Reuben Pull Apart Bread
While feeding a toddler isn’t always the most rewarding job, it can lead to some pleasant surprises. One of those happy surprisesย involved this giant loaf of Reuben Pull Apart Bread.
I made this bread on Valentine’s Day, because 1) We’re parents now so Valentine’s Day is really just an excuse to buy the little guy a shiny red balloon. Here’s hoping he’s always super excitedย about a $2 gift.
2) Valentine’s Day was on a Tuesday, and babysitters are scarce, and restaurants are crowded, so going out was a non-option.
and 3) The Mr. loves reuben sandwiches, and making a big loaf of reuben-y goodness seemed like the easiest way to let him know I’m still crazy about him evenย if I didn’t manage to get a showerย all day.
If you’ve never made pull apart bread before, it’s almost embarrassingly simple to put together. I start with a nice round crusty loaf of bread (I managed to find rye bread at a local Jewish deli, but Sourdough can also work). The bread is scored in parallel and perpendicular lines, then stuffed with handfuls of cheese, meat, seasonings, or whatever else suits your fancy. Because this was a Reuben-inspired bread, I used gobs of shredded Swiss, thick slices of chopped corned beef, and a sprinkling of sauerkraut for good measure.
The whole thing gets popped in the oven for a few minutes until the cheese is melty and the bread is hot and golden. While it’s baking, I whip up a quick homemade Russian dressing that has just the right balance of sweetness, tang, and heat. In no time at all, you have a lovely loaf bursting with stringy cheese and crisp corned beef.
I fully expected our sweet child would snub his nose at this concoction (I mean, who ever heard of a kid eating sauerkraut?), but the moment this came out of the oven, he was signing the word for “please” and not-so-patiently pointing and whining at the fragrant bread. I reached, down pulled a hunk off and handed it to him. He shoved the whole thing in his mouth, chomped away happily, and was begging for another piece less than 30 seconds later.
At dinner, we all dove in. Even the little guy got in on the dipping action. The Mr. loved it and told me he’d prefer this over a $50 steak and a wife in heels any day (Ok, ok, maybe those weren’t his exact words, but he did really love this bread!) ย The winning flavors of a classic reuben are irresistible, even for a sometimes picky child. Unless you plan on eating the entire loaf, you might want to slice and plate the bread in appropriate serving sizes. Otherwise, you may keep going back for nibble after nibble until suddenly your tiny family has eaten almost an entire loaf of bread in one sitting. Not that I know anything about that. Ahem.
Reuben Pull Apart Bread
Ingredients
For the bread:
- 2 cups thick sliced corned beef, chopped into strips
- 2 cups shredded Swiss cheese
- 1 can sauerkraut, drained
- 1 round rye loaf (or sourdough in a pinch)
For the sauce:
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 Tablespoons ketchup
- 1 teaspoon worcestershire
- 1 teaspoon prepared horseradish
- 2 teaspoons sweet pickle relish juice
I’ve only made pull apart bread once and this makes me want to do it again!
Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day! Can’t wait to try it.
Thank you for sharing. This is very good idea. I still have Sauerkraut leftovers from Christmas, so I can try your recipe ๐
Awesome! I hope you love it!
YESSSSS!!! This. Is. Amazing. I mean come on, is there really a better food for March? Corned beef and bread to go with all the beer and friends. Saving this one for sure!
That’s right! Corned beef, bread, and beer for everyone! Thanks Karly!
This is absolutely beyond genius, my friend!
You are too much. Thank you!
My husband will die!! This has so been pinned ๐
This is definitely husband food. Ha! Mine went nuts!