Welcome to the most flavorful way to use your sourdough starter discard! This Sourdough Discard Garlic Pull Apart Bread is an absolute game-changer. Imagine pulling away soft, fluffy sections of warm bread, each piece drenched in rich garlic butter and oozing with melted cheese. It’s a savory, satisfying, and ridiculously easy recipe that transforms your discard from waste into the star of the show. Whether you’re looking for the perfect appetizer, a side for your favorite pasta dish, or just a fun baking project, this pull-apart bread is guaranteed to be a hit.
We’ve designed this recipe to be as simple as possible, proving that you don’t need to be a professional baker to create incredible bread at home. It’s the perfect introduction to working with discard, resulting in a soft, tender crumb with a subtle sourdough tang that beautifully complements the bold garlic and herb flavors.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- No-Waste Sourdough: It’s a delicious and practical way to use up your sourdough discard, preventing food waste.
- Incredibly Flavorful: Loaded with a homemade garlic herb butter and two kinds of cheese for maximum savory goodness.
- Perfectly Shareable: This pull-apart loaf is the ultimate crowd-pleaser, ideal for parties, family dinners, and gatherings.
- Soft and Fluffy Texture: The addition of sourdough discard creates a wonderfully tender and moist crumb that’s simply irresistible.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This cheesy garlic bread uses simple, common ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need to gather before you start.
For the Dough:
- All-Purpose Flour: Provides the structure for our soft bread.
- Sourdough Discard: Adds a slight tang and incredible tenderness. You can use it straight from the fridge!
- Active Dry Yeast: A little extra yeast ensures a reliable and fluffy rise.
- Warm Water: To activate the yeast. Ensure it’s not too hot, or it can kill the yeast.
- Sugar: Just a pinch to feed the yeast and add a touch of flavor.
- Salt: Essential for flavor and for controlling the yeast’s activity.
- Olive Oil: Adds richness and softness to the dough.
For the Garlic Herb Butter:
- Unsalted Butter: Melted to create the rich, savory coating.
- Garlic: Freshly minced garlic is a must for the best flavor.
- Fresh Parsley: Adds a pop of color and fresh, herby flavor.
- Italian Seasoning: A blend of dried herbs that complements the garlic perfectly.
- Shredded Mozzarella & Parmesan Cheese: The perfect cheesy duo for that glorious cheese pull.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these simple steps to create your own amazing Sourdough Discard Garlic Pull Apart Bread at home. It’s easier than you think!
1. Prepare the Dough
In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the warm water, sugar, and active dry yeast. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes until it becomes foamy. Add the sourdough discard, all-purpose flour, salt, and olive oil. Using the dough hook attachment, mix on low speed until a shaggy dough forms. Increase the speed to medium and knead for 6-8 minutes, until the dough is smooth and elastic.
2. First Rise
Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled bowl, turning to coat. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a damp towel and let it rise in a warm place for 60-90 minutes, or until doubled in size.
3. Shape the Bread
Gently deflate the risen dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Roll the dough into a large rectangle, about 12×18 inches. In a small bowl, mix together the melted butter, minced garlic, parsley, and Italian seasoning. Brush this mixture evenly over the surface of the dough. Sprinkle the mozzarella and Parmesan cheese over the garlic butter.
4. Assemble the Loaf
Using a pizza cutter or a sharp knife, cut the dough into six long strips. Stack the strips on top of each other, creating a layered stack. Then, cut the stack into six equal pieces. Carefully place the pieces, cut-side up, into a greased 9×5 inch loaf pan. It will look like a series of bread slices lined up in the pan.
5. Second Rise and Baking
Cover the loaf pan and let the bread rise for another 30-45 minutes. While it rises, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the bread is cooked through. If the top starts to brown too quickly, you can tent it with aluminum foil for the last 10 minutes of baking.
Tips for Success
For the best-ever cheesy sourdough discard bread, keep these tips in mind.
- Don’t Over-proof: Keep an eye on your dough during the rises. Over-proofed dough can lead to a dense final product.
- Use Fresh Garlic: For the most potent and delicious garlic flavor, always use freshly minced garlic instead of garlic powder.
- Get Creative with Fillings: Feel free to add other ingredients like chopped jalapeños, crispy bacon, or different herbs like chives or rosemary.
- Serve Warm: This bread is at its absolute best when served warm from the oven, with the cheese all melty and gooey. It’s the perfect companion for a bowl of loaded potato soup.
What to Serve with Pull Apart Bread
This Sourdough Discard Garlic Pull Apart Bread is fantastic on its own, but it also pairs wonderfully with a variety of dishes. Try it alongside a comforting bowl of creamy garlic parmesan soup or with a flavorful pasta like our creamy red pepper pasta. It’s also an excellent appetizer, especially when served with a simple marinated cheese appetizer for a full spread.
FAQs about Sourdough Discard Garlic Pull Apart Bread
Yes, this bread freezes very well. Let it cool completely, then wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and then aluminum foil. You can freeze it for up to 3 months. Reheat in a 350°F (175°C) oven until warm.
Yes, absolutely! This recipe is designed for unfed sourdough discard taken directly from the refrigerator. No need to activate or warm it up first.
There are a few possible reasons. Your yeast may be expired, or the water you used might have been too hot, which can kill the yeast. Another possibility is that your rising environment is too cold. Make sure to place the dough in a consistently warm, draft-free spot.
Sourdough discard adds a wonderful softness and a subtle tangy flavor to the bread, creating a more complex and tender crumb than a standard yeast bread.
A combination of low-moisture mozzarella for its melting and stretching qualities, and Parmesan for its sharp, salty flavor, is ideal. However, you could also use cheddar, provolone, or a Monterey Jack blend.
Recipe Card
Sourdough Discard Garlic Pull Apart Bread: The Ultimate Cheesy Recipe
Ingredients
Equipment
Instructions
- Activate Yeast: In a stand mixer bowl, combine warm water, sugar, and yeast. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy.
- Mix Dough: Add sourdough discard, flour, salt, and olive oil to the bowl. Mix with the dough hook on low until a shaggy dough forms, then knead on medium speed for 6-8 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- First Rise: Place dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm spot for 60-90 minutes, or until doubled.
- Prepare Filling: While the dough rises, mix melted butter, minced garlic, parsley, and Italian seasoning in a small bowl.
- Shape the Bread: Roll the risen dough into a 12x18 inch rectangle on a floured surface. Brush with the garlic butter mixture and sprinkle evenly with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
- Assemble Loaf: Cut the dough into 6 long strips. Stack the strips, then cut the stack into 6 equal pieces. Arrange the pieces cut-side up in a greased 9x5 inch loaf pan.
- Second Rise: Cover the loaf pan and let it rise for another 30-45 minutes.
- Bake: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Bake the loaf for 30-35 minutes, until golden brown and cooked through. Let it cool slightly in the pan before serving.
Notes
For an extra kick, add 1/4 teaspoon of red pepper flakes to the garlic butter mixture.
Bread is best served warm on the day it's baked for optimal softness and cheese-pull.
Share Your Creations!
We absolutely love seeing your take on our recipes! If you make this Sourdough Discard Garlic Pull Apart Bread, be sure to snap a photo and share it with us. Don’t forget to save this recipe to your favorite board on Pinterest so you can find it again later. Your comments and shares help us grow and continue to bring you delicious recipes!
