How to Make Homemade Olive Garden Breadsticks

By Molly Durham in Food on Apr 27, 2012 6:00PM

We've never regretted stuffing our faces with bread before dinner to the point that we're too full for our entrees less than we have when at Olive Garden. No matter how many top-notch restaurants you've dined at, no matter what your tastes, we can probably all agree that some things are just awesome. One of those things is Olive Garden breadsticks.

They're produced with more butter and garlic flavor than you can imagine crammed in a 6-inch breadstick. For years, people all over the country have been faced with this fortunate predicament, trying to control carb consumption before their dinners appear. Since we're always pleased to eat these breadsticks more than anything else at the OG, we decided to foray into making them on our own.

Homemade Olive Garden Breadsticks recipe (makes 10-12)

adapted from chef in training and full bellies

Ingredients

Dough:

1 1/2 cups warm water

1 package active dry yeast

4 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

2 tablespoons sugar

1 tablespoon salt

Topping:

1 stick unsalted butter (or 1/2 cup margarine)

2 teaspoons garlic powder

2 teaspoons salt

Directions

In a large bowl, dissolve sugