Cheesy Garlic Bread Fondants with Molten Cheese Centre

If you love garlic bread and melted cheese, these cheesy garlic bread fondants are guaranteed to impress. A golden, buttery bread shell is filled with a rich blend of melted cheeses, creating a crisp exterior and a gooey molten centre. Roasted garlic adds a sweet, mellow flavour that takes this indulgent starter to the next level.

Perfect for date nights, dinner parties, or sharing platters, these cheese-filled garlic bread fondants can be prepared in advance and cooked just before serving. Pair them with a peppery rocket salad and your favourite chutney or pickle for a delicious contrast of flavours.

Servings: 4 people
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 35 minutes
Total time: 50 minutes
Appliance: Instant Air fryer

Ingredients

Garlic butter

• 1 small head garlic
• 1 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
• 80 g butter, softened
• Olive oil
• Salt and black pepper

Cheese filling

• 170 g melting cheese of choice (Gruyère, Emmental, Swiss cheese, or smoked cheddar)
• 80 g mozzarella, grated
• 120 g cream cheese
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• ½ tsp paprika
• Salt and black pepper

Bread shell

• ½ large white bloomer loaf, sliced
• To serve (optional)

Rocket salad

• Chutney or pickle of choice

Preparation method

Roast the garlic

Cut the top off the garlic head to expose the cloves. Place it on a piece of foil, drizzle with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Wrap tightly.

Place the garlic in the air fryer and cook at 190°C for 15 minutes, or until the cloves are soft and lightly golden. Larger garlic heads may need a few extra minutes.

Prepare the bread moulds

While the garlic cooks, prepare the bread shells. Using a cookie cutter or knife, cut a circle slightly larger than the base of each ramekin. Cut a second circle for the lid.

From additional bread slices, cut long strips that will line the sides of the ramekins.

Repeat until all four ramekins are prepared.

Make the garlic butter

Squeeze the roasted garlic cloves into a bowl. Add the softened butter and chopped parsley. Season with salt and pepper and mix until smooth.

Prepare the cheese filling

In a separate bowl, combine the melting cheese, mozzarella, cream cheese, Dijon mustard, and paprika. Season lightly with salt and pepper and mix well.

Assemble the fondants

Spread the garlic butter on one side of each bread piece.

Line each ramekin with the larger bread circle, buttered side facing outwards. Add the bread strips around the inside edge and gently press them together to form a sealed shell.

Fill each bread-lined ramekin with the cheese mixture, leaving a little room at the top.

Place the smaller bread circles on top and gently press around the edges to seal in the filling.

Cover each ramekin with foil and pierce a few small holes in the top.

Cook the fondants

Place the ramekins in the air fryer and cook at 175°C for 20 minutes.

After 15 minutes, carefully remove the foil and continue cooking for the remaining 5 minutes until the bread is deep golden brown and crisp.

Serve

Remove the ramekins from the air fryer and leave them to rest for 1 minute.

Arrange the rocket and chutney on serving plates. Carefully turn the fondants out of the ramekins and serve immediately while the cheese filling is still hot and molten.

These cheesy garlic bread fondants combine everything people love about garlic bread and baked cheese in one impressive dish. The air fryer creates a beautifully crisp crust while keeping the centre rich, creamy, and perfectly melted.

Discover more easy starters and sharing dishes in our recipe collection.

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