Rustic Garlic Parmesan Herb Bread

There's something about those artisan breads you find at bakeries and fancy grocery stores. They look beautiful, smell amazing, and taste great, and are a perfect side to soups or salads. This bread recipe will have you making a loaf that tastes just like the fancy artisan ones you see in the store, and it's not as hard as you think! This recipe uses simple ingredients you probably already have in your pantry, plus delicious herbs that will fill your kitchen with the most irresistible flavors!

Want to try your hand at making other breads? try us Jalapeno Cheese Bread or us Garlic Star Bread recipe

This recipe is from The Craft Patch Rustic Rosemary Bread.

If you are new to bread making, don't worry! This recipe is designed for beginners, with easy-to-follow steps and instant yeast to speed up the process. You'll be amazed at how easy it is to make something so delicious and impressive from scratch. Herbs and cheese and garlic are spread throughout the bread to make it almost like garlic bread. You won't believe how easy it is to make artisan bread in your own kitchen.

Material notes

• Instant dry yeast: This type of yeast is very easy to work with, but you can also use the same amount of active dry yeast if you have it. Add about 15 minutes to the rising time.
• granulated sugar: It helps to activate the yeast.
• Warm water (100-110 °F): Make sure your water is warm, but not too hot. If you don't have a thermometer, it should feel like a warm bath.
• Dried herbs (rosemary, basil, oregano): Dried herbs are more concentrated than fresh, so they are perfect for this bread. If you want to use fresh herbs instead, substitute triple the amount (eg, 6 teaspoons fresh rosemary instead of 2 teaspoons dried).
• garlic: Fresh is best, but if you want to substitute you can use 1 1/2 teaspoons of garlic powder.
• All-purpose flour: Start with 2 cups of flour and add more if needed. The dough should be soft and slightly firm, but not sticky. Avoid excess flour so that the bread is not too dense.
• Parmesan cheese: Pre-grated works well here, but freshly grated is always better.
• Olive oil: This is not just to prevent the bread from sticking to the pan. It also soaks.
• butter: A small pat of butter is added to the top of the bread which melts as the bread bakes, creating that rustic cracked look and coating the crust with buttery goodness.

The right texture

When it comes to making bread, the amount of flour you add is always a guess. The actual amount you need may vary due to several factors, including how accurately you measure your ingredients and the humidity of the air. Don't let that scare you though! As long as you know it's a guess, you'll be ready to feel.

You can always add more flour, but you can't remove a strainer or add more liquid to make too much dough. So, add the last bit of flour slowly and gradually. You're aiming for a dough that's soft and firm to the touch, but shouldn't stick to your fingers or hands.

If you don't add enough flour to this recipe, your bread may end up looking a little too flat like focaccia instead of a round loaf. It will still taste great!

Don't have a stand mixer? No problem!

You don't need a stand mixer to make bread. You can always do it by hand the old fashioned way! Begin by mixing the dry ingredients together with a wooden spoon or sturdy spatula. Keep stirring as you add the flour until the dough starts to come together. Once it's too thick to stir, use your hands.

Knead the dough in a bowl or on a lightly floured surface for about 5-7 minutes or until it is soft and elastic. If the dough seems too sticky, add a little more flour, a tablespoon at a time, until it is smooth but still firm to the touch.

Watch the video below Where Rachel walks you through each step of this recipe. Sometimes it helps to have a visual, and we've always got you covered with our cooking show. You can find the complete collection of recipes youtube, our Facebook pageOr here on our website with their respective recipes.