Garlic Butter Bread Braid

Made this cozy homemade garlic braided bread today to go with our chili and it was everything 🤍 The house smelled like warm butter and garlic, and that soft, fluffy braid with a golden crust turned out so perfect. I brushed it with extra garlic butter right out of the oven and it just melted in your mouth. There’s something so comforting about baking from scratch on a slow day—this one is definitely going into our regular dinner rotation 🧄✨🍞

🧺 Ingredients

For the dough:

• 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour

• 2 ¼ tsp (1 packet) active dry yeast

• 1 cup warm milk (about 110°F)

• 2 tbsp sugar

• 1 tsp salt

• 4 tbsp butter, melted

• 1 egg

For the garlic butter:

• 4 tbsp butter, melted

• 3–4 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 tbsp fresh parsley (or 1 tsp dried)

• Pinch of salt

🍞 Instructions

1. Activate the yeast

In a bowl, mix warm milk + sugar + yeast.

Let sit for 5–10 minutes until foamy.

2. Make the dough

Add:

• Melted butter

• Egg

• Salt

• Flour (gradually)

Mix until a soft dough forms.

3. Knead

Knead for 8–10 minutes (by hand or mixer) until smooth and elastic.

4. First rise

Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise 1–1.5 hours until doubled.

✨ Shaping the braid

5. Divide & roll

Punch down dough and divide into 3 equal pieces.

Roll each into a long rope (about 12–16 inches).

6. Add garlic butter

Lightly brush each rope with garlic butter before braiding (this adds flavor inside!).

7. Braid

Pinch the tops together and braid like hair.

Tuck ends underneath.

Place on a lined baking sheet.

🌿 Second rise

Cover and let rise 30–45 minutes until puffy.

🔥 Bake

• Preheat oven to 350°F

• Brush with remaining garlic butter

• Bake for 20–25 minutes until golden brown

🧈 Finishing touch

Brush with extra garlic butter right after baking for that soft, glossy, irresistible finish.

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