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Roasted Garlic Sandwich Bread Recipe

Roasted Garlic Sandwich Bread Recipe

Learn how to make the best homemade Roasted Garlic Sandwich Bread with this easy baking recipe. Perfectly infused with sweet roasted garlic and herbs, this foolproof sandwich loaf features a tender crumb and crusty exterior that elevates any sandwich from ordinary to extraordinary.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
Prep Time:
30 mins
Cook Time:
40 mins
Serves:
1 loaf (12 slices)
A golden-brown loaf of Roasted Garlic Sandwich Bread photographed in cross-section on a rustic wooden board, showing its perfect square sandwich shape with a tender, even crumb speckled with roasted garlic pieces. Soft natural light streams in from a nearby window, highlighting the bread's crisp crust and fluffy interior. Several thick slices stand propped beside the main loaf, revealing swirls of roasted garlic and herbs throughout. A small bowl of golden roasted garlic cloves and a drizzle of olive oil sit nearby, while a linen napkin and bread knife complete the homey setup, suggesting the perfect foundation for an artisanal sandwich.

Ingredients

<ul class="ingredients-main-list"><li class="ingredients-single-item">2 whole garlic bulbs</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">15ml olive oil</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">500g strong bread flour</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">7g instant dried yeast</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">10g salt</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">15g granulated sugar</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">30g unsalted butter, softened</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">300ml lukewarm water</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">15g chopped fresh herbs (rosemary, thyme, or oregano)</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">Extra flour for dusting</li></ul>

Equipment

<ul class="equipment-main-list"><li class="equipment-single-item">9×5 inch (23×13 cm) loaf tin</li><li class="equipment-single-item">Stand mixer with dough hook (optional)</li><li class="equipment-single-item">Aluminum foil</li><li class="equipment-single-item">Pastry brush</li><li class="equipment-single-item">Cooling rack</li></ul>

Directions

<ol class="no-list-style"><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 1</h4>Preheat your oven to 200°C. Cut the tops off the garlic bulbs to expose the cloves, place them on a piece of aluminum foil, drizzle with olive oil, and wrap tightly. Roast for 30-35 minutes until the garlic is golden and soft. Allow to cool completely before squeezing the soft, caramelized cloves out of their skins. This roasting process transforms the sharp, pungent garlic into sweet, mellow morsels that will flavor your bread beautifully.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 2</h4>In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of your stand mixer, combine the bread flour, instant yeast, salt, and sugar. Keep the salt and yeast on opposite sides of the bowl initially, as salt can inhibit yeast activity if they come into direct contact before being mixed with other ingredients.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 3</h4>Add the softened butter, lukewarm water, roasted garlic cloves (mashed with a fork), and chopped herbs to the dry ingredients. Mix until a shaggy dough forms, then knead for 8-10 minutes by hand on a lightly floured surface or 5-6 minutes with a stand mixer on medium speed. The dough should be smooth, elastic, and slightly tacky but not sticky. If too dry, add a tablespoon of water; if too wet, add a little more flour.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 4</h4>Form the dough into a ball and place in a lightly oiled bowl, turning once to coat. Cover with a damp cloth or plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place (about 24°C) for 1-1½ hours, or until doubled in size. The slow rise develops flavor and structure in your bread, so be patient and resist the urge to rush this step.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 5</h4>Once doubled, gently punch down the dough to release the air bubbles. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and shape into a rectangle roughly the length of your loaf tin. Fold the long sides toward the center, then roll the dough into a tight log, pinching the seam and ends to seal. Place seam-side down in a greased 9×5 inch loaf tin.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 6</h4>Cover the tin loosely with oiled plastic wrap and let the dough rise again for about 45-60 minutes, or until it has risen about 2.5cm above the rim of the tin. This second rise (proofing) is critical for achieving the perfect texture – if under-proofed, your bread will be dense; if over-proofed, it may collapse during baking.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 7</h4>While the dough is on its second rise, preheat your oven to 220°C. When ready to bake, dust the top of the loaf lightly with flour and score the top with a sharp knife or razor blade, making a few shallow diagonal slashes. This allows the bread to expand properly during baking.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 8</h4>Bake for 15 minutes at 220°C, then reduce the temperature to 190°C and continue baking for 20-25 minutes more. The bread should be golden brown and sound hollow when tapped on the bottom. If the top browns too quickly, cover loosely with foil.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 9</h4>Remove the bread from the tin immediately and cool completely on a wire rack before slicing. This cooling period allows the starches to set and prevents a gummy texture. Your patience will be rewarded with perfectly sliceable bread that won't tear or crumble.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 10</h4>Once completely cool (at least 2 hours), slice with a serrated knife and enjoy! This bread makes exceptional sandwiches, toast, and garlic bread. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or freeze slices for up to 3 months.</li></ol>

FAQs

Find answers to your most pressing questions about this delicious recipe right here.

What ingredients are used in Roasted Garlic Sandwich Bread?

This bread requires garlic bulbs, olive oil, strong bread flour, instant dried yeast, salt, sugar, unsalted butter, water, and fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme or oregano. The roasted garlic provides sweet, mellow flavour while herbs add aromatic depth.

How to cook Roasted Garlic Sandwich Bread at home?

Learn how to cook Roasted Garlic Sandwich Bread by first roasting whole garlic bulbs until caramelised, then incorporating them into a yeasted dough with herbs. After two rises, bake in a loaf tin at 220°C for 15 minutes, then reduce to 190°C for 20-25 minutes until golden and hollow-sounding when tapped. The result is a fragrant, tender bread perfect for sandwiches.

Can I make this garlic bread without a stand mixer?

Absolutely! While a stand mixer makes the process easier, you can knead this dough entirely by hand. Simply mix ingredients in a large bowl, then knead on a floured surface for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Hand-kneading actually helps develop a feel for perfect dough consistency.

Why does my homemade bread turn out dense instead of light and fluffy?

Dense bread typically results from insufficient rising time, under-kneading, or inactive yeast. Ensure your yeast is fresh, knead thoroughly to develop gluten, and allow proper rising time in a warm environment. Don't rush the process—proper proofing is essential for developing that light, airy texture.

How can I store homemade bread to keep it fresh longer?

For maximum freshness, cool your bread completely before storing in an airtight container or bread bin at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, slice the cooled loaf and freeze in freezer bags for up to 3 months, defrosting slices as needed.

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My family now requests this weekly!", "name": "Better Than Bakery Bread", "reviewRating": { "@type": "Rating", "ratingValue": "5" } }, { "@type": "Review", "author": "Lucia Rossi", "datePublished": "2024-04-10", "reviewBody": "Worth every minute of the rising time! The texture is absolutely perfect and the roasted garlic adds such a wonderful depth of flavor without being overwhelming. I've already made this three times in two weeks!", "name": "Worth The Extra Rising Time", "reviewRating": { "@type": "Rating", "ratingValue": "5" } }, { "@type": "Review", "author": "Sven Johansson", "datePublished": "2024-04-15", "reviewBody": "The instructions were clear and easy to follow even for someone with limited bread-baking experience like myself. The result was amazing! 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