This recipe for Korean Cream Cheese Garlic Bread features soft buns filled with a savory and the slightest bit sweet cream cheese filling and garlic butter.
What is Korean cream cheese garlic bread?
Korean cream cheese garlic bread is a popular street food that takes regular garlic bread to a new level.
Soft fluffy buns are slit and filled with sweetened cream cheese and dipped in a salty buttery sauce.
The sweetness balances out the saltiness, in a similar manner to Korean-style corn dogs.
Why you'll love this recipe
This recipe for Korean cream cheese garlic bread is:
Small-batch: this recipe is quite indulgent, so you can make less and not have to worry about your waistline.
Flavorful (but not too sweet): the cream cheese and garlic really give this garlic bread an elevated level of salty and a hint of sweetness.
Versatile: use this cream cheese garlic bread as an appetizer, enjoy as a snack, or serve it alongside pasta or carbonara rice cakes.
Ingredients you'll need
- 2 large soft buns: I used leftover dough from my Hamburger Buns recipe to shape the dough into 150g pieces; but you can use store-bought buns
Cream cheese filling:
- cream cheese: softened at room temperature
- Greek yogurt: to thin out the cream cheese; you can also use a splash of whole milk instead
- sea salt: adds flavor
- granulated sugar: adds a hint of sweetness
- black pepper
- garlic powder: to enhance the garlicky flavor
- cayenne powder: adds a touch of heat; optional
- fresh parsley: chopped
- green onion/scallions: sliced
Garlic butter:
- melted butter: unsalted; if using salted butter, omit sea salt
- sea salt
- fresh garlic: minced
- egg white: helps everything stick to the buns
- fresh parsley: chopped
- cheese: I used a little grated mozzarella, but you can also use Parmigiana Reggiano or parmesan
You can find these ingredients at your local grocery store.
How to make the cream cheese garlic bread
Preheat oven to 325F.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Use a sharp serrated knife to make slits in the buns about ¾s of the way down (not all the way through). Depending on how large your buns are, you can split it into sixth's or eighth's. Set aside.
Make the cream cheese filling:
In a bowl, combine the softened cream cheese with salt, sugar, black pepper, garlic powder, cayenne powder, parsley and green onions. Mix well.
Add in the Greek yogurt and mix until incorporated.
Transfer the cream cheese filling into a piping bag and cut off the tip. Set aside.
Make the garlic butter:
In a small bowl (but large enough to hold the bun), mix together the melted butter, salt, garlic, parsley and egg white.
Assemble:
Divide the cream cheese filling in half and squeeze filling in between each of the slits in the buns, and finish with a dollop in the center.
Carefully dip the top of the bun into the garlic butter and set it onto the parchment-lined baking pan.
Repeat with the remaining bun.
Sprinkle cheese over the tops of the buns.
Bake at 325F for 8-10 minutes, until lightly golden in color and cheese is melted.
How to serve
Serve the Korean garlic bread buns while soft and warm.
What to pair the buns with
Pair the garlic bread along with other Korean street food snacks such as corn dogs, sotteok (rice cakes), or main dishes such as hellamyeon (spicy noodles), jjajangmyeon (Korean black bean noodles) carbonara, and strawberry milk.
How to store
Store any leftover buns in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
I don't recommend freezing these buns as the texture will change.
How to reheat
Reheat the buns in the microwave for 30-40 seconds, or until heated through.
Note: the cream cheese filling may ooze.
Expert tips
If you don't have a piping bag, you can use a food-safe plastic bag and cut the tip of one corner.
Alternatively, you can use a spatula to smear the garlic cream cheese butter mixture into the bun.
Other delicious recipes you may like
Be sure to check out these recipes:
Pillowy Soft Korean Sausage Bread
Cheese Breadsticks (Grocery Store Bakery Copycat)
Let me know if you try out this recipe -- tag me on Instagram @siftandsimmer or leave me a comment/rating below!
Korean Cream Cheese Garlic Bread
For accuracy and precision in baking recipes, use weight (metric) measurements when available.
Ingredients
- 2 large soft buns brioche or hamburger
Cream cheese filling:
- 4 oz (½ block) cream cheese softened at room temperature
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- pinch cayenne powder
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
- 1 tablespoon sliced green onion
- 2 tablespoon Greek yogurt
Garlic butter:
- 2 tablespoon melted butter
- ⅛ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
- 1 egg white
- 2 tablespoon grated mozzarella cheese or parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F/163°C.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Use a sharp serrated knife to make slits in the buns about ¾s of the way down (not all the way through). Depending on how large your buns are, you can split it into sixth's or eighth's. Set aside.
Make the cream cheese filling:
- In a bowl, combine the softened cream cheese with salt, sugar, black pepper, garlic powder, cayenne powder, parsley and green onions. Mix well.
- Add in the Greek yogurt and mix until incorporated.
- Transfer the cream cheese filling into a piping bag and cut off the tip. Set aside.
Make the garlic butter:
- In a small bowl (but large enough to hold the bun), mix together the melted butter, salt, garlic, parsley and egg white.
Assemble:
- Divide the cream cheese filling in half and squeeze filling in between each of the slits in the buns, and finish with a dollop in the center.
- Carefully dip the top of the bun into the garlic butter and set it onto the parchment-lined baking pan.
- Repeat with the remaining bun.
- Sprinkle cheese over the tops of the buns.
- Bake at 325°F/163°C for 8-10 minutes, until lightly golden in color and cheese is melted.
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided should be considered as approximate and is not guaranteed. Please use your best judgment to ensure food is safely prepared and/or a good fit for your diet.
Heidi | The Frugal Girls
Your gorgeous Korean cream cheese filled garlic buns serve up the ultimate comfort food side to serve with pasta. These are the perfect way to give an ordinary pasta dinner a massive upgrade!
Michelle
Thank you Heidi! This definitely a fun spin on garlic bread and it tastes amazing with pasta 🙂
Healthy World Cuisine
Now this we have to try! Love the slight sweet and savory Korean cream cheese garlic bread idea for tea. The cream cheese and yogurt gives it a little tang too.
Michelle
Thanks Bobbi! The tang from the cream cheese is needed to help cut that richness 😉
David @ Spiced
You had me at stuffed cheesy garlic bread! This recipe sounds like it'll be a hit here in our house. And those photos look amazing!
Michelle
This one's full of garlicky creamy deliciousness! Thanks David!