Description
These Olive Garden-style breadsticks are soft, buttery, and flavorful, perfect for serving as an appetizer or alongside your favorite pasta dishes. They are easy to make from scratch, with a tender yeast dough seasoned with garlic salt and parsley, baked to golden perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Dough
- 1 cup warm water
- 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
For Topping
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- ½ teaspoon garlic salt with parsley flakes
Instructions
- Activate Yeast: In a large bowl, combine warm water, active dry yeast, and sugar. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes, or until the mixture becomes foamy, indicating that the yeast is active.
- Mix Dough: Add salt, vegetable oil, and 2 cups of all-purpose flour to the yeast mixture. Stir well until combined.
- Add Remaining Flour: Gradually add the remaining ½ cup flour, about ¼ cup at a time, stirring until the dough begins to pull away from the sides of the bowl and has a soft yet slightly sticky texture.
- Knead Dough: Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead it for approximately 5-7 minutes. Add additional flour as necessary to prevent sticking, resulting in a smooth and elastic dough.
- First Rise: Place the kneaded dough into a lightly greased bowl. Cover it with a clean kitchen towel and allow it to rise for at least 30 minutes, or until doubled in size.
- Divide Dough: Once risen, gently punch down the dough to release air. Divide it into 12 equal portions for shaping.
- Shape Breadsticks: Roll each portion into a 9-inch rope and arrange them evenly on a parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving space between each.
- Second Rise: Cover the shaped breadsticks with a towel and let them rise again for 20-30 minutes until slightly puffy.
- Preheat Oven and Bake: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Before baking, brush the breadsticks generously with melted butter mixed with garlic salt and parsley flakes. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown.
- Serve: Remove the breadsticks from the oven and brush again with melted butter for extra flavor. Serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
- Ensure water temperature is warm (about 110°F or 43°C) to properly activate the yeast without killing it.
- Adjust the flour quantity slightly as needed depending on humidity and flour brand to get the right dough consistency.
- You can sprinkle additional garlic salt or Parmesan cheese before baking for extra flavor.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container and reheat in the oven to maintain softness.
- These breadsticks freeze well; wrap individually and thaw before reheating.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
