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Game Day Cheesy Pull-Apart Football Bread

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This game day cheesy pull-apart football bread is warm, gooey, and shaped like a football. It’s the perfect crowd-pleasing appetizer for any game day gathering, with a garlic-herb butter and three-cheese filling that makes every bite irresistible.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 large loaf of sourdough bread (or Italian bread, about 12–14 inches long)
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped (or 1 teaspoon dried)
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 cup cream cheese, softened to room temperature
  • 2 green onions, thinly sliced
  • Optional: 1/4 cup cooked crumbled bacon

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Prepare the garlic butter: In a small bowl, combine the melted unsalted butter, minced garlic, chopped parsley, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper. Stir until well mixed. Set aside.
  3. Make the cheese mixture: In a medium bowl, combine the shredded mozzarella, shredded Parmesan, and softened cream cheese. Mix until the cream cheese is evenly distributed.
  4. Score the bread: Place the sourdough loaf on the prepared baking sheet. Using a sharp serrated knife, make deep cuts across the loaf at 1-inch intervals, cutting about 3/4 of the way through the bread. Then, make one long cut down the center of the loaf, perpendicular to the first cuts, slightly deeper than the cross cuts.
  5. Stuff the bread with cheese: Gently pry open each cut and stuff the cheese mixture into the openings, packing it in well.
  6. Brush with garlic butter: Using a pastry brush, generously brush the garlic butter mixture all over the top and sides of the bread, getting it into the cuts. Reserve about 2 tablespoons of the butter for later.
  7. Shape the football: Gently press the sides of the loaf to round it out slightly, creating a more football-like shape. Tuck the ends under slightly if needed.
  8. Bake the bread: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, remove the bread from the oven and brush it with the remaining garlic butter. Return to the oven and bake for another 10-15 minutes, until the cheese is fully melted and bubbly, and the bread is golden brown and crispy on the edges.
  9. Check for doneness: If the top is browning too quickly, tent the loaf loosely with aluminum foil for the last 5 minutes of baking.
  10. Garnish and serve: Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool for 5 minutes. Sprinkle the sliced green onions over the top. If using bacon, sprinkle that on too. Serve warm.

Notes

Use day-old bread for best results. Do not overbake. Let cream cheese soften before mixing. Cut deep enough (about 3/4 of the way through the loaf). Do not skip the second butter brushing. For make-ahead: assemble up to 24 hours in advance, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, refrigerate, then bake as directed (add 5-10 minutes to bake time).

Nutrition

Keywords: game day, cheesy pull-apart bread, football bread, appetizer, sourdough, garlic butter, mozzarella, party food

Find it online: https://coracooks.com/game-day-cheesy-pull-apart-football-bread/