Swiss Cheese Bread
Swiss cheese bread is a warm and melty spin on classic garlic bread that turns a simple loaf of store bought French bread into a dinnertime staple. This budget-friendly, easy-to-prepare side dish is guaranteed to bring everyone running to the table.
As the author of The Ultimate Bread Machine Cookbook, homemade bread is my passion. But at the end of the day, I'm a busy mom who doesn't always have the time to plan ahead for family dinner.
When we want warm, fresh bread and I didn't think ahead to pop one in our bread maker, I totally rely on the delicious breads from the bakery department at the grocery store.
This warm and garlicky Swiss cheese bread is the perfect store bought bread upgrade that turns a regular loaf of fresh French bread into something your family will swear was homemade.
I bought two smaller loaves so I could bake one now and freeze one for later. Take that, busy schedule!
Why This is the Best Recipe
- Every Bite is Delicious: By slicing the bread and spreading the butter filling throughout the loaf, you'll ensure that every last inch of the loaf is extra tasty.
- Simple Ingredients: Butter, shredded cheese, and some seasonings from your pantry are all you need to upgrade that storebought bread.
- Cozy Comfort Food: When you don't have time to bake your own homemade fresh bread, this is a quick shortcut to that warm, comforting smell coming from your oven.
Ingredients
This recipe uses simple, budget-friendly ingredients you likely already have on hand:
- French Bread: I bought a prepared loaf from the bakery department at the grocery store but you could use your own homemade bread machine French bread if you want a fun way to use it.
- Shredded Swiss Cheese: Swiss cheese has a very unique flavor and pairs well with lots of different dinners but you could swap this for Monterey Jack or mozzarella if you prefer.
- Butter
- Garlic Salt
- Celery Seed
- Dried Parsley
Want to Save This for Later?
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Prepare the Butter Spread
Place the softened butter in a mixing bowl and add the garlic salt, celery seed, and dried parsley. Use a spatula to mix it all together until the seasoning is evenly mixed.
Add the shredded cheese and fold it in.
Prepare the Bread
Using a serrated knife, slice the loaf of French bread in 1-inch slices but leaving the bottom 1/2-inch intact so the loaf remains one piece. This is similar to a hasselback potato.
Then spread the butter mixture on both sides of each slice of the bread.
Spread the remaining butter evenly over the top of the loaf.
Baking Instructions
Preheat the oven to 425°F.
Place the buttered bread on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. Loosely cover the top with more foil so the bread doesn't brown too quickly.
Bake the loaf for 25 minutes. Remove the top foil and bake for another 5 minutes or until golden and bubbly.
Make Ahead Tips
This recipe can be used to make one giant 2-pound loaf or 2 smaller 1-pound loaves. When I prepared it, our grocery store had 1-pound loaves in stock so I prepped one for dinner and froze the second loaf for later.
Prep Ahead:
I buttered both loaves of bread early in the morning. For the loaf I wanted to serve for dinner that evening, I simply covered it in foil and stored it in the fridge until it was time to bake later.
You could do this up to 24 hours in advance.
Alternatively, you could just prepare the butter and cheese mixture and keep it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days in advance. Let it come to room temperature and soften on the counter before using it to spread.
How to Freeze:
Once you've buttered the loaf, wrap it tightly in aluminum foil. You can freeze it for up to 6 months.
To bake a frozen loaf, loosen the foil so steam can escape and bake it at 425°F for 25 minutes. Then unwrap it completely and continue baking until it has warmed all the way through and the top is golden and bubbly, another 5 - 10 minutes.
Variations
- Swap the Cheese: You could substitute mozzarella, Monterey Jack, or even cheddar.
- Use Italian Seasoning: Skip the celery seed and mix up the spice blend in the butter.
- Swap the Bread: Sourdough or Italian bread would also work great in this recipe. You just want a nice, fresh loaf of crusty bread.
Serving Suggestions
I intended to serve this bread with a fresh batch of soup but it never made it to the dinner table.
Once my husband and daughter smelled it coming out of the oven, they descended on the loaf and it disappeared before I could serve up the soup!
When I bake the one stashed in my freezer, I plan to pair it with something warm, saucy, and cozy like my stovetop beef stew, red chicken chili, or Mississippi pot roast.
I can guarantee this would make an excellent party appetizer or side dish to bring to a potluck party if you want something your friends won't be able to resist.
More Bread Recipes
Looking for more easy bread recipes to serve for dinner? Here a few of my favorites:
📖 Recipe
Swiss Cheese Bread
Ingredients
- French bread: 1 2-pound loaf or 2 1-pound loaves homemade or store bought
- 2 sticks (1 cup) butter softened
- 2 cups shredded Swiss cheese
- 3/4 teaspoon celery seed
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 3 tablespoons dried parsley flakes
Instructions Start Cooking
- Preheat the oven to 425°F.
- Slice the bread into 1-inch thick slices 3/4 the way through the loaf, leaving the bottom crust intact.
- In a medium mixing bowl, stir together the butter, Swiss cheese, and seasonings until well combined.
- Using a butter knife, spread half of the softened butter mixture between the slices of bread. Spread the remaining half over the top of the loaf.
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Place the prepared bread on top and then loosely cover with more aluminum foil.
- Bake the bread for 25 minutes. Remove the top foil and let the bread brown for 5 more minutes.
Save This Recipe to Your Recipe Box
Find this delicious recipe next time you visit by saving it to your very own recipe box on my site. All your favorites stored in one easy place!
Comments
No Comments