Description
Swedish Hasselback Cheesy Bread combines crispy potato-like slicing with melted cheese and herbs. Garlic butter and sharp cheddar create a mouthwatering side dish you can enjoy alongside favorite meals.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 large crusty loaf (sourdough or Italian bread)
- 1 cup / 100 grams shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup / 50 grams shredded cheddar cheese
- 3 tbsps / tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tbsps / tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp / teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 2 tbsps / tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional)
- 1 pinch red pepper flakes (optional, for spicy kick)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Heat oven to 375F (190C) and position rack centrally. Line baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup and optimal heat circulation.
- Bread Transformation: Slice bread loaf with precision, creating parallel cuts approximately 1 inch apart while maintaining the bottom base intact. These cuts will become flavor channels for cheese and seasoning.
- Flavor Infusion: Whisk melted butter, olive oil, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, parsley, and red pepper flakes into a harmonious aromatic liquid. This mixture will elevate the bread’s taste profile.
- Cheese Integration: Carefully separate bread cuts and nestle shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese into each intricate crevice. Ensure even distribution for consistent melting and flavor.
- Butter Saturation: Drizzle the garlic butter mixture generously throughout the bread’s architectural cuts, coating every layer with robust flavors and ensuring cheese is thoroughly embraced.
- Strategic Baking: Cover bread with aluminum foil and bake for 15 minutes, allowing initial cheese melting and flavor development. Remove foil and continue baking for additional 10-15 minutes until exterior turns golden and cheese becomes perfectly molten.
- Resting and Serving: Allow bread to rest briefly, enabling flavors to meld and structure to stabilize. Serve as an irresistible, pull-apart appetizer or side dish that promises communal enjoyment.
Notes
- Slice Carefully: Make precise, even cuts without slicing through the bread’s bottom, using a sharp knife and gentle hand to maintain loaf structure.
- Cheese Distribution: Push shredded cheese deeply into cuts for even melting and maximum flavor coverage throughout the bread.
- Butter Balance: Don’t oversaturate bread with garlic butter; drizzle sparingly to prevent soggy texture while ensuring rich, aromatic flavor.
- Temperature Timing: Watch bread closely during final uncovered baking stage to achieve golden-brown exterior without burning cheese or edges.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Swedish
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 252
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 430 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg