Korean Garlic Cheese Bread
Equipment
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Oven
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Mixing bowls
Ingredients
Bread Rolls & Cream Cheese Filling
- 6 soft bread rolls, I used King’s Hawaiian
- 8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 2 tbsp parmesan
- 1 tbsp parsley, finely chopped
Garlic Butter
- 4 tbsp melted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp parmesan
- 1 tbsp parsley, finely chopped
- ¼ tsp salt
Optional Garnishes
- Extra garlic butter
- Extra parsley
Instructions
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In a bowl, combine room-temperature cream cheese with sugar, parmesan, and parsley. Mix until smooth, then transfer the filling to a zip-top bag and snip a corner for piping.
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In another bowl, stir together melted butter, minced garlic, parmesan, parsley, and salt until well combined to make the garlic butter.
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Using a serrated knife, cut deep slits into each roll about ¾ of the way down, taking care not to slice through the bottom.
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Pipe the cream cheese mixture into each slit, filling the rolls generously.
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Arrange the filled rolls on a baking sheet and brush the tops and crevices with the garlic butter.
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Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 5–8 minutes, until warm and lightly golden.
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Serve immediately. Optionally brush with extra garlic butter and sprinkle additional parsley before serving.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximation.
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Why This Korean Garlic Cheese Bread Is The Best Starter
Great dinner rolls are delicious on their own, but this version elevates them. The slits crisp up at the edges while the center stays soft and packed with creamy, slightly sweet cheese. The garlic butter seeps into the crevices, delivering a burst of flavor in every bite. The individual slits also make these rolls easy to pull apart and share, perfect for appetizers.
What Makes These So Addictive
This bread hits a perfect balance of salty, sweet, and rich. The slightly sweet cream cheese filling pairs with the savory garlic butter and parmesan to create a bakery-style flavor. Soft, pillowy rolls provide contrast to the crispy edges, giving you both indulgence and texture in every bite.
What You’ll Need To Make Korean Garlic Cheese Bread
Bread Rolls & Cream Cheese Filling
- 6 soft bread rolls (King’s Hawaiian or similar)
- 8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 2 tbsp parmesan
- 1 tbsp parsley, finely chopped
- Salt, to taste
Garlic Butter
- 4 tbsp melted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp parmesan
- 1 tbsp parsley, finely chopped
- ¼ tsp salt
Optional Garnishes
- Extra garlic butter
- Extra parsley
How to Make Korean Garlic Cheese Bread
Combine cream cheese, sugar, parmesan, and parsley in a bowl and mix until smooth. Transfer the mixture to a zip-top bag and snip a corner for piping.
In a separate bowl, mix melted butter with minced garlic, parmesan, parsley, and salt to make the garlic butter. Set aside.
Use a serrated knife to cut deep slits into each roll about ¾ of the way down, without cutting through the bottom.
Pipe the cream cheese filling into each slit until the rolls are generously filled.
Place the rolls on a baking sheet and brush thoroughly with the garlic butter.
Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 5–8 minutes, until warmed through and lightly golden. Serve hot and brush with additional garlic butter if desired.
Tips & Variations
For the smoothest filling, be sure the cream cheese is fully at room temperature so it mixes and pipes easily.
Adding sugar to the filling creates the bakery-style balance of sweet and savory — a small amount goes a long way.
Soft, slightly sweet rolls such as King’s Hawaiian, milk buns, or brioche work best for a fluffy interior and crisped edges.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of rolls should I use?
Choose soft, slightly sweet rolls like brioche, milk buns, or King’s Hawaiian. They hold the filling well and crisp up on the outside.
Can I make these ahead of time?
You can prepare the filling and garlic butter in advance, but assemble and bake just before serving for the best texture and flavor.
Do I need to pipe the filling?
Piping gives the cleanest results, but a spoon or butter knife works fine if you don’t have a bag.
Try These Next
For more appetizer ideas, try other simple favorites that pair well with these rolls.