Description
This Olive Garden-Style Homemade Breadsticks recipe yields soft, buttery breadsticks with a garlicky finish, perfect for serving alongside your favorite Italian dishes or enjoying as a flavorful snack. The dough is made from scratch using yeast, sugar, flour, and salted butter, then baked to golden perfection and brushed with a savory garlic butter topping.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups warm water (110°F/45°C)
- 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
- 1 tbsp salt
Topping Ingredients
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
Instructions
- Activate Yeast: In a small bowl, combine warm water, yeast, and granulated sugar. Stir gently and let sit for 5-10 minutes until frothy to activate the yeast.
- Prepare Dough: In a large bowl or stand mixer, combine flour, softened butter, and salt. Add the yeast mixture and knead by hand or with a dough hook on medium speed for 8-10 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic.
- First Rise: Transfer the dough to a lightly greased bowl, cover with a kitchen towel, and let it rise in a warm place for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
- Shape Breadsticks: Punch down the dough and divide it into 12-14 equal pieces. Roll each piece into 6-7 inch ropes and place them on a greased or parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Second Rise: Cover the shaped breadsticks with a kitchen towel and let rise for another 20-30 minutes until puffy.
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) while the breadsticks rise.
- Bake: Bake the breadsticks for 12-15 minutes until they become golden brown on top.
- Prepare Garlic Butter: While baking, melt the butter and mix in garlic powder and salt to create the garlic butter mixture.
- Brush Breadsticks: Immediately after baking, brush the warm breadsticks generously with the garlic butter mixture for delicious flavor.
Notes
- Make sure the water is warm (around 110°F/45°C) to properly activate the yeast but not so hot that it kills it.
- Allowing the dough to rise in a warm, draft-free environment helps achieve a good rise.
- You can store leftover breadsticks in an airtight container and reheat them in the oven for best texture.
- For a cheesier variation, sprinkle parmesan cheese over the breadsticks before baking.
- If you prefer softer breadsticks, cover them with a damp cloth during the second rise to prevent drying out.
