Fresh and flavorful Garlic Bread! Also known as the perfect beginning to any Italian style dinner! You get those perfectly crisp edges, a soft buttery center, and golden brown toasted top with fresh garlic and herbs. Skip the store bough junk with margarine and make this super fast and easy recipe instead!
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut french bread loaf in half horizontally.
In a small mixing bowl stir together butter, garlic, parsley, basil, oregano and pepper. Brush mixture evenly over top of both bread halves.
Place bread on baking sheet and bake in center of preheated oven for 8 minutes.
Move oven rack closer to broiler. Let bread broil about 45 seconds to 3 minutes until golden brown. Keep an eye on it, it can brown quickly.
Cut into slices and serve warm.
Notes
Tip: if you want slices to toast evenly you can place wrapped pieces of foil under loaves so they're more level. Though this isn't necessary, if one loaf browns quicker than the other you can just remove it from the pan and continue toasting the other.
VARIATIONS
If you like it extra herby double up on all the herbs, it's delicious!
Try it with other herbs like rosemary, marjoram or thyme.
Use a few heads of roasted garlic in place of fresh garlic. Squeeze roasted cloves from skin, mash and spread over toasted bread.
For a milder garlic flavor 1 tsp garlic powder can be used in place of fresh garlic, or use only 1 clove fresh garlic.
Olive oil or extra virgin olive oil can used instead of butter. Season mixture with a little salt and brush oil mixture over bread halves.
1/3 cup shredded or grated parmesan can be added to the loaf before broiling for a cheesy flavor.
Want a little spicy kick? Sprinkle loaf with some red pepper flakes before baking.