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Korean Garlic Cream Cheese Bread with mozzarella

Korean Garlic Cream Cheese Bread with Mozzarella

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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine Korean
Servings 6

Equipment

  • Mixing bowls One large for the garlic butter, one medium for the cream cheese mixture.
  • Piping bag For neatly filling the buns with the cream cheese mixture. A zip-top bag with the corner snipped off works as a good substitute.
  • Pastry Brush To evenly coat the buns with garlic butter.
  • Baking sheet Lined with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
  • Oven Preheated and ready to go.
  • Serrated knife For slicing through the buns without crushing them.

Ingredients
  

For the bread base

  • 6 soft dinner rolls or brioche buns slightly stale ones work best
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

For the garlic butter sauce

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons minced garlic fresh is best
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 tablespoon condensed milk
  • 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley or fresh, finely chopped
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

For the cream cheese filling

  • 8 oz cream cheese softened
  • 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons heavy cream or milk for a lighter version
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions
 

Preheat and Prepare

  1. Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line your baking sheet with parchment paper. Take out your buns and let them come to room temperature if they’ve been refrigerated.

Mix the Garlic Butter

  1. In a saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Add the minced garlic, honey, condensed milk, mayonnaise, salt, and parsley. Stir well until everything is combined. Set aside and let it cool slightly.
  2. This garlicky concoction is the soul of the dish — it’s rich, fragrant, and just a little sweet, which makes it so unique compared to your typical garlic bread.

Make the Cream Cheese Filling

  1. In a medium bowl, whip the softened cream cheese with powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and heavy cream. Beat until it’s smooth and pipeable. You can use an electric mixer to get a fluffy texture, or go old school with a fork and some elbow grease.

Cut the Buns

  1. Using a serrated knife, slice each bun into six segments — like cutting a pie — but don’t slice all the way through. You want the base to hold the segments together.

Fill with Cream Cheese

  1. Spoon the cream cheese mixture into a piping bag and fill each section of the bun generously. A good tip here: start from the center and pipe outwards to get a balanced bite every time. Some even add a bit of cream cheese in the very center of the bun for an extra surprise.

Add Mozzarella

  1. Gently pull apart the bun sections and stuff shredded mozzarella in between. This step really turns the dish into a cheesy dream and is what sets it apart from more basic sweet dishes recipes.

Dip and Coat

  1. Dip or brush the entire bun with the garlic butter sauce, making sure you get into all the crevices. Don’t be shy — this is what gives that glossy golden crust and unforgettable flavor.

Bake

  1. Place the buns on your prepared baking sheet and bake for 12–15 minutes, or until the tops are golden and the mozzarella is melted. The cream cheese should be warm but not runny.

Serve

  1. Let the buns cool for a few minutes — they’ll be molten inside! Serve warm with a drizzle of extra garlic butter if desired.