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How many calories in a piece of homemade Garlic Bread?

Quick Answer

The number of calories in a piece of homemade garlic bread can vary depending on the recipe, but on average, one medium slice (about 28g/1oz) contains around 80-150 calories. The exact calorie count will depend on the type and amount of bread, butter or oil, and garlic used.

Calories in Bread

The main source of calories in garlic bread comes from the bread itself. The calorie content of bread can range quite significantly:

Type of Bread Calories per slice
White bread 75-100
Whole wheat bread 60-80
Sourdough bread 80-110
Baguette 150-200
Ciabatta 80-130
Focaccia 120-180

As you can see, the calorie range is quite wide depending on the density and ingredients of the bread. Most standard sliced sandwich breads contain 75-100 calories per slice. Sturdier artisan-style breads like baguettes, ciabatta and focaccia tend to be higher in calories.

So the type of bread used will impact the calorie count significantly. As a general rule, denser wholegrain and artisan breads contain more calories than lighter processed sandwich breads.

Calories Added from Butter or Oil

In addition to the calories from the bread itself, homemade garlic bread gets additional calories from the butter, oil or margarine spread on top.

Again, the amount of fat and calories added will depend on the exact recipe:

Spread Calories per tbsp
Butter 100
Margarine 100
Olive oil 119
Canola oil 124

Most garlic bread recipes call for between 1-2 tablespoons of fat per slice of bread. So the butter or oil can add roughly 100-250 calories extra per slice.

Using olive oil or canola oil will add slightly more calories than butter or margarine. But all contain significant calories which will bump up the total calorie count.

Calories from Garlic

Compared to the bread and fat, the garlic itself contributes minimal calories.

Each clove of garlic contains just 4-5 calories. Even if you used several cloves per slice, the garlic would likely add less than 30 calories total.

So the calories contributed by garlic are quite insignificant compared to the bread and fat.

Putting it All Together

Based on the calorie numbers above, a typical medium slice of homemade garlic bread may contain:

  • 100 calories from the bread
  • 100-150 calories from butter/oil
  • 5-20 calories from garlic

So in total:

One medium slice of homemade garlic bread contains approximately 200-270 calories

This will vary based on the exact ingredients and recipe, but the average is around 80-150 calories per slice.

Effect of Portion Size

The above estimate is for a standard medium-sized slice of garlic bread.

If your slices are smaller or thinner, they would contain fewer calories. Larger, thicker slices could have as much as 50% more calories.

For example, here is how the calories can differ depending on slice size:

Slice Size Estimated Calories
Small slice (20g) 120
Medium slice (28g) 150
Large slice (40g) 220
Extra large slice (60g) 330

As shown, an extra large slice could contain over 300 calories, versus just 120 calories for a small slice.

So paying attention to your slice size and limiting it to a medium or small piece can help reduce the calorie intake from garlic bread.

Tips to Reduce Calories in Garlic Bread

Here are some easy tips to lighten up garlic bread and reduce the calorie count per slice:

  • Use lighter whole wheat or sourdough bread instead of heavy artisan breads
  • Go easy on the butter/oil – try brushing on a thin layer rather than slathering it on
  • Use a spray oil instead of butter
  • Opt for half a slice instead of a whole slice
  • Share one piece of garlic bread between multiple people
  • Bake the bread instead of frying in oil
  • Add extra garlic and herbs to add flavor without calories

Making just one or two simple swaps can drastically cut down on the total calorie count for garlic bread.

Healthier Garlic Bread Options

Here are some healthier recipe ideas for lower calorie garlic bread:

  • Garlic bread made with whole grain baguette or ciabatta
  • Skinny garlic bread made with sliced French bread
  • Cauliflower garlic bread made with riced cauliflower
  • Garlic flatbread made with naan bread or pita
  • Zucchini garlic bread made into zucchini “buns”

Choosing healthier bread options and vegetables substitutions can produce garlic bread with around 100-150 calories per serving, versus over 200-300 for regular versions.

Conclusion

In summary, a medium sized slice of homemade garlic bread will contain approximately 80-150 calories. This estimate can vary based on the exact ingredients, recipe and serving size. Choosing lighter bread, going easy on oil/butter, and cutting down on portion sizes can all help to reduce the calorie count of garlic bread. When prepared with healthy recipe substitutions, garlic bread can be a delicious treat that still fits into a balanced diet.