Why This Recipe Works

A combination of garlic powder and fresh garlic gives this buttery, crusty bread the most garlic flavor ever! In this easy-to-make side dish, we first stir together garlic powder and water, which boosts its garlicky flavor, before mashing in softened butter and minced fresh garlic for an extra-garlicky boost. Make sure to use a bread knife when cutting the Italian loaf in half—it’s specially designed to cleanly slice bread. Its blade is serrated, which means the edge is jagged, kind of like a saw. Have kids carefully compare the bread knife’s blade to other knives you have in your kitchen, such as a chef’s knife or a paring knife, both of which have smooth, sharp blades. If you used a chef’s knife to cut bread, that smooth blade would squash your fluffy bread, instead of slice it. The jagged edge of a bread knife helps to keep bread’s texture intact as you move the knife back and forth.

Before You Begin

A 12-by-5-inch loaf of supermarket Italian bread, which has a soft, thin crust, works best here. Do not use a rustic or crusty artisan-style loaf—it will be too hard and tough.

Instructions

Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 450 degrees. Place bread on cutting board and use bread knife to cut bread in half following photo, “Step-by-Step: How to Cut the Loaf” (ask an adult for help).

In medium bowl, use fork to stir together garlic powder and water. Add softened butter, minced garlic, salt, pepper, and sugar. Stir and mash butter mixture until well combined.

Use butter knife to spread cut sides of bread evenly with butter mixture. Transfer bread, buttered sides up, to rimmed baking sheet.

Place baking sheet in oven. Bake until bread is golden brown and toasted, 8 to 10 minutes.

Use oven mitts to remove baking sheet from oven and place on cooling rack (ask an adult for help). Let garlic bread cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes.

Use tongs to transfer garlic bread to cutting board. Cut each half into 8 slices (ask an adult for help). Serve warm.