Garlic and cheese country bread (pull apart appetizer)
This recipe includes:
 | Country style-bread (or sourdough bread or rustic bread) |
 | Cream cheese |
 | Shredded cheese like cheddar, emmental, gruyère, etc. |
 | Garlic powder |
 | Parsley |
 | Salt and pepper |
There are few things more satisfying than pulling a loaf of bread apart to reveal its sweet, gooey center. France is known for its variety of breads, so you know that this cheesy pull-apart country bread is high on the list of favorite appetizers.
Known in French as “Pain de campagne farci au fromage“, this bread and cheese combo is easier to prepare than it looks. Now you could also use a baguette, but there is something about a chewy country loaf bread that displays beautifully and makes a delicious addition to any apéro.
The one thing you will need for this recipe however is a good serrated knife. I tried once to make it with a regular sharp knife, and while it is possible it was so much easier with a serrated blade.
Similar recipes
- Tarte soleil (Sun pie appetizer)
- Gougères with cheese
- Jambon Beurre: The French Sandwich
- French Brie en croute (appetizer)
- Boursin garlic bread
Garlic and cheese country bread
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 large sourdough or country rustic bread (rectangle or oval-shaped)
- 1 cup of shredded cheese eg. cheddar, emmental, gruyère, etc.
- 1 cup of cream cheese
- 1 tablespoon of garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon of fresh parsley
- pinch of salt and pepper
Instructions
- Using a large serrated blade, cut the bread diagonally into a diamond grid pattern, following the natural lines of the bread. Note: do not slice all the way through.
- In a large bowl, mix the cream cheese with the herbs and spices.
- Using a small butter knife, add the cream cheese into the grid pattern of the bread.
- Add the cheese into each of the cracks of the grid pattern of the bread.
- Preheat the oven to 380°F (190°C).
- Place the pull-apart bread in the oven and cook for 10 minutes.
- Check if the pull-apart bread is at desired texture, if not cook for a couple of minutes more.
- Serve while warm.
Nutrition
Please note: We are not certified nutritionists and these estimates written and produced for entertainment purposes only.
Can you prepare it in advance?
Yes, this cheesy pull-apart bread can easily be prepared at least a few hours in advance. I recommend preparing it but not putting it in the oven.
Just keep it at room temperature on the countertop and heat it up in the oven for 10 minutes at 380°F (190°C) when ready to eat.
What to serve with it?
This delicious garlic and cheese country bread makes for wonderful finger food to tear off and munch on.
You can serve it with a lighter meal like salad niçoise or a pasta dish like carbonara or scallop pasta.
What drinks to serve with it?
For drinks, you can pair this garlic and cheese country bread appetizer with a light red wine from Beaujolais or from Provence.
It also goes well with sparkling wine like a crémant or even champagne. You can read more about French wines here.
Read more: