Description
Home cooks adore this cheesy spinach artichoke bread as a crowd-pleasing appetizer with creamy textures and bold Mediterranean flavors. Mediterranean herbs and melted cheese blend perfectly, offering you a delightful bite of comfort and richness.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 loaf French bread
- 1 cup (8 oz / 227 g) artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
- 1 cup spinach, chopped (if using frozen, thaw and drain)
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 8 oz (1 cup / 227 g) cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup sour cream
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1 tsp minced garlic
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper, creating an ideal cooking surface for precise toasting.
- Mixture Creation: Combine Parmesan, sour cream, mayonnaise, cream cheese, and minced garlic in a mixing bowl, blending until achieving a silky, homogeneous texture that promises rich flavor complexity.
- Ingredient Integration: Incorporate chopped spinach and artichoke hearts into the creamy base, gently folding to ensure uniform distribution and balanced taste throughout the mixture.
- Bread Arrangement: Position bread halves on the prepared baking sheet with cut sides facing upward, forming a perfect foundation for the upcoming flavor layers.
- Topping Application: Spread the spinach-artichoke mixture evenly across each bread surface, covering completely from crust to crust with a luxurious, thick coating.
- Cheese Layering: Generously crown the prepared bread with mozzarella, creating a molten cheese blanket that will transform into a golden, crispy crown during baking.
- Baking Process: Transfer the sheet to the preheated oven, baking until bread edges turn golden and cheese melts into a seductive, bubbling surface.
- Final Caramelization: Activate broiler for 1-2 minutes, monitoring closely to achieve a perfectly bronzed and slightly crisp topping without risking burning.
- Serving: Extract from oven, allow brief cooling, then slice into elegant portions, presenting while warm and radiating appetizing aromas.
Notes
- Prep Surface Strategically: Use parchment paper on baking sheet to prevent sticking and ensure even browning of bread.
- Blend Ingredients Thoroughly: Mix creamy components completely to create a uniform, smooth base without lumps for consistent flavor.
- Monitor Broiling Carefully: Watch bread closely during final caramelization to avoid burning and achieve perfect golden-brown crispy top.
- Serve Immediately: Enjoy bread while warm to experience optimal melted cheese texture and maximum flavor intensity.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12-13 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 11 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg