Goal: Crisp garlic bread, with sweet, nutty garlic flavor.

Solution: Toast whole garlic cloves for optimal flavor, add a bit of Parmesan cheese, and slice the loaf of bread horizontally.

CLASSIC AMERICAN GARLIC BREAD

Serves 6 to 8

Garlic bread is best served piping hot, so time it to arrive at the table last, once all the other dishes are finished and ready to serve.

9–10 medium garlic cloves (about the size of a plump
cashew nut), skins left on
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 whole loaf high-quality Italian bread (about 1 pound, football-shaped), halved lengthwise
Ground black pepper

1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 500 degrees. Meanwhile, toast garlic cloves in small skillet over medium heat, shaking pan occasionally, until fragrant and color of cloves deepens slightly, about 8 minutes. When cool enough to handle, skin and mince cloves (you should have about 3 tablespoons). Using dinner fork, mash garlic, butter, cheese, and salt in small bowl until thoroughly combined.
2. Spread cut sides of loaf evenly with garlic butter mixture; season to taste with pepper. Transfer loaf halves, buttered side up, onto baking sheet; bake, reversing position of baking sheet in oven from front to back halfway through baking time, until surface of bread is golden brown and toasted, 8 to 10 minutes. Cut each half into 2-inch slices; serve immediately.

HERB GARLIC BREAD

Follow recipe for Classic American Garlic Bread, mashing 1 tablespoon each minced fresh basil and chives and 1/2 tablespoon each minced fresh thyme and oregano into garlic butter mixture.

CHIPOTLE GARLIC BREAD

Canned chipotle chiles packed in adobo sauce add a smoky, spicy flavor that was the hands-down favorite of every tester.

Follow recipe for Classic American Garlic Bread, mashing 1 1/2 chipotle chiles en adobo (about 1 tablespoon) and 1 teaspoon adobo sauce into garlic butter mixture. Increase baking time to 10 to 12 minutes.

PARMESAN AND ASIAGO CHEESE GARLIC BREAD

Follow recipe for Classic American Garlic Bread, decreasing salt to 1/4 teaspoon, increasing Parmesan cheese to 1/4 cup, and mashing 1/4 cup grated Asiago cheese and 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard into butter along with garlic.

GOAT CHEESE GARLIC BREAD

Follow recipe for Classic American Garlic Bread, decreasing salt to 1/4 teaspoon and mashing 2 ounces softened goat cheese into garlic and butter mixture. Increase baking time to 10 to 12 minutes.