Homemade Pull Apart Bread Recipe
Pull Apart Bread is a soft, homemade loaf with buttery layers that separate easily into warm, cheesy bites. Filled with garlic butter, fresh herbs, and melted cheese, it’s a fun bread to share alongside dinner, holidays, game day spreads, or family gatherings.
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🍽️ Recipe Name: Homemade Pull Apart Bread Recipe
⏲️ Ready In: 2 hours 35 minutes
👥 Serves: 10 servings
🔥 Calories: 290 per serving (estimated)
🥕 Ingredient Highlights: Garlic butter, mozzarella cheese, and fresh parsley
📖 Dietary Info: Vegetarian
👩🍳 Difficulty: Medium
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Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe
- Every Layer Is Full of Flavor: Brushing each piece of dough with garlic butter and cheese gives every bite plenty of flavor instead of only topping the loaf.
- Soft Homemade Dough: The dough bakes up fluffy with tender layers that pull apart beautifully. It’s unbelievably delicious.
- Cheesy On The Inside: Putting the cheese in between each piece helps keep it throughout the loaf instead of melting off the top.
- Easy to Share: The pull-apart design makes serving simple without needing to slice the loaf.
- Perfect for Any Meal: It pairs just as well with weeknight dinners as it does with holiday meals and parties.
If you enjoy homemade bread, my Homemade Garlic Bread is a classic side that’s always a favorite with pasta dinners. My Pull Apart Garlic Cheesy Bread is another cheesy option that’s quick to make, while Pull Apart Pepperoni Mozzarella Pizza Monkey Bread is perfect when you’re craving pizza flavors in a fun, shareable loaf.
Pull Apart Bread Recipe Ingredients
See the recipe card below for the full list of ingredients and exact measurements.
For The Dough:
- All-Purpose Flour: This is the base of the dough and gives the bread its soft, fluffy texture.
- Active Dry Yeast: Helps the dough rise so the bread bakes up light and airy.
- Warm Milk: Warm milk activates the yeast and helps create a softer loaf than using water.
- Granulated Sugar: A little sugar helps feed the yeast and adds just a hint of sweetness.
- Unsalted Butter: Butter adds rich flavor and keeps the bread soft.
- Egg: Gives the dough structure while helping the finished loaf bake up soft and tender.
- Salt: Brings out the flavor in the dough and helps balance the richness of the butter and cheese.
For The Filling:
- Butter: Melted butter coats every layer and gives the bread its rich, buttery flavor.
- Garlic: Fresh minced garlic gives the bread its classic garlic flavor.
- Fresh Parsley: Chopped parsley adds a pop of fresh flavor and a little color to the finished loaf.
- Shredded Cheese: Use your favorite cheese blend for gooey, melty layers throughout the bread.
Substitutions and Variations
- Try Different Cheeses: Use Monterey Jack, provolone, Colby Jack, or an Italian cheese blend.
- Add Italian Seasoning: Sprinkle Italian seasoning into the butter mixture for extra herb flavor.
- Make It Spicy: Add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes to the garlic butter.
- Add Cooked Bacon: Sprinkle crumbled bacon between the layers for a smoky twist.
How to Make Pull Apart Garlic Bread (Step-by-Step Directions)
STEP 1: Dissolve the yeast in the warm milk with 1 teaspoon of sugar. Let stand for 5 to 10 minutes until foamy.
STEP 2: Stir the melted butter and egg into the yeast mixture.
STEP 3: In a large bowl, combine the flour, remaining sugar, and salt. Mix the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until a dough forms.
STEP 4: Knead the dough for 8 to 10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place it in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise for 1 to 1½ hours until doubled.
STEP 5: Punch down the dough and divide it into 10 to 12 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a rectangle.
STEP 6: Stir together the melted butter, garlic, and parsley. Brush the mixture over each rectangle, then sprinkle with shredded cheese.
STEP 7: Fold each rectangle in half, lightly sealing the cheese inside. Brush with any remaining garlic butter.
STEP 8: Stack the folded dough pieces into a greased loaf pan.
STEP 9: Cover and let rise for 20 to 30 minutes while the oven preheats to 350°F.
STEP 10: Bake for 30 to 35 minutes until golden brown. Cover loosely with foil if the top browns too quickly.
STEP 11: Let cool for 5 to 10 minutes before pulling apart and serving.
Tips for Making This Pull Apart Garlic Bread Recipe
- Use Warm, Not Hot, Milk: Milk that’s too hot can kill the yeast.
- Knead Until Smooth: Proper kneading develops gluten for a soft, fluffy loaf.
- Let the Dough Rise Fully: A full rise creates lighter layers.
