Korean Cream Cheese Garlic Bread: A Must-Try Korean Delight:

Korean Cream Cheese Garlic Bread, also called Yukjjok Maneul-Ppang (육쪽 마늘빵) or 크림치즈 갈릭 브레드 in Korean, is the new snack craze sweeping across South Korea. It is not your run-of-the-mill garlic bread. This is a pull-apart bread that explodes with flavors: sweet, salty, tangy cream cheese with rich, savory garlic butter. It is irresistible.

This unique flavor profile created ripples in the Korean food world around 2019-2020, with people waiting in bakeries just to taste it. When I visited Korea in 2022, I made sure to try this popular snack. The experience was nothing short of delightful; it was visually appealing and absolutely delicious.
What makes this bread different is its unique preparation. The bread is divided into six-sided grids where the divine flavors spread around every edge of the bread. There is cream cheesiness intermixed with buttery garlic in every mouthful. 육쪽 refers to this particular six-sided formation, but ‘마늘빵’ directly refers to ‘garlic bread’. Often found at any Korean bakery, but then again on market stalls across traditional markets.

Korean Cream Cheese Garlic Bread in Korea:

If you are traveling to Korea or see one near you, be sure to try this interesting interpretation of garlic bread. That is a flavor journey that you will never forget.

Korean Cream Cheese Garlic Bread, also called “Korean Street Toast,” is a wonderful reinterpretation of the classic garlic bread that has gained much popularity over the world. This dish is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, cheesy goodness that makes it a favorite among locals and tourists. What makes this garlic bread unique is the sweetened cream cheese filling, which contrasts perfectly with the savory garlic butter coating. Traditionally, this recipe contains eggs, but here’s an egg-free version for those who prefer or require a vegetarian diet.

Korean Cream Cheese Garlic Bread (Egg-Free):

Ingredients For the Bread:

• 4 small round bread rolls (dinner rolls work well)
• 1 cup cream cheese, softened
• 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Garlic Butter Sauce:

• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic (about 4-5 cloves)
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 tablespoon sweetened condensed milk
• 1 tablespoon dried parsley or fresh parsley, finely chopped
• A pinch of salt

Instructions to make the Cream Cheese Filling:

Combine softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract in a mixing bowl. Mix until smooth and creamy. Put the cream cheese mixture into a piping bag or a resealable plastic bag with a small corner cut off. Set aside.

Cut the Bread Rolls:

Take each bread roll and make four cuts from the top, like you’re cutting a pie, without cutting all the way through the bottom. The bread should be divided into 8 sections but still attached at the base.

Fill the Bread Rolls:

Pipe the cream cheese mixture into each cut of the bread roll. Make sure each segment gets some of the sweet cream cheese filling.

Prepare the Garlic Butter Sauce:

In a small bowl, mix together the melted butter, minced garlic, honey, sweetened condensed milk, parsley, and a pinch of salt. Mix well until all ingredients are fully incorporated.

Coat the Bread Rolls:

Dip each cream cheese-filled bread roll into the garlic butter sauce, making sure to coat the entire surface, including the cuts. Spoon some of the sauce into the cuts to ensure the flavor penetrates the bread.

Bake:

Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F). Put the coated bread rolls on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Bake for about 10-12 minutes or until the bread is crispy and golden brown on the outside.

Serve:

After baking, let the bread cool a little. Serve warm for the best taste. The sweet cream cheese filling and the savory garlic butter are just a delight!

Tips:

You can adjust the sweetness of the cream cheese filling to your taste. If you prefer to make your bread rolls from scratch, any soft, fluffy bread recipe works well for this recipe.

This recipe can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator. Then, reheat in the oven before serving.

Enjoy this egg-free version of Korean Cream Cheese Garlic Bread, a treat that brings a taste of Korean street food to your kitchen!

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