Description
Olive Cheese Bread is a warm, gooey, and savory appetizer featuring a creamy garlic spread blended with Monterey Jack cheese, green and black olives, served on crusty French bread. Perfect for parties, snacking, or as a flavorful side dish, this easy-to-make recipe blends salty, cheesy, and tangy flavors with a crisp golden crust.
Ingredients
Olive Cheese Mixture
- 4 tablespoons butter, softened
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Fresh cracked black pepper, to taste
- 8 oz shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- 1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions
- 7 oz green olives, drained and sliced
- 6 oz black olives, drained and sliced
Bread
- 1 (8–10 oz) loaf French bread
Optional Garnish
- Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper for easy cleanup and to prevent sticking.
- Prepare Olive Cheese Mixture: In a medium bowl, combine the softened butter, sour cream, garlic powder, a pinch of kosher salt, and freshly cracked black pepper. Mix until mostly smooth to create a creamy base.
- Add Cheese and Onions: Stir in the shredded Monterey Jack cheese and thinly sliced green onions until the mixture is evenly combined, ensuring every bite has a cheesy and fresh flavor.
- Fold in Olives: Gently fold in the drained and sliced green and black olives, distributing them evenly throughout the mixture to add a salty, briny bite.
- Prepare the Bread: Slice the French bread loaf in half widthwise, then slice each half lengthwise to make four pieces total, providing a perfect base for the olive cheese topping.
- Spread Mixture on Bread: Spread the olive cheese mixture evenly over the cut sides of the bread pieces, covering them generously for maximum flavor.
- Bake: Place the prepared bread pieces on the lined baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the edges of the bread turn lightly golden.
- Broil for Golden Top: Switch the oven to broil and broil the bread for 1 to 2 minutes, watching carefully to achieve a deeper golden color on top without burning.
- Serve: Remove from the oven, slice, and garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired. Serve warm as a delicious appetizer or snack.
Notes
- Watch the broiler closely as the bread can quickly go from perfectly golden to burnt.
- For a spicy kick, add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes to the olive cheese mixture.
- Reheat leftovers in the oven at 350°F for 8 to 10 minutes to keep the bread crisp and the cheese gooey.
- Prep Time: 8 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
