Homemade Garlic Butter Breadsticks are golden on the outside and light and fluffy on the inside. The garlic butter topping makes these breadsticks better than any store bought variety.
Homemade Garlic Butter Breadsticks remind me of going out for dinner at the Olive Garden restaurant. I would look forward to eating breadsticks all day long and I could not wait for the server to place that warm basket of breadsticks on the table. Friends of mine would wrap breadsticks in napkins and stuff them in their purse to take home. My morals would kick in and I could not make myself do the same. Instead I would eat far too many breadsticks before my meal even arrived. I often wouldn't have enough room to eat the main course. Unfortunately, I no longer live close to an Olive Garden restaurant. About 10 years ago we started buying premade breadsticks from the store and put garlic butter on top. We popped them in the oven for a few minutes and at the time we thought these breadsticks were amazing. Once I started baking with yeast I had the idea of trying to make my own breadsticks. My breadstick recipe quickly turned into a huge success and a recipe sought out by friends and family. These Homemade Garlic Butter Breadsticks are light and fluffy and so flavorful that you'll never want to buy store bought breadsticks again.
Ingredients
- Warm Water - Warm water is crucial for this recipe. Cold water won't allow the yeast to activate and if the water is too hot, it will kill the yeast. The water should be between 90F - 110F.
- Instant Yeast - I prefer to use instant yeast because I can tell really quickly if the yeast is fermenting.
- Granulated Sugar - The sugar is mixed with the warm water to activate the yeast.
- Salt - Helps to boost the flavor and it strengthens the dough.
- Olive Oil - Keeps the dough from drying out.
- Bread Flour - Bread flour has a higher protein content than other flours and the higher protein helps to dough to create gluten and the chewiness that's characteristic of bread.
- Butter - Butter is melted and then brushed onto the breadsticks right after they come out of the oven.
- Garlic Powder and Salt - Sprinkled on top of the melted butter.
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Mix together warm water, yeast and sugar in a small bowl. Let this mixture sit for 5 - 10 minutes. It will look foamy once the yeast has activated. This step is crucial for this recipe. If your mixture is not foamy, the yeast has not been activated.
Pour yeast mixture into a large bowl. Add salt, olive oil and flour. It's important to measure the flour by spooning it into the measuring cup because flour gets compacted when it sits in the bag or container. If you scoop the flour with the measuring cup it will stay compacted and you will add too much flour. Use a knife to level the flour.
Using a dough hook on a stand mixer, mix together for 3-5 minutes. The dough should be tacky and slightly sticky to touch. It should not be so sticky that it stays on your hands when you touch it. If the dough is too sticky add a pinch of flour. Only add one pinch at a time because adding too much flour will dry out the dough. Be sure to mix thoroughly between additions if you add more flour. If the dough is too dry, add a teaspoon of water and mix thoroughly. The end result should be a slightly sticky dough.
Once the dough has formed, roughly shape it into a ball and place in a large greased bowl. Cover with plastic wrap or a clean dishtowel. Let the dough rise for 1.5 hours or until doubled in size. This step is really important and is also known as "bulk fermentation" because it allows the yeast to continue to ferment. Fermentation helps with the structure and flavor of the dough.
Remove dough from the bowl and punch down to remove any air pockets. Divide dough into 12 equal pieces. On a lightly floured surface roll dough pieces into thin logs. Place breadsticks on two lightly greased non-stick baking pans. Cover with a clean dishtowel and let rise for another hour. The breadsticks should double in size.
Preheat oven to 350F. Bake breadsticks for 18-20 minutes. Melt the butter while the breadsticks are baking. Place butter in a small bowl and microwave for 20 seconds on high. Repeat in 10 second intervals until the butter is melted. I like to cover the bowl with a paper towel in case the butter splatters. Remove breadsticks from oven. Use a pastry brush to evenly coat the breadsticks with the melted butter. Sprinkle with garlic powder and salt. Serve immediately.
Hint: Make sure to use warm water (90 - 110F) when activating the yeast. If the water is too cold the yeast won't activate. If the water is too hot, you will kill the yeast.
Check the expiration date on the yeast. Expired yeast won't activate.
Substitutions
- Bread Flour - You can substitute all-purpose flour in place of the bread flour. I haven't tried this recipe with any other types of flour.
Equipment
Stand Mixer - These Homemade Garlic Butter Breadsticks are made with a stand mixer using the dough hook attachment. I have not tried to make this recipe without a stand mixer.
Large Non-Stick Baking Pans - Make sure to use two pans for this recipe.
Storage
Homemade Garlic Butter Breadsticks are best enjoyed immediately after removing them from the oven or the same day they were baked.
Homemade Garlic Butter Breadsticks freeze well. Place in a freezer safe container or bag and freeze up to three months. Thaw at room temperature. When ready to eat, pop into the microwave for 20 seconds and the breadsticks will taste like they just came out of the oven.
Top tip
Do not add too much flour to the dough! If you add too much flour, the breadsticks will be dense and they won't have that nice fluffy consistency. If this is your first time baking with yeast, I highly recommend reading the detailed instructions above!
FAQ
Homemade Garlic Butter Breadsticks pair well with pasta dishes, stews, etc. These breadsticks are so tasty, you can also eat them on their own.
They are served while they are still warm. Try these Homemade Garlic Butter Breadsticks shortly after removing them from the oven and you won't be disappointed!
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Recipe
Homemade Garlic Butter Breadsticks
Ingredients
- 1 cup warm water (between 90F-110F).
- 2¼ teaspoons instant yeast
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 ¾ cups bread flour
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Mix together warm water, yeast and sugar in a small bowl. Let this mixture sit for 5 - 10 minutes. It will look foamy once the yeast has activated. This step is crucial for this recipe. If your mixture is not foamy, the yeast has not been activated.
- Pour yeast mixture into a large bowl. Add salt, olive oil and flour. It's important to measure the flour by spooning it into the measuring cup because flour gets compacted when it sits in the bag or container. If you scoop the flour with the measuring cup it will stay compacted and you will add too much flour. Use a knife to level the flour.
- Using a dough hook on a stand mixer, mix together for 3-5 minutes. The dough should be tacky and slightly sticky to touch. It should not be so sticky that it stays on your hands when you touch it. If the dough is too sticky add a pinch of flour. Only add one pinch at a time because adding too much flour will dry out the dough. Be sure to mix thoroughly between additions if you add more flour. If the dough is too dry, add a teaspoon of water and mix thoroughly. The end result should be a slightly sticky dough.
- Remove dough from the bowl and punch down to remove any air pockets. Divide dough into 12 equal pieces. On a lightly floured surface roll dough pieces into thin logs. Place breadsticks on two lightly greased non-stick baking sheets. Cover with a clean dishtowel and let rise for another hour. The breadsticks should double in size.
- Preheat oven to 350F. Bake breadsticks for 18-20 minutes.
- Melt the butter while the breadsticks are baking. Place butter in a small bowl and microwave for 20 seconds on high. Repeat in 10 second intervals until the butter is melted. I like to cover the bowl with a paper towel in case the butter splatters.
- Remove breadsticks from oven. Use a pastry brush to evenly coat the breadsticks with the melted butter. Sprinkle with garlic powder and salt. Serve immediately.
arch beck says
these are too good to be true...the recipe says 12 servings but i could eat the entire batch