Easy Homemade Garlic Bread Recipe

Looking for a light-textured, garlicy bread to round off meals? I've got the recipe for you! It's based on a much more naughty cheese bread featured at Lauren's Latest, but with a few important changes. Even if you've never made bread before, you can make this bread. Just allow yourself about an hour and a half before dinner is ready to get started on it.

Easy Homemade Garlic Bread Recipe

1 cup warm water

1 tablespoon real honey
2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups bread flour
Olive oil
½ cup butter
3 - 5 garlic cloves, minced

* K is for Kernels

1. In the bowl of am electric mixer with a dough hook attachment (or simply in a large mixing bowl), pour in the water, honey, and yeast. Stir with a fork just a bit, to combine. Allow to sit for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, the mixture should be foamy. If its not, the yeast is no longer good.

2. Add the salt, then add a little of the flour. Mix, gradually adding in the rest of the flour. (If you're using a mixer, keep the speed on low.)

3. When the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl, allow the mixer to keep churning away for 5 minutes. (If not using a mixer, knead the dough by hand until smooth but tacky.)

4. Remove the dough from the bowl. Spray the bowl lightly with oil, return the dough, and cover with plastic wrap or a clean dish towel. Set in a warm location for 1 hour. The dough should double in size.

5. Punch down the dough and cut into two pieces of about equal size.

6. Shape each dough piece into a baguette. If you twist the dough, it won't shrink as badly - plus it looks nice. Place the baguettes onto a baking sheet and cover with plastic wrap or a clean dishrag. Turn the oven to 400 degrees F. and place the baking sheet on top of (not in!) the stove. Allow the dough to rise for half an hour.

7. Meanwhile, melt the butter and stir in the minced garlic.

8. Using a sharp serrated knife, cut deep slits into the bread every inch or so. Brush the garlic butter into them and all along the top of the bread.