Yeast Breads: Savory Pull Apart Bread

Pull apart loaves are easy to eat and fun to serve. This version, flavored with paprika and parmesan cheese, will be a hit at barbeques and picnics. Make it every day or just once in a while.


I use a white bread recipe here, but you can do the same with any bread dough you fancy.


Ingredients


1 recipe for Basic White Bread
4 tbsp butter (do not use margarine)
2 tbsp parmesan cheese
2 tsp sesame seeds
1 tsp garlic
½ tsp sea salt
½ tsp paprika


Preparation


Prepare the white bread recipe according to its directions until after the first rise. While you're waiting for the dough to rise, combine parmesan cheese, sesame seeds, garlic, sea salt, and paprika in a small bowl. Set aside. Melt the butter as soon as the dough has finished rising.


Punch down the dough to remove the air bubbles and cut the dough into 32 pieces. Spray a loaf pan with baking spray to prevent sticking. Place some of the dough pieces into the bottom of the loaf pan. 8 is usually sufficient. You don't need to pack the entire loaf pan because the loaf will rise and fill the crevices.


Brush melted butter over the 8 pieces of dough in the pan. Sprinkle with a quarter of the parmesan mixture. Add 8 more pieces of dough. Brush with butter and sprinkle with parmesan. Repeat with remaining pieces of dough.


Place your pull apart loaf in a warm location to rise. It needs to double in size, which will take about 45 minutes. Heat oven to 375°F. Bake loaf for 25 minutes, until loaf is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped. Remove immediately from pan and cool on a wire rack.


Place this loaf out and encourage people to rip off chunks as desired. That's why it's pull apart loaf. No knife required.