Italian Herb Bread is an incredibly delicious, easy-to-make, no-yeast, no-knead bread, with a gluten-free option. With just 15 minutes of active work time, you'll be slicing this savory bread in 90 minutes.
This Italian Herb Bread has a delicious soft outer crust and a soft, somewhat dense interior.
With generous helpings of fresh herbs and garlic, every bite is incredibly flavorful.
My favorite way to serve it is toasted with unsalted butter, and it's also great for sandwiches, and delicious to serve warmed with dinner, especially comforting soups and stews.
The Key Ingredients
Below are the ingredients that make this bread extra delicious.
- extra virgin olive oil - Olive oil creates a soft, moist texture that's perfect for this savory bread recipe. Use one you love because it will impart some of its flavor, too. It also helps to create the beautiful golden and crisp surface.(If you've ever made my chocolate chip cookie recipe with olive oil, you know how much I love baked goods with olive oil.)
- buttermilk - Buttermilk adds a slightly tangy flavor, and because if its acidity, it helps the bread rise. It also helps to lighten the slightly dense texture, making it lovely to eat on it's own, but strong enough for sandwiches.
- fresh garlic - I use a generous amount of garlic in this herb bread. It's excellent with the fresh herbs and the flavor makes it way into every bite. Use more or less if you'd like to.
- oregano, rosemary, thyme - This aromatic and tasty combination of herbs is delicious and makes the bread pretty. And if you like one more than another, feel free to change it up. If you don't have fresh herbs, use can substitute with about ⅓ of the amount of dried herbs.
The recipe calls for regular all-purpose flour, though it's easily Make it gluten-free with Cup4Cup Gluten-Free all-purpose flour (use 2 tablespoons less of it if you use it.)
How to Make it
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and coat the bottom and sides of a 12 x 4½ x 2½-inch bread pan with olive oil.
- Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar and salt and mix.
In another bowl, whisk buttermilk, egg and garlic. Pour this into the dry ingredients and add the olive oil and herbs. Mix to blend.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan, drizzle the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil evenly on top, and bake in the preheated 350°F oven until the bread is set and slightly golden on top, about 45 minutes.
- Let the bread cool in the pan for at least 10 minutes and wait at least 20 minutes before slicing.
IMPORTANT BAKING TIPS: The instructions call for one 12 x 4½ x 2½-inch loaf pan. If you don't have one, the batter will make 2 loaves in 8½ x 4½ x 2½-inch pans (bake approx. 30 minutes), or 18 biscuits in a standard-sized muffin pan (bake for 20 minutes).
It's just as easy to bake Italian Herb bread as biscuits in a muffin pan, and the cooking time is about half.
Serving Suggestions
- This bread is firm enough to use for sandwiches, and will enhance everything between the slices.
- As I mentioned above, toasted with butter is amazing.
- It's delicious to serve warmed alongside a bowl of chili, stew or soup.
- They are lovely to serve as dinner biscuits (using a muffin pan -- see below), with almost any meal.
Below are a handful of dishes that would be excellent with Italian Herb Bread.
Can you make it ahead?
There's nothing quite like a bread right out of the oven, so I always suggest serving it as close to the baking time as possible. However, yes, it will still be good if you make it ahead.
- Room temperature. In a tightly sealed container or zip-lock bag, the bread can be kept at room temperature for about two days.
- Refrigerator. In a tightly sealed container or zip-lock bag, it can be stored in the refrigerator for up 4 days.
- Freezer. Wrapped tightly, you can store it for about a month in the freezer.
- Unless it's at room temperature, always warm it before serving.
Is Italian Herb Bread actually Italian?
Nope. While the fresh herbs used -- oregano, rosemary and thyme -- are commonly used in Italy and often referred to as "Italian" in the United States, they are widely used all over the Mediterranean. And authentic Italian breads are not full of herbs like this one.
More Savory Bread Recipes Without Yeast
I hope you love this Garlic Italian Herb Bread as much as my family and I do.
Italian Herb Bread Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup plus 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
- 2¾ cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (2¾ cup if using Cup4Cup Gluten-Free)
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups buttermilk
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon minced garlic (the finer the better)
- ⅓ cup finely chopped mixed fresh herbs (oregano, rosemary, thyme) washed and dried
Instructions
- Set the oven and prepare the pan. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly coat the bottom and sides of a 12 x 4½ x 2½ inch bread pan with the 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
- Make the batter. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar and salt. Mix and then make a well in the center and set aside.In a medium-sized mixing bowl, gently whisk buttermilk, egg and garlic. Pour this mixture in the well in the dry ingredients and add the olive oil and herbs. Mix just until it's well everything is well blended.
- Bake. Pour the batter into the oiled pan, drizzle the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil evenly on top, and bake in the preheated 350°F oven until the bread is set and slightly golden on top, about 45 minutes.
- Cool. Let the bread cool in the pan for at least 10 minutes. Wait at least 20 minutes before slicing.
NOTES
* Makes 2 loaves in 8½ x 4½ x 2½ inch pans (bake approx. 30 minutes)
* Makes 18 muffins/biscuits in standard muffin pan (bake approx. 20 minutes) Calorie count is only an estimate.
Sondra
Can you bake this bread in a Dutch oven?
I’ve been making artisan breads .. But this sounds like an amazing recipe.
Valentina
Hi Sondra, Thanks for writing. I think you could make this in a Dutch Oven, but since it's not a yeast bread, it won't hold a shape, and will be the shape of the pot -- much like it's a loaf shape from the loaf pan. I hope this helps and I hope you love it! Happy New Year! 🙂 ~Valentina
Sondra Solene
Thank you for your reply. I’m going to give it a try. Maybe it’ll be more like a focaccia .. but it’s worth a try. I’ll let you know how it turns out.
Thank you.
Valentina
You're so welcome, Sondra! Hope it turns out how you want it to and that you love it. 🙂 ~Valentina
Cr
I made this with King Arthur measure for measure gluten-free flour minus a third of a cup because I ran out. So I substituted in with buckwheat. The garlic is very subtle and I used fresh basil as the only herb. I almost messed up the recipe by forgetting to save out some of the olive oil for the top but it worked out all right. I was able to scoop it out before I mixed it 😁. I used four mini loaf pans and the timing on that is 24 minutes max.
Valentina
Hi. Thanks so much for writing in and letting us know about your changes and how it turned out. So happy you liked it! 🙂 ~Valentina
Sarah Phillips
Hi! I was thinking about making loaves of this bread for Christmas gifts this year. Does it require constant refrigeration and how long does it last? Would you recommend doing anything different or alternatives? Any advice would be great. Thank you!
Valentina
Hi Sarah, Thanks for writing in. If you're making this well in advance, your best option is freezing. Tips: Wrap loaves or muffins very well so no air can get in, and suggest they be served/eaten slightly warmed. Below is the storage guide line I have on the recipe page.
Room temperature. In a tightly sealed container or zip-lock bag, the bread can be kept at room temperature for about two days.
Refrigerator. In a tightly sealed container or zip-lock bag, it can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a 4 days.
Freezer. Wrapped tightly, you can store it for about a month in the freezer.
Unless it's at room temperature, always warm it before serving.
Hope this helps and enjoy! 🙂 ~Valentina
Christina
Pass the butter, Valentina!! Looks good!
valentina
Thank you, my friend! And a very happy new year to you and your family. xo Valentina
2pots2cook
WOW !!!!!!!! YOU SPEAK MY LANGUAGE DEAR ! I love, love it !!! I wish you and your family to have happy and healthy 2022. !