2 tablespoons olive oil

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon packed light brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1 loaf French bread

1. Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and heat the oven to 350 F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and set aside.

2. Mince 4 garlic cloves and finely chop 6 large fresh sage leaves.

3. Cut 1 stick unsalted butter into large pieces and microwave in a small microwave-safe bowl until the butter is very soft but not melted, about 45 seconds. Add the garlic and sage, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon packed light brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika, and 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt. Mash with a fork or small spoon until combined.

4. Halve 1 loaf French bread horizontally and place on the baking sheet. If the loaf is too long to fit on the baking sheet, cut the halves in half again crosswise. Spread the butter mixture evenly over the cut sides of the bread.

5. Bake until the garlic bread is crispy and warmed through, about 15 minutes. For extra-crispy garlic bread, turn the broiler to low and broil until the bread is golden-brown, 1 to 2 minutes more. Slice the garlic bread crosswise and pile into a bread basket.

(Meghan Splawn is the food editor for Kitchn’s skills content for TheKitchn.com, a nationally known blog for people who love food and home cooking. Submit any comments or questions to editorial@thekitchn.com.)

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