Today I am updating the blog with this delicious pull-apart garland bread for this Christmas. It’s a perfect starter for your table these holidays! Christmas means many things but I think it also means recipes to cherish in your heart and this is for me one of them. It’s so delicious and I am sure it will bring a smile to your face at the first bite. Like so good that I could eat it all by myself! 

Each piece is brushed with homemade rosemary olive oil and in the center a delicious melted cheese. This time I decided to use the one I had in the fridge, a typical Portuguese cheese but you can use the one of your preference. For example, last year I added fontina (Italian) since I love it.  Besides, it’s easy to make even if you don’t have any experience preparing bread. 

INGREDIENTS

500 gr (4 cups) bread flour

270 ml (1 cup) whole milk

30 ml (2 tbsp) extra virgin olive oil to brush

20 ml (1 ½ tbsp) for the dough

20 gr (5 tsp) fresh yeast 

2 tsp salt

1 tsp granulated white sugar

Rosemary to taste

Maldon salt

Half of a pomegranate

Cheese of your preference

METHOD

In a big mixing bowl combine the flour, sugar, and salt. Now in a pot warm up the milk mixing it well with the fresh yeast. Then pour it into the bowl and combine well. Now the 20 ml (1 ½ tbsp) of olive oil and continue mixing with your hands. Now work the dough on a clean surface for about 10 minutes. Allow to rest for at least 2 hours in a bowl covered with plastic wrap. Then cut the dough into pieces of 30 gr (1 oz) each one and roll each piece. 

Then, chop the rosemary and mix it with 30 ml (2 tbsp) of olive oil. If you like garlic, you can chop it too and add it to this mix. 

In a baking tray put some baking paper. Then in the center, a steel ring and put the cheese there. Now place the bread rolls around it making two circles as you can see in the photos and then remove the ring. 

Hereafter brush generously the rosemary oil and bake to 200ºC (390ºF) for 30 minutes. Then serve with Maldon salt, more fresh rosemary, pomegranate, and… buon appetito with this garland bread for Christmas! 

Another idea for Christmas here