Garlic Herb French Bread
Bread lovers are going to rave over this delicious recipe! Garlic Herb French Bread starts with my Easy French Bread recipe, but instead of being plain bread, I wanted to spruce it up a little bit with lots of different herbs and garlic. All I can say is that this recipe was a resounding success! If you enjoy a great tasting homemade bread this one is delightful.
Follow Me On Instagram!
I have been wanting to do an advanced version of my Easy French Bread recipe for quite some time but I’d just never gotten around to it. Then when one of my prayer partners came down with a bronchial infection I wanted to make up a quick and easy meal for her that would help her feel better as she recovered.
I made up a batch of Canadian Cheese Soup (one of my personal favorites), and this delicious bread. I also sent her home with a batch of Candy Corn Cupcakes which her son promptly disposed of. 🙂
Let me make one recommendation. If you don’t have marjoram as an herb you usually keep in your pantry, go out and buy yourself some for this recipe. It makes a difference. Quite frankly, if you’ve never used marjoram in recipes before you don’t know what your missing. It’s fantastic with soups, potpies and casseroles. It also works wonderfully in breads. It is rapidly becoming one of my favorite seasonings and it’s wonderful if you can get it fresh as well.
Garlic Herb French Bread is a great addition to any main dish entree, but it’s especially good with soup, salad, and pasta. I hope you’ll give it a try soon. While we served it plain, it’s just as good as a dipper for Easy Marinara Sauce or your favorite dipping oils. You’ll find the bread heavenly–and so will your family or guests.
Garlic Herb French Bread is awesome.
Garlic Herb French Bread has herbs and garlic in the bread as well as spread on top with a butter sauce.
Every bite of this tasty bread is delectable.
Everyone loves a loaf of garlic bread, and this one is spectacular.
Here’s what I did.
I used these ingredients.
Place 2 cups of bread flour in a mixing bowl. Add sugar, salt, yeast, thyme, marjoram, basil, parsley and minced garlic. Stir ingredients with a wooden spoon to combine.
Add hot water.
Stir to combine.
Flour your working surface. Place dough on top of surface and sprinkle generously with more flour. I start by pushing flour into the dough with my fingers for about 15-20 seconds.
Knead dough working in remaining 3/4 cup flour (from the working surface and the flour that was sprinkled on top of the dough), until dough is no longer sticky. Push dough with the heel of one hand and pull dough toward you with the other hand. Sweep dough into the dough from the surface so the dough gets less and less sticky as you work it.
It takes me about 5 to 7 minutes to knead the dough, that is about 50 pushes and pulls (kneads) per minute.
Place dough in a greased bowl. Grease the top of the dough, too. Cover with tea towel. Place bowl in a warm surface (like on top of a dryer or a garage), or you can heat your oven for exactly one minute. Turn off oven and put covered bowl in oven. Allow dough to raise about 45 minutes.
Punch dough down with your fist.
Cut dough in half and roll out and shape into two loaves.
Grease cookie sheets. Place dough on cookie sheet. I’ve made several cuts on the bread. Place dough in warm surface again, or in the oven that’s been turned on for exactly one minute. Allow bread to rise one more time – it will usually double in about 30-40 minutes.
Bake bread at 400 for about 15-20 minutes.
While bread is baking melt butter in a measuring cup. Add 1 tsp. parsley, and 1/8 teaspoon each of marjoram, basil, garlic powder and thyme.
Stir ingredients to combine.
Brush loaves with butter-herb mixture as soon as the bread comes out of the oven.
After about 15 minutes, cut bread down with an electric knife.
Garlic Herb French Bread is a great side for anything Italian!
Garlic Herb French Bread is so tasty with all the different herbs in it.
Here’s the recipe.
GARLIC HERB FRENCH BREAD
(My own concoction)
Garlic Herb French Bread
Equipment
- 1 large cookie sheet pan
- 1 large mixing bowl
- 1 wooden spoon
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- 1 large mixing bowl greased (to raise the dough)
- 1 tea towel (Not terrycloth as that will stick to the dough)
Ingredients
- 2 1/2-2 3/4 cups bread flour
- 1 tsp. dried thyme
- 1 tsp. dried basil
- 1 tsp. dried marjoram
- 1 tbsp. dried parsley
- 1 tbsp. minced garlic from a jar or about 4 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- 1 tsp. sea salt
- 1 tbsp. granulated sugar
- 1 pkg. Fleishmann’s active dry yeast or 2 ¼ tsp.
