Print

Olive Cheese Bread Recipe

4.1 from 80 reviews

This Olive Cheese Bread is a savory, cheesy delight featuring a rich blend of butter, mayonnaise, provolone, parmesan, and a mix of pitted Calamata and Sevillano olives. Spread thickly on Italian bread and baked until golden and bubbly, it’s perfect as an appetizer or a flavorful snack with a hint of rosemary and a touch of red pepper flakes for a subtle kick.

Ingredients

Scale

Bread

  • 1 loaf Italian bread, sliced lengthwise

Olive Mixture

  • ½ pound DeLallo Pitted Calamata Olives, roughly chopped
  • ½ pound DeLallo Pitted California Sevillano Olives, roughly chopped
  • 1 stick butter, room temperature
  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon rosemary, roughly chopped
  • 3 cups Provolone cheese, grated
  • Red pepper flakes, to taste

Topping

  • 1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Heat your oven to 325°F (163°C) to prepare for baking the bread.
  2. Prepare Olives: Roughly chop both the Calamata and Sevillano olives to ensure even mixing and distribution.
  3. Mix Ingredients: In a mixing bowl, combine the room temperature butter, mayonnaise, grated provolone cheese, chopped olives, chopped rosemary, and red pepper flakes. Stir thoroughly until the mixture is well blended and creamy.
  4. Assemble Bread: Spread the olive and cheese mixture thickly and evenly over the lengthwise sliced Italian bread.
  5. Add Parmesan: Sprinkle the grated Parmesan cheese generously on top of the spread mixture for an extra cheesy crust.
  6. Bake: Place the assembled bread in the preheated oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, golden, and slightly browning on top.
  7. Rest and Serve: Remove the bread from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes to set before slicing. Serve warm and enjoy the cheesy olive flavors.
  8. Make-Ahead Tip: The olive and cheese mixture can be prepared up to two days in advance and refrigerated to save time on serving day.

Notes

  • Using room temperature butter ensures easier mixing with other ingredients.
  • Adjust red pepper flakes according to your preferred spice level.
  • The bread is best served warm for optimal flavor and texture.
  • Refrigerate the olive mixture tightly covered if making ahead, and stir before spreading.
  • Use freshly grated cheeses for better melting and flavor.
  • Other crusty bread types like French baguette can be substituted if Italian bread is unavailable.

Keywords: olive cheese bread, baked olive bread, cheesy bread appetizer, Italian bread recipe, provolone and parmesan bread, olive spread bread