If you have ever wanted to make soft, buttery pull-apart bread at home, this cottage cheese garlic parmesan pull-apart bread is a great place to start.
The cottage cheese is the secret here. It blends right into the dough and keeps the bread soft and tender inside.
Each little piece gets coated in melted garlic butter and parmesan before baking. That means every bite is full of flavor, not just the top.
The dough itself is simple to work with. You mix it, let it rise, tear it into pieces, and arrange them in the pan.
It comes out golden on the outside and fluffy on the inside. Perfect for pulling apart at the table with family or friends.
Why I Love This Recipe
Soft and Fluffy Texture – The cottage cheese keeps this bread incredibly tender and pillowy inside every single time.
Loaded With Garlic Flavor – Fresh grated garlic and melted butter soak into each piece for bold, savory goodness.
Cheesy Parmesan Coating – Every dough piece gets tossed in nutty Parmesan that turns golden and slightly crisp when baked.
Fun to Pull Apart – Guests can grab warm, buttery pieces one by one without needing a knife.
The Ingredients
For The Dough
- 1 cup Small Curd Cottage Cheese (use this for best results - amazon)
- 1/4 cup Whole Milk
- 1 Large Egg
- 2 tbsp Honey
- 2 1/4 tsp Instant Yeast
- 3 1/4 cups Bread Flour (I highly recommend using this one - amazon)
- 1 tsp Fine Salt
- 2 tbsp Unsalted Butter, Softened
For The Garlic Topping
- 4 tbsp Unsalted Butter, Melted
- 3 cloves Garlic, Finely Grated
- 1/2 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
- 2 tbsp Chopped Fresh Parsley
- 1/2 tsp Italian Seasoning
How to Make This Recipe
Step 1
Blend the cottage cheese, milk, egg, and honey until smooth. Warm the mixture gently until it feels slightly warm but not hot, then stir in the instant yeast.
Step 2
Combine the bread flour and salt in a large bowl. Add the cottage cheese mixture and softened butter, then mix until a shaggy dough forms.
Step 3
Knead the dough for 8 to 10 minutes, until smooth, elastic, and slightly tacky. Place it in a lightly greased bowl, cover, and let it rise for 60 to 75 minutes, or until doubled.
Step 4
Stir the melted butter, garlic, parsley, and Italian seasoning together. Coat a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray.
Step 5
Divide the dough by hand into 20 small pieces. Toss each piece with the garlic butter and Parmesan, then arrange the pieces loosely in the prepared pan.
Step 6
Cover the pan and let the dough rise for 30 to 40 minutes, until puffy and about 1 inch above the rim. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 7
Bake for 35 to 42 minutes, until golden brown and cooked through. Cool for 10 minutes before transferring the pull-apart bread to a serving plate.
Quick Tips
Blend the Cottage Cheese Until Totally Smooth
Take your time when you blend the cottage cheese with the milk, egg, and honey. You want it completely smooth with no lumps or curds left behind.
If you skip this step or rush it, you’ll get little bits of cottage cheese throughout the dough that mess with the soft, even texture you’re going for.
Watch the Temperature of Your Liquid
When you warm the cottage cheese mixture, it should feel just barely warm to the touch, kind of like bath water. If it feels hot at all, let it cool down before adding the yeast.
Liquid that’s too hot will kill the yeast and your dough won’t rise. From my experience, if you can hold your finger in it comfortably, you’re good to go.
Use Bread Flour, Not All-Purpose
Bread flour has more protein than regular flour, and that’s what gives this pull-apart bread its nice chewy, sturdy texture. It also helps the dough hold together when you’re tossing the pieces in garlic butter.
If you only have all-purpose flour, it will still work, but the bread will come out a little softer and less structured.
More Favorites
Quick Answers
Can I taste the cottage cheese in the finished bread?
No, you really can’t. Once it’s blended smooth and baked into the dough, the cottage cheese melts in and just adds softness and a little richness.
What you’ll actually taste is the garlic, Parmesan, and buttery bread, so even picky eaters usually have no idea it’s in there.
Cottage Cheese Garlic Parmesan Pull-Apart Bread
Ingredients
For The Dough
For The Garlic Topping
- 4 tbsp Unsalted Butter, Melted
- 3 cloves Garlic, Finely Grated
- 1/2 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
- 2 tbsp Chopped Fresh Parsley
- 1/2 tsp Italian Seasoning
Equipment
- blender
- loaf pan
Instructions
- Blend the cottage cheese, milk, egg, and honey until smooth. Warm the mixture gently until it feels slightly warm but not hot, then stir in the instant yeast.
- Combine the bread flour and salt in a large bowl. Add the cottage cheese mixture and softened butter, then mix until a shaggy dough forms.
- Knead the dough for 8 to 10 minutes, until smooth, elastic, and slightly tacky. Place it in a lightly greased bowl, cover, and let it rise for 60 to 75 minutes, or until doubled.
- Stir the melted butter, garlic, parsley, and Italian seasoning together. Coat a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray.
- Divide the dough by hand into 20 small pieces. Toss each piece with the garlic butter and Parmesan, then arrange the pieces loosely in the prepared pan.
- Cover the pan and let the dough rise for 30 to 40 minutes, until puffy and about 1 inch above the rim. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Bake for 35 to 42 minutes, until golden brown and cooked through. Cool for 10 minutes before transferring the pull-apart bread to a serving plate.