- 1 cup hot water 120°
- 3 tbsp. unsalted butter melted, or olive oil
- 1/8 tsp. dried marjoram
- 1/8 tsp. garlic powder
- 1 tsp. dried parsley
- 1/8 tsp. dried basil
- 1/8 tsp. dried thyme
Instructions
- Combine 2 cups flour with salt, granulated sugar, thyme, basil, marjoram, parsley, minced garlic and yeast.
- Add hot water and beat until very well combined.
- Beat in enough flour to make a soft but kneadable dough.
- Knead 3-5 minutes.
- Place in a greased bowl.
- Grease top of dough.
- Cover with a tea towel, and place in oven that has been heated for exactly one minute.
- Turn off oven.
- Let dough rise about 45 minutes.
- Punch dough down and roll into a rectangle, or three smaller log shapes to braid.
- Roll up or braid dough from long end.
- Place on GREASED cookie sheet.
- Heat oven for exactly one minute.
- Turn off oven.
- Allow bread to rise one more time for 30-45 minutes.
- About 5 minutes before rising time ends, preheat oven to 400°.
- (Leave bread in oven).
- Bake 15-20 minutes.
- While bread is baking, combine melted butter, 1/8 tsp. each of marjoram, basil, thyme, garlic powder and 1 tsp. parsley.
- Brush top crust with melted butter mixture after removing from oven.
- Allow to cool a few minutes before slicing down.
Notes
© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen
Nutrition
- 2 ½-2 ¾ cups bread flour
- 1 tsp. thyme
- 1 tsp. basil
- 1 tsp. marjoram
- 1 tbsp. parsley
- 1 tbsp. minced garlic from a jar or about 4 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 tbsp. sugar
- 1 pkg. Fleishmann’s active dry yeast, or 2 ¼ tsp.
- 1 cup hot water (120°)
- 3 tbsp. melted, unsalted butter or olive oil
- 1/8 tsp. each of marjoram, basil, thyme
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 1 tsp. parsley
- Combine 2 cups flour with salt, sugar, thyme, basil, marjoram, parsley, minced garlic and yeast.
- Add hot water and beat until very well combined.
- Beat in enough flour to make a soft but kneadable dough.
- Knead 3-5 minutes.
- Place in a greased bowl.
- Grease top of dough.
- Cover with a tea towel, and place in oven that has been heated for exactly one minute.
- Turn off oven.
- Let dough rise about 45 minutes.
- Punch dough down and roll into a rectangle, or three smaller log shapes to braid.
- Roll up or braid dough from long end.
- Place on GREASED cookie sheet.
- Heat oven for exactly one minute.
- Turn off oven.
- Allow bread to rise one more time for 30-45 minutes.
- About 5 minutes before rising time ends, preheat oven to 400°.
- (Leave bread in oven).
- Bake 15-20 minutes.
- While bread is baking, combine melted butter, 1/8 tsp. each of marjoram, basil, thyme, garlic powder and 1 tsp. parsley.
- Brush top crust with melted butter mixture after removing from oven.
- Allow to cool a few minutes before slicing down.
I served Garlic Herb French Bread with Canadian Cheese Soup.
This bread is great served with your favorite Italian dish.
If you enjoy a loaf of homemade bread, you’ve got to give Garlic Herb French Bread a try.
You may also enjoy these delicious recipes!
Garlic Herb French Bread
Equipment
- 1 large cookie sheet pan
- 1 large mixing bowl
- 1 wooden spoon
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- 1 large mixing bowl greased (to raise the dough)
- 1 tea towel (Not terrycloth as that will stick to the dough)
Ingredients
- 2 1/2-2 3/4 cups bread flour
- 1 tsp. dried thyme
- 1 tsp. dried basil
- 1 tsp. dried marjoram
- 1 tbsp. dried parsley
- 1 tbsp. minced garlic from a jar or about 4 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- 1 tsp. sea salt
- 1 tbsp. granulated sugar
- 1 pkg. Fleishmann’s active dry yeast or 2 ¼ tsp.
