If you ask me, garlic bread made with puff pastry is one of the best ideas ever.
This buttery, flaky twist on regular garlic bread turns a simple side dish into something that feels a bit more special. The layers of pastry puff up golden brown in the oven, while plenty of garlic and herbs bring that classic flavor we all know and love.
It’s made with store-bought puff pastry (because who has time to make it from scratch?), then brushed with garlicky butter and baked until the outside gets nice and crispy. A sprinkle of parsley and parmesan adds the perfect finishing touch.
It’s the kind of easy recipe that makes weeknight dinners feel a little fancier, and it goes with practically everything from pasta to soup.
Why You’ll Love This Garlic Bread
- Quick preparation – Ready in just 25 minutes, this garlic bread is perfect when you need something tasty without spending hours in the kitchen.
- 5-ingredient recipe – With just puff pastry, butter, garlic, cheese, and herbs, you can create something that tastes like it came from a bakery.
- Flaky and buttery – The pre-made puff pastry gives you those perfect, crispy layers every single time – no pastry-making skills required!
- Great for entertaining – This fancy-looking bread will make guests think you spent way more time on it than you actually did, and it’s perfect for serving at dinner parties or gatherings.
What Kind of Puff Pastry Should I Use?
Store-bought puff pastry is perfectly fine for this recipe, and it’s what most home cooks prefer to use since making it from scratch can be quite time-consuming. You’ll find two main types in most grocery stores – traditional butter-based puff pastry and one made with other fats. Go for the all-butter version if you can find it, as it gives the best flavor and creates those lovely flaky layers we’re looking for. Just make sure to check the expiration date and that your pastry hasn’t been frozen too long, which can affect how well it puffs up. When working with puff pastry, keep it chilled until you’re ready to use it, but let it warm up just enough to be pliable without being sticky – about 10-15 minutes on the counter usually does the trick.
Options for Substitutions
This recipe is pretty adaptable and you can make several swaps depending on what you have in your kitchen:
- Puff pastry: While puff pastry is really the star here and can’t be perfectly substituted, you can use croissant dough in a pinch – though the texture won’t be quite as flaky. Just avoid regular bread dough as it won’t give you those lovely layers.
- Unsalted butter: Salted butter works fine – just reduce the amount of added salt. You could also use a good quality margarine, though butter gives the best flavor.
- Young garlic: Regular garlic cloves work perfectly well here. If you’re out of fresh garlic, you can use 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder, but fresh is definitely better for this recipe.
- Aged cheddar: The recipe already suggests parmesan or gruyere as alternatives. You could also try pecorino romano, asiago, or any hard, aged cheese that you enjoy.
- Fresh thyme: If you don’t have fresh thyme, you can use dried thyme (use about 1/3 of the amount called for fresh). Rosemary or oregano make good substitutes too, or you can skip the herbs altogether.
Watch Out for These Mistakes While Baking
The biggest challenge when making puff pastry garlic bread is temperature control – using warm or room temperature butter will make the dough greasy and prevent proper layering, so keep your butter cold until the moment you need to spread it. Working with puff pastry that’s too warm is another common mistake that leads to sticky, hard-to-handle dough, so if your pastry feels soft at any point, pop it in the fridge for 15 minutes to firm up. The third crucial point is oven temperature – starting with a properly preheated oven (usually 400°F/200°C) is essential, as a cool oven won’t create the steam needed for those beautiful, flaky layers. For the best garlic flavor without any bitter burnt bits, mince your garlic very finely or use a microplane, and mix it thoroughly with the cold butter before spreading.
What to Serve With Puff Pastry Garlic Bread?
This flaky, buttery garlic bread is perfect for serving alongside your favorite pasta dishes – I especially love it with spaghetti and meatballs or a rich fettuccine alfredo. For a cozy dinner, pair it with a warm bowl of tomato soup or your favorite hearty stew for dipping. If you’re serving it as an appetizer, try setting out some marinara sauce on the side for dunking, or keep things simple with a fresh green salad dressed in a light vinaigrette to balance out the richness of the pastry. Since this bread is already pretty indulgent, these simple pairings let it shine while making a complete meal.
Storage Instructions
Keep Fresh: This garlic bread is best enjoyed right after baking when it’s still warm and crispy. If you have leftovers, place them in an airtight container and keep in the fridge for up to 2 days. Just know that the pastry won’t stay as crispy as when it’s fresh!
Make Ahead: Want to prep in advance? You can prepare the garlic butter mixture and keep it in the fridge for up to 3 days. When you’re ready to bake, just spread it on your puff pastry and pop it in the oven – it’s that simple!
Warm Up: To bring back some of that fresh-baked magic, warm up leftover pieces in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 5 minutes. The microwave works too, but the pastry won’t get crispy again – still tasty though!
| Preparation Time | 10-15 minutes |
| Cooking Time | 10 minutes |
| Total Time | 20-25 minutes |
| Level of Difficulty | Easy |
Estimated Nutrition
Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):
- Calories: 720-800
- Protein: 10-15 g
- Fat: 50-60 g
- Carbohydrates: 65-75 g
Ingredients
- salt (flaky sea salt is recommended)
- 1.8 oz unsalted butter (I like Kerrygold unsalted butter)
- 0.5 oz cheddar cheese (grated)
- fresh thyme
- 8.1 oz puff pastry dough (rectangular sheet, thawed according to package directions)
- 1 garlic clove (freshly minced for best flavor)
Step 1: Prepare the Aromatic Butter
In a small bowl, combine the butter, chopped tender garlic, thyme, and salt.
Warm this mixture in the microwave for about 30 seconds or until the butter is melted and infused with the aromas of the garlic and thyme.
Step 2: Prepare the Puff Pastry
Carefully unroll the puff pastry dough onto a clean surface.
Using a pastry brush, spread the aromatic butter mixture evenly over the entire surface of the dough.
Reserve a small amount of the butter mixture for brushing the rolls before baking.
Step 3: Add the Cheese and Roll
Grate your favorite cheese and sprinkle it evenly over the butter-coated puff pastry.
Begin rolling from the largest side of the pastry sheet to form a tight and complete roll.
Step 4: Slice and Arrange the Rolls
Using a sharp knife, slice the roll into pieces approximately 1 centimeter (small finger size) thick.
Place each slice onto a parchment-covered baking tray allowing some space between each roll.
Brush the tops with the leftover aromatic butter to enhance flavor and aid in browning.
Step 5: Bake to Perfection
Preheat your oven to 200°C (400°F).
Bake the rolls for about 10 minutes or until they are golden brown and the cheese is bubbly.
Once baked, remove from the oven and let them cool slightly before serving.
