About This Recipe
I am always thinking of new ways of making Garlic Bread. Now, I love the classic version, of course, which is just bread toasted with a butter and oil mixture saturated with finely chopped garlic. But how can it be improved? With this recipe for Cheesy Toasted Bread Sticks!
The answer: Mayonnaise and cheese! I expected this recipe to be good, but what I did not expect was what happened in the oven. The butter in the mixture melted into the bread as it toasted, so what came out was bread with butter soaked into it, topped with a mixture of browned cheese and mayonnaise.
It was spectacular. And it’s so easy to make. This is what I will be serving with many, many recipes from now on. And it’s also delicious for snacks and for after school treats.
Serve this delicious bread with spaghetti and meatballs, or Pizza Spaghetti Style, or Spaghetti Carbonara with Meatballs, or Wild Rice Bolognese, or Baked Spaghetti, or Tortellini Carbonara. Yum.
Tips for the best Cheesy Toasted Bread Sticks:
- Choose a good bread to start with. I like using whole grain bread, but you can use ciabatta, an ordinary French bread loaf, or sourdough. You could even use a sliced loaf of bread in a pinch, but I think a heartier unsliced loaf is better.
- And use good Parmesan cheese. Do not use that stuff in the green can. If you don’t want to grate cheese, you can buy tubs of it in the supermarket.
- Use your air fryer for even better breadsticks!
Why this recipe works:
- The mayonnaise added to the butter adds a whole additional layer of flavor and texture. Mayonnaise can be slightly spicy, and it’s also rich and has a wonderful mouthfeel.
- The cheese adds even more flavor and saltiness, along with great texture.
- The mayonnaise stays moist while the bread gets crisp, for a fabulous texture contrast.
Steps
|
1
Done
|
Preheat the oven to 375°F. |
|
2
Done
|
In a medium bowl, combine the mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese, garlic, and melted butter and mix well. |
|
3
Done
|
Slice the loaf of bread in half crosswise, so you have two halves. Place them cut side up on a baking sheet. |
|
4
Done
|
Slather the mayonnaise mixture over the bread halves. Then cut the bread halves crosswise to make strips about 1-1/2" wide. Separate them slightly. |
|
5
Done
|
Bake the bread for 8 to 12 minutes, watching carefully toward the end of the baking time, until the tops are bubbling and start to brown. Remove from the oven and dig in. |
|
6
Done
|
Air fryer instructionsTo use the air fryer, assemble the bread sticks through step 4, but separate the bread sticks completely. |
|
7
Done
|
Preheat the air fryer to 350°F. Carefully place the bread sticks in the air fryer in a single layer. Air fry for 3 to 4 minutes or until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is melted. |
