Coconut Free Classic Pull Apart Bread

Total time2 hr 40 min

Prep time35 min

Cook time35 min

4.9

(9)

Warm, garlicky, and impossibly pull-apart-able, this loaf is the kind of bread that disappears from the table before it even has a chance to cool. The dough is built on whole milk, butter, and a single egg, then enriched slowly with softened butter kneaded in tablespoon by tablespoon — a technique that gives each layer a tender, almost brioche-like chew. The garlic herb butter brushed across the rolled-out dough is fragrant with fresh parsley, oregano, and minced garlic cooked just until soft, so every pull-apart piece is soaked through with flavor. Optional Parmesan adds a salty, nutty edge that makes the golden crust even harder to resist. For anyone navigating coconut-free cooking, this recipe is refreshingly straightforward — every ingredient is a familiar pantry staple, with no tropical oils or coconut-derived substitutes hiding anywhere in the list. It's the kind of showstopper bread that looks like it came from a bakery but comes together in your own kitchen with nothing fussy or hard to source. Serve it warm and let everyone tear in.

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Ingredients

8 servings

For the dough

2 ¼ tsp active dry yeast (1 standard packet)
1 tsp granulated sugar
¾ cup whole milk, warmed to 110°f (43°c)
2 ½ cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
1 tsp salt
2 tbsp granulated sugar
1 large egg, room temperature
3 tbsp unsalted butter, softened

For the garlic herb butter

4 tbsp unsalted butter
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
½ tsp dried oregano
¼ tsp salt
¼ cup finely grated parmesan cheese (optional)

Instructions

1
In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the warm milk, 1 tsp sugar, and yeast. Stir briefly and let stand for 5–8 minutes, until foamy and fragrant.
2
Add the flour, salt, 2 tbsp sugar, and egg to the yeast mixture. Mix on low speed with the dough hook until a shaggy dough forms, about 2 minutes. Increase to medium speed and knead for 5 minutes, then add the softened butter one tablespoon at a time, waiting until each addition is fully incorporated before adding the next. Continue kneading on medium speed for 4–5 minutes more, until the dough is smooth, slightly tacky, and pulls cleanly away from the sides of the bowl.

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