Preheat the oven to 180/350/gas 4
Peel, slice then chop the garlic finely.
Mash the butter with a fork to soften it. Then mix in the garlic, mashing it evenly through the butter with the fork.
Slice the loaf in inch wide sections, almost to the base. Be sure not to cut through the bottom of the bread.
Turn the loaf 90° and again slice in inch wide sections, creating a checkerboard.
Using a butter knife spread the garlic butter generously down each ‘slice’ of bread.
Any leftover garlic butter can be kept in the fridge for a few days, or wrapped in cling film and frozen.
Wrap the entire loaf tightly in aluminum foil and place it onto a baking tray.
Bake for 20 minutes.
After 20 minutes, unwrap the top of the foil and place back in the oven for 10 more minutes to brown.
Please enjoy my recipe! Jane | hedgecombers.com