Ingredients
Scale
- 4-6 slices thick-cut bread (sourdough, French, Italian, or your favorite)
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 3-4 cloves fresh garlic, minced or pressed
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped (or 1 tablespoon dried)
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano (or 1 tablespoon fresh)
- ½ teaspoon dried basil (or 1 tablespoon fresh)
- ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (optional but recommended)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- Optional: pinch of red pepper flakes for heat
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven – Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil for easy cleanup (optional but recommended). Position the oven rack in the upper-middle position for best browning.
- Make the Garlic Herb Butter – In a small mixing bowl, combine softened butter, minced garlic, fresh parsley, dried oregano, dried basil, Parmesan cheese (if using), salt, and black pepper. Using a fork or small whisk, mix everything together thoroughly until well combined and the garlic and herbs are evenly distributed throughout the butter. The mixture should be smooth and spreadable. If your butter is too cold and hard, microwave for 5-10 seconds to soften slightly.
- Arrange Bread on Baking Sheet – Place bread slices in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Make sure slices don’t overlap so each one gets crispy and golden.
- Spread the Butter Mixture – Generously spread the garlic herb butter mixture on top of each bread slice, making sure to cover the entire surface all the way to the edges. Use about 1-2 tablespoons of butter mixture per slice depending on bread size. Don’t be shy with the butter – this is what makes it delicious! Make sure to scoop up any garlic or herb pieces from the bottom of the bowl so each slice gets plenty of flavor.
- Bake Until Golden – Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 8-12 minutes, or until the toast is golden brown around the edges, the butter is melted and bubbling, and the top is lightly crispy. Watch carefully toward the end as the toast can go from perfect to burnt quickly! For extra-crispy toast, you can broil for the last 1-2 minutes, but watch constantly!
- Optional Broiling for Extra Crispiness – If you want extra-golden, extra-crispy edges (highly recommended!), turn on the broiler to high and broil the toast for 1-2 minutes, watching constantly to prevent burning. The toast should develop beautiful golden-brown spots and crispy edges.
- Cool Slightly and Serve – Remove from oven and let cool for 2-3 minutes – the butter will be extremely hot! Transfer to a serving platter or board. If desired, sprinkle with additional fresh parsley and grated Parmesan for garnish.
- Enjoy Warm – Serve immediately while warm and crispy. These are best eaten fresh from the oven when the butter is still slightly melty and the toast is at peak crispiness!
Notes
- Butter Temperature: Room temperature butter mixes easily; cold butter is hard to spread; melted butter runs off bread. Aim for soft, spreadable consistency.
- Garlic Freshness: Fresh garlic is essential for best flavor. Jarred minced garlic works in a pinch but has less flavor.
- Herb Substitutions: Use whatever fresh herbs you have! Thyme, chives, or rosemary work beautifully.
- Bread Thickness: Thicker slices (¾-1 inch) work best – they absorb butter without becoming soggy.
- Storage: Best fresh, but butter mixture stores well for making fresh batches later!
- Scaling: Recipe easily doubles or triples for larger gatherings.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice of garlic herb butter toast
- Calories: 240
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 380mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 35mg