This swirl garlic bread is such a fun twist on a classic comfort food, and it’s one of my favorite things to make when I’m craving something warm and savory. The best part? It's so simple, but the results look like you spent hours in the kitchen. Whether it’s for a casual dinner or a gathering, this bread always steals the show with its beautiful swirl and irresistible flavor.

Close-up image of sliced swirl garlic bread on a cutting board,

Why You’ll Love This Swirl Garlic Bread

This recipe always steals the show with its beautiful swirl and irresistible flavor.

Quick prep: The dough comes together in minutes, and the rest is just letting it rise and bake.

Minimal ingredients: You probably have most of these in your kitchen already—just grab some garlic and parsley!

Gorgeous presentation: The braided swirl looks impressive, but it’s super easy to do.

Customizable: You can play with the herbs or even add a little cheese for extra flavor.

Ingredients & Substitutions

To make this swirl garlic bread, you’ll need self-rising flour, buttermilk, dry yeast, garlic, butter, salt, and parsley.

Overhead view of ingredients for swirl garlic bread.

Buttermilk: If you don’t have buttermilk on hand, you can easily make your own by adding a tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice to a cup of milk and letting it sit for 5 minutes.

Yeast: If using instant yeast, you can skip the proofing step and mix it directly into the dry ingredients.

Garlic: Fresh garlic gives the best flavor, but if you’re in a pinch, garlic powder can work—just use about 1 teaspoon.

Herbs: Fresh parsley adds brightness, but dried parsley works well, too—use about half the amount if substituting.

How to make the best swirl garlic bread

In a medium-sized bowl mix dry ingredients together: flour, yeast, and salt.

Add buttermilk and 1 tablespoon of butter. Mix everything using a spatula until you form a small ball of dough.

Close-up image of mixed dry ingredients in a mixing bowl.

Butter added to the mixture in a mixing bowl.

Overhead image of a dough ball next to a bowl of butter and three cloves of garlic.

Put it aside somewhere warm for about 1 hour.

Close-up image of a towel covering the dough in a bowl.

When the dough doubled its size transfer it to a flat surface, sprinkle it with flour, and using a rolling pin roll dough into a 16-10-inch rectangle.

Close-up image of the dough on a floured surface alongside a plate with a fork and the garlic butter and parsley mixture.

In a separate bowl combine the remaining butter, freshly chopped garlic, and parsley.

Close-up image of chopped garlic and parsley on a wooden board with a bowl of butter and beside them.

Close-up image of chopped garlic, parsley, and butter on a plate.

Close-up image of the garlic butter and parsley mixture on a plate.

Transfer mixture onto a dough and using a fork or knife spread it evenly. Roll the dough into a log.

Close-up image of a fork resting on top of the dough as the garlic butter and parsley mixture is being spread.

Close-up image of dough spread with a garlic butter and parsley mixture, being rolled into a log shape.

Cut the log of dough in half and braid it like in the picture.

Close-up image of a log of dough being cut in half.

Close up image of the dough log being braided.

Close-up image of braided dough filled with garlic, parsley, and butter mixture.

Coil the rope like a snake, then the other side of the rope in the opposite direction. Transfer into a medium-sized loaf pan.

Close-up image of coiled dough placed in a loaf pan

Bake for 35 minutes at 350F.

Overhead image of golden-brown swirl garlic bread freshly baked in a loaf pan.

Expert Tips

Let the dough rise properly: Find a warm spot in your kitchen to let the dough rise. If it’s too cool, the dough may take longer than an hour to double in size, but don’t rush it—this step is key for a fluffy texture.

Flour your work surface generously: When rolling out the dough, sprinkle enough flour on the surface and the rolling pin to prevent sticking. It’ll save you a lot of frustration and keep the dough smooth and easy to handle.

Rolling and filling technique: Make sure to spread the garlic butter mixture evenly over the dough so every slice gets that burst of flavor. Rolling it into a log tightly but not too tight helps keep the layers distinct without squishing them.

Cutting and braiding: A sharp knife makes it easier to slice the dough log cleanly. Don’t worry about perfect braiding; the swirl will naturally create a beautiful pattern as it bakes.

Serving Suggestions

This swirl garlic bread is fantastic on its own, but if you want to elevate it, try these ideas:

With marinara sauce: Serve slices with warm marinara for a garlic bread pizza vibe.

Alongside pasta: It’s the perfect companion to any type of pasta (everything from cacio e pepe or penne pomodoro) or lasagna.

Topped with cheese: Add a sprinkle of parmesan or mozzarella before baking for an extra savory touch.

Dipped in olive oil: Pair with a small dish of olive oil and balsamic for a simple appetizer.

Swirl Garlic Bread

Shruthi

Swirl garlic bread is a simple and quick recipe that combines garlic and herbs for a visually stunning loaf everyone will love.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Course Appetizer, Side Dish

Cuisine American, Italian

Ingredients

2 cup self-rising flour
1 cup buttermilk
1 tablespon dry yeast
3 cloves garlic
8 tablespons butter
½ tablespon salt
6 tablespon parsley (fresh or dry)

Instructions

In a medium sized bowl mix dry ingredients together: flour, yeast, and salt.
Add buttermilk and 1 tablespoon of butter. Mix everything using a spatula until you form a small ball dough. Put it aside somewhere warm for about 1 hour.
When the dough doubled its size transfer it on a flat surface, sprinkle it with a flour and using a rolling pin roll dough into a 16-10-inch rectangle.
In a separate bowl combine remaining butter, freshly chopped garlic and parsley. Transfer mixture onto a dough and using a fork or knife spread it evenly. Roll the dough into a log.
Cut the log of dough in half and braid it like on picture, coil the rope like a snake, then other side of rope in opposite direction. Transfer into a medium sized loaf pan.
Bake for 35minutes into 350F.