- 1 cup hot water 120°
- 3 tbsp. unsalted butter melted, or olive oil
- 1/8 tsp. dried marjoram
- 1/8 tsp. garlic powder
- 1 tsp. dried parsley
- 1/8 tsp. dried basil
- 1/8 tsp. dried thyme
Instructions
- Combine 2 cups flour with salt, granulated sugar, thyme, basil, marjoram, parsley, minced garlic and yeast.
- Add hot water and beat until very well combined.
- Beat in enough flour to make a soft but kneadable dough.
- Knead 3-5 minutes.
- Place in a greased bowl.
- Grease top of dough.
- Cover with a tea towel, and place in oven that has been heated for exactly one minute.
- Turn off oven.
- Let dough rise about 45 minutes.
- Punch dough down and roll into a rectangle, or three smaller log shapes to braid.
- Roll up or braid dough from long end.
- Place on GREASED cookie sheet.
- Heat oven for exactly one minute.
- Turn off oven.
- Allow bread to rise one more time for 30-45 minutes.
- About 5 minutes before rising time ends, preheat oven to 400°.
- (Leave bread in oven).
- Bake 15-20 minutes.
- While bread is baking, combine melted butter, 1/8 tsp. each of marjoram, basil, thyme, garlic powder and 1 tsp. parsley.
- Brush top crust with melted butter mixture after removing from oven.
- Allow to cool a few minutes before slicing down.
34 Comments
ELYSE KENT
March 20, 2019 at 5:01 am
Can you kneed this in a Kitchen Aide?
Teresa
March 20, 2019 at 11:26 am
Elyse, I normally knead by hand, but I’m sure you can knead with a Kitchen Aide if you can’t knead by hand.
Kayla
December 11, 2022 at 5:33 pm
This bread turned out amazing! It was a big hit in my family. I personally let my yeast rise in the water and sugar before adding the flour. I do have one question, did you cover with a tea cloth after forming the load? Thanks for the recipe!
Teresa
December 12, 2022 at 8:02 am
Yes, I always cover with a tea towel while the bread is raising.
Chelsea
July 3, 2018 at 12:40 pm
Does this bread freeze well? I don’t think I would need the second loaf right away.
Teresa
July 4, 2018 at 6:12 am
Yes, Chelsea, you can freeze the second loaf. Just double wrap it really well in plastic wrap and foil. It should freeze a month or two. Any longer than that and it may start drying out too much.
DU
March 11, 2018 at 8:50 pm
Garlic Herb French Bread
I find your comment about leaving the oven on for exactly one minute confusing. Do you heat the oven till it reaches 350 and then leave the dough in the oven for exactly 1 minute? DOr do you turn the oven temp to 350 for 1 minute and then turn it off before it reaches 350?
CK
November 30, 2020 at 7:54 pm
Tries and it came so perfect. Thanx a lot from Sri Lanka
Teresa
December 3, 2020 at 5:58 am
So glad you enjoyed the recipe.
Katherine
September 18, 2017 at 5:54 pm
I made this tonight as my very first attempt at making homemade bread and it was SO easy and turned out so well! If I would change anything at all it would be to use slightly less parsley in the butter you put on after you cook the bread. It was still amazing as is though. Would highly recommend anyone to try it!
Teresa
September 19, 2017 at 9:38 am
Hi, Katherine, I’m so glad the recipe turned out so well for you! It’s always a little scary trying a new recipe especially something that can be as difficult as making homemade bread. It’s always nice when everything works out right!
Josh I ge
October 7, 2017 at 4:13 pm
What other dried herbs that I can use to make homemade garlic bread if the store don’t have I. The store?
Teresa
October 7, 2017 at 7:49 pm
Hey, Josh, there are any number of dried herbs depending on what kind of flavor you want to achieve. Parsley, thyme, marjoram, rosemary and oregano are some of my favorites. You can also use basil, dill and even sage, depending on what you enjoy. Hope these work out for you. (I would try no more than three different herbs in each bread).
Josh Ige
June 2, 2018 at 9:36 pm
Can you make this recipe using all purpose flour
Teresa
June 2, 2018 at 10:47 pm
Hi, Josh, yes, but all-purpose flour doesn’t have as much gluten in it so the ingredients don’t stick together as well. You may find the bread more crumbly as a result.
