf or ciabatta, or use thick Texas toast slices. Cut the loaf into slices about 1 inch thick without cutting all the way through the base.
Mix about half a cup of soft butter with 3 crushed garlic cloves, 2 tablespoons of chopped parsley and a pinch of salt. Let the crushed garlic sit for 10 minutes before mixing it in.
Spread the garlic butter generously on each slice, right out to the edges. Butter at the edges is what gives you the crisp, golden crust instead of a pale, dry rim.
For crispy garlic bread, set the loaf open on a baking sheet and bake for about 10 minutes. For soft garlic bread, wrap the whole loaf in foil and bake for the same time.
For extra crunch, switch on the broiler for 1 to 2 minutes at the end. For cheesy garlic bread, scatter grated mozzarella or parmesan over the top and broil for 1 to 2 minutes until bubbling.
Take the bread out and let it rest for 2 to 3 minutes before slicing, so the butter settles. Cool any leftovers, then refrigerate them and use them within a few days.
Fix a soggy loaf by returning it open to the oven for a few minutes. If the top browns too fast, lay foil loosely over it. If the base burns, move the tray up a rack.
For store-bought frozen garlic bread, follow the packet, which is often 425°F for 5 to 10 minutes. You can also freeze buttered, unbaked garlic bread and bake it straight from frozen.
Tips and common mistakes
Use soft butter, not melted, so it clings to the bread instead of soaking in and making it greasy.
Store garlic butter in the fridge and use it within 4 days, or freeze it in small portions.
Watch the broiler the whole time, since garlic butter can go from golden to burnt in under a minute.
Use oven mitts and pull the rack out before adding the tray, since a 400°F oven and hot foil burn quickly.
Questions
Can I bake garlic bread at 350°F instead?
Yes. Lower the heat to 350°F and add roughly 5 minutes, so about 15 minutes in total. The edges will brown more slowly and stay softer.
How do I stop garlic bread going soggy?
Spread the butter on fairly thick slices and bake the loaf open rather than wrapped. If it is already soft, put it back in the oven uncovered for a few minutes to dry out.
Can I make garlic bread ahead of time?
Yes. Butter the loaf, wrap it well and freeze it, then bake from frozen with a few extra minutes. You can also butter it a day ahead and keep it wrapped in the fridge.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
