Soft garlic breadsticks (Printer-friendly)

Soft, fluffy breadsticks brushed with buttery garlic and herbs—ideal for serving with soups, salads, or Italian meals.

# What You Need:

→ Dough

01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 cup warm water (110°F)
03 - 1½ teaspoons instant yeast
04 - 1 teaspoon sugar
05 - ¾ teaspoon salt
06 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

→ Garlic Butter

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

# How to Make It:

01 - Combine warm water, sugar, and instant yeast in a large mixing bowl. Allow the mixture to rest for approximately 5 minutes until a foamy layer forms on the surface, confirming activation.
02 - Add the all-purpose flour, salt, and softened butter to the yeast mixture. Stir until a shaggy dough comes together, then turn onto a lightly floured surface. Knead by hand for 7 to 8 minutes, or use a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook for 5 minutes, until the dough is smooth and elastic.
03 - Transfer the dough to a lightly greased bowl, turning once to coat. Cover tightly with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel and set in a warm, draft-free spot. Let rise until doubled in volume, approximately 1 hour.
04 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
05 - Gently punch down the risen dough to release excess air. Divide into 12 equal portions. Roll each piece into a slender log approximately 7 to 8 inches long and arrange on the prepared baking sheet, spacing about 1 inch apart.
06 - Drape a clean kitchen towel loosely over the shaped breadsticks. Allow them to rest and puff up for 20 to 30 minutes in a warm area.
07 - Bake on the center rack for 12 to 15 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through, until the breadsticks are lightly golden on top and sound hollow when tapped on the bottom.
08 - While the breadsticks bake, whisk together the melted butter, minced garlic, salt, and chopped parsley in a small bowl until well combined.
09 - Immediately upon removing the breadsticks from the oven, brush them generously on all sides with the garlic butter mixture. Transfer to a serving basket or platter and serve warm alongside marinara sauce for dipping, if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The dough comes together with basic pantry staples and requires zero fancy equipment or technique.
  • That moment when you brush melted garlic butter over piping hot breadsticks will make you feel like a kitchen hero.
  • They pair with literally everything from soup to salad to a big plate of pasta.
02 -
  • If your yeast does not foam after five minutes in the warm water, it is probably dead and you need to start over with fresh yeast.
  • The second rise is not optional because skipping it leaves you with dense little clubs instead of soft fluffy breadsticks.
03 -
  • Use a kitchen scale to divide the dough evenly so every breadstick bakes at the same rate and nobody fights over the biggest one.
  • Brush the garlic butter on twice, once right out of the oven and again a minute later, for an absolutely decadent result.

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