- Cover with Foil if Needed: If the loaf browns too quickly, loosely tent it with foil during the last part of baking.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Making Garlic Pull Apart Bread
- Using Cold Ingredients: Room-temperature butter and egg help the dough come together more easily.
- Adding Too Much Flour: Too much flour can make the bread dense instead of soft, so make sure you measure carefully.
- Skipping the Second Rise: The final rise helps create light, airy layers.
- Overbaking: Bake just until golden to keep the bread soft and tender; watch it closely in the last few minutes of baking.
How to Store
Storage: Store leftover pull apart bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
Refrigerator: Refrigerate for up to 5 days in a sealed container.
Freezing: Wrap the cooled loaf tightly and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight before reheating.
Reheating: Wrap the bread in foil and warm in a 325°F oven for about 10 minutes, or microwave individual pieces for 15 to 20 seconds.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this pull apart garlic bread alongside a warm bowl of Crockpot Chili Con Carne for a comforting meal. Add one of my Simple Green Salad Recipes for a fresh side, then finish dinner with a light Strawberry Pavlova for dessert.
Pull Apart Bread Recipe FAQs
Yes. After the first rise, cover the dough and refrigerate it overnight. Let it come to room temperature before shaping.
Mozzarella melts beautifully, but cheddar, Monterey Jack, provolone, or Italian blends all work well.
The yeast may have been expired, or the milk may have been too hot or too cold.
Absolutely. Fresh basil, oregano, thyme, or rosemary all pair well with the garlic butter.
Other Bread Recipes to Try
- Sweet Cornbread Recipe is soft, buttery, and perfect with soups, chili, and barbecue.
- Easy Italian Focaccia Recipe bakes up fluffy with a crisp, golden crust and plenty of olive oil flavor.
- Olive Oil Bread Recipe is a simple homemade loaf that’s great for sandwiches or serving with dinner.
- Easy Cheesy Garlic Bread Rolls are loaded with melted cheese and garlic butter for an easy side dish.
- Irish Soda Bread is a classic quick bread that’s perfect for serving with soups, stews, or butter and jam.
Homemade Pull Apart Bread Recipe
Equipment
- Stand Mixer with Dough Hook
- Mixing Bowl Large and Small
Ingredients
For the Dough
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast 1 packet
- ¾ cup warm milk about 110 degrees Fahrenheit
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup unsalted butter melted
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon salt
For the Filling
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese cheddar cheese, or your favorite shredded cheese
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, combine the warm milk, active dry yeast, and 1 teaspoon of the granulated sugar. Stir gently and let the mixture sit for 5 to 10 minutes, or until it becomes foamy.
- Add the melted butter and egg to the yeast mixture and whisk until combined.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, remaining granulated sugar, and salt.
- Gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, stirring until a soft dough forms.
- Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for 8 to 10 minutes, or use a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook until the dough is smooth and elastic.
- Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm place for 1 to 1½ hours, or until doubled in size.
- Grease a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan.
- Punch down the risen dough and divide it into 10 to 12 equal pieces.
- Roll each piece into a small rectangle.
- In a small bowl, stir together the melted butter, minced garlic, and chopped parsley.
- Brush or spoon the garlic butter mixture evenly over each rectangle of dough.
- Sprinkle shredded cheese over each buttered piece.
- Fold each rectangle in half to enclose the cheese and lightly press the edges together. Brush the outside with any remaining garlic butter.
- Arrange the folded pieces upright in the prepared loaf pan, stacking them closely together with the filled edges facing the same direction.
- Cover the loaf loosely with a clean kitchen towel and let it rise for 20 to 30 minutes while the oven preheats to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the loaf is golden brown and cooked through. If the top begins to brown too quickly, loosely cover it with aluminum foil during the last 10 to 15 minutes of baking.
- Let the bread cool in the pan for 5 to 10 minutes before serving. Pull apart the layers and enjoy warm.
Notes
- Check the Dough: The dough should be soft and slightly tacky, but not sticky. If it feels too wet, add a tablespoon of flour at a time until it’s easy to handle.
- Seal the Edges: Lightly pinch the edges of each folded dough piece to help keep the cheese inside as the bread bakes.
- Add Extra Flavor: Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese over the top before baking for a golden, savory crust.
- Test for Doneness: Tap the top of the loaf lightly after baking. It should sound hollow, and the center should no longer feel doughy.
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Final Thoughts
This pull apart bread recipe is soft, buttery, and loaded with cheesy garlic flavor in every layer. The homemade dough creates a fluffy loaf that’s fun to pull apart and easy to share, making it a great addition to family dinners, holidays, and parties. Once you bake this garlic pull apart bread, it’s sure to become a recipe you’ll make again and again.
