Sesame Free Classic Pull Apart Bread

Total time2 hr 40 min

Prep time35 min

Cook time35 min

4.9

(9)

Warm, buttery, and impossible to stop pulling apart, this garlic herb loaf is the kind of bread that disappears before it even has a chance to cool. The dough is enriched with whole milk, egg, and softened butter worked in gradually, which gives each layer that soft, pillowy texture you want in a pull-apart loaf. A fragrant garlic butter made with fresh parsley, dried oregano, and optional Parmesan gets brushed across the entire surface before the dough is stacked, cut, and stood on edge in the pan — that's the move that creates all those gorgeous, tearable layers. For anyone navigating sesame sensitivities, this recipe is a genuine relief because every single ingredient is straightforward pantry staple territory, with no tahini, sesame oil, or sesame seeds anywhere in sight. Store-bought enriched breads and flavored loaves can be surprisingly risky due to shared production lines or sesame-containing toppings, so baking from scratch here is genuinely the smarter call. Serve it warm straight from the pan and let everyone pull their own layers — it's the kind of communal bread moment that makes a weeknight dinner feel like a little occasion.

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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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