Soft Garlic Breadsticks (Print Version)

Soft, fluffy breadsticks with buttery garlic and herbs—perfect for pairing with your favorite Italian meals.

# What You'll Need:

→ Dough

01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour (250 g)
02 - 1 cup warm water (about 110°F), approximately 120 ml
03 - 1½ teaspoons instant yeast (5 g)
04 - 1 teaspoon sugar (5 g)
05 - ¾ teaspoon salt (4 g)
06 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened (28 g)

→ Garlic Butter

07 - 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted (42 g)
08 - 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
09 - 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped (optional)
10 - ½ teaspoon salt

# How to Make It:

01 - In a large mixing bowl, combine warm water (about 110°F), sugar, and instant yeast. Let the mixture sit undisturbed until foamy and bubbly, approximately 5 minutes.
02 - Add all-purpose flour, salt, and softened butter to the yeast mixture. Stir until a shaggy dough forms, then turn out onto a lightly floured surface.
03 - Knead the dough by hand for 7–8 minutes, or 5 minutes using a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, until the dough is smooth, elastic, and springs back when gently pressed.
04 - Transfer the dough to a lightly greased bowl, cover tightly with plastic wrap or a damp kitchen towel, and let rise in a warm, draft-free spot until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
05 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
06 - Gently punch down the risen dough to release air bubbles. Divide into 12 equal portions and roll each into a slender breadstick shape, approximately 7–8 inches long. Arrange on the prepared baking sheet, spacing about 2 inches apart.
07 - Loosely cover the shaped breadsticks with a kitchen towel and let them rest and puff up for 20–30 minutes in a warm area.
08 - Bake in the preheated oven for 12–15 minutes, until the breadsticks are lightly golden on top and sound hollow when tapped on the bottom.
09 - While the breadsticks bake, whisk together melted butter, minced garlic, salt, and chopped parsley. As soon as the breadsticks emerge from the oven, brush them generously with the garlic butter mixture. Serve warm.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • These breadsticks come together with pantry staples and taste like they came from your favorite Italian restaurant.
  • The dough is forgiving and beginner friendly so even if you are new to yeast baking you will feel like a pro.
02 -
  • If your yeast never foams in step one the water was either too hot or the yeast was dead and you need to start over.
  • Brushing the garlic butter on while the breadsticks are still hot allows them to soak up every bit of flavor.
03 -
  • Let the shaped breadsticks rise in a turned off oven with the light on if your kitchen is cold and drafty.
  • Use a pastry brush with soft bristles so you do not tear the delicate crust when applying the garlic butter.

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