Josh Ige
August 4, 2017 at 8:07 pm
Can you use whole wheat flour for this recipe?
Teresa
August 4, 2017 at 9:28 pm
Hi, Josh. I’m sure you can, but you may have to add a teaspoon or two of vital wheat gluten to make it raise properly.
Josh Ige
August 9, 2017 at 4:39 pm
How much whole wheat flour to be accurate when I do this recipe. Do I put 5 1/2 cups?
Teresa
August 11, 2017 at 10:51 am
hi, Josh, I do not think I would make it with all wheat flour. I’m afraid you’ll have a hard time getting it to raise. Try half wheat and half bread flour and add at least two teaspoons of vital wheat gluten. Try that first and see if it works out okay. Eventually, you may be able to get 2/3 wheat and 1/3 bread flour, but you may find it won’t be as light as you’d like. Also the taste may be different. Start with half wheat and half bread flour plus two teaspoons vital wheat gluten and see how that works out.
Neha kotwal
June 20, 2016 at 11:33 am
Its a wonderful recipe what can I substitute bread flour with….
Thanks for the recipe….
Teresa
June 20, 2016 at 12:03 pm
Hi, Neha. This is a really good recipe. One of my favorites. Bread flour can be located in any grocery store next to regular or unbleached flour (in the US). If you can’t find any however, I would choose unbleached flour if you can find it. Even though all-purpose flour can be used it would not be my first choice because it has less gluten than bread flour (which holds everything together so that it’s not crumbly).
Josh Ige
April 6, 2017 at 12:45 am
Can you use a silicone bread pan to make homemade French garlic bread?
Teresa
April 6, 2017 at 4:04 pm
Hi Josh. You may be able to do that, but it probably works better on a cookie sheet. Regardless, make the recipe. It’s terrific!
Josh Ige
April 11, 2017 at 8:37 pm
Can you use fresh basil inside your dough if I can’t find dried basil leaves in your local store? Which basil seasonings is the best to use when you make this recipe. This recipe is awesome. I make this recipe for bring to church on Sunday. Everyone like it.
Teresa
April 12, 2017 at 2:39 pm
Hi, Josh. I’m sure you could use fresh basil. I would use one tablespoon fresh for every teaspoon of dried basil. Dry thoroughly before mincing and adding to the bread dough. I normally just use the cheapest basil I can find at the store. Nothing fancy, but it still works fine. Enjoy.
Josh Ige
April 13, 2017 at 8:32 am
Where did you find this recipe?
Teresa
April 13, 2017 at 11:32 am
Hi, Josh. I started with my Easy French Bread recipe but added the seasonings to it.
Josh Ige
April 17, 2017 at 4:39 pm
Can you add different seasoning to this recipe? Is fresh basil work best for this recipe? I love this recipe. I will be making this recipe again to bring to church. Does you family and friend try making this recipe? Have a great day today. Which butter is best to use when you brush on top your bread when is finished baking is it unsalted or salted butter. What is your reference?
Teresa
April 18, 2017 at 3:24 pm
Hi, Josh. I always use unsalted butter in recipes, but this is one of those recipes that would probably turn out well with salted butter. I think you can mix up the herbs. Some of our top choices are any combination of the following: marjoram, basil, thyme, rosemary, dill and chives.
Harvest Turkey Salad with Cherry Vinaigrette – Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen
May 17, 2016 at 12:12 pm
[…] Panera Bread’s Harvest Turkey Salad with Cherry Vinaigrette with your favorite bread or […]
Spaghetti and Meatball Casserole – Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen
May 16, 2016 at 4:08 pm
[…] Serve Spaghetti and Meatball Casserole with your favorite salad and bread. […]
Scalloped Turkey – Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen
May 16, 2016 at 4:06 pm
[…] Scalloped Turkey with your favorite bread and […]
Creamed Cabbage Soup – Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen
May 16, 2016 at 3:02 pm
[…] some bread and this is a great meal for cold winter […]
Vegan Split Pea Soup – Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen
March 4, 2016 at 6:05 pm
[…] Vegan Split Pea Soup is excellent garnished with extra salt and pepper, parsley or thyme. Serve with your favorite bread. […]