Cheesy, Garlic Party Bread

Steps

• For Maple Candied Bacon

• 1

  Preheat the oven to 375 F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil, then place a baking rack on top. Spray the baking rack with baking spray.
• 2

  Lay the slices of bacon directly onto the baking rack in an even layer. Cook the bacon at 375 F for 10 minutes.
• 3

  While the bacon cooks, combine the syrup, brown sugar, cayenne, and pepper in a bowl.  Stir to thoroughly combine.
• 4

  After the bacon cooks for 10 minutes, carefully remove it from the oven and brush the top sides with the maple and brown sugar mixture. Bake for another 10 minutes, flip the bacon over, and brush again with syrup.
• 5

  Bake for an additional 3-5 minutes until crispy. Remove from the oven, allow to cool, and chop into small pieces.

• For Cheesy Garlic Bread

• 1

  Turn the oven temperature to 350 F. 
• 2

  Using a serrated knife, slice into the sourdough loaf lengthwise to create 1” slices. Don’t cut through the bread entirely; leave about ½” at the bottom so the loaf stays intact.  Repeat cutting widthwise.
• 3

  Carefully stuff the cheeses and half of the chopped bacon into the cuts of bread.  

  
• 4

  Combine the melted butter, minced garlic, and half of the chopped green onion in a bowl.  Stir to combine, then drizzle into the cuts of bread over the cheese and bacon.

  
• 5

  Wrap the entire loaf in foil.  Bake for 15 minutes at 350 F. Carefully remove the foil, and bake for another 10 minutes.
• 6

  Garnish with remaining bacon and green onion, and serve hot!

  

• Notes

• 1

  Use your favorite cheeses if you like! We love the combination of cheddar, smoky gouda, and spicy pepper jack, but you could use melty mozzarella, extra cheddar, or whatever you are feeling!
• 2

  Omit the bacon to make this vegetarian-friendly. You’ll still get great smoky flavor from the gouda.
• 3

  Pro tip

  Avoid a super-crunchy sourdough loaf! If the crust is too hard, cutting the bread into squares may be difficult. Aim for a softer loaf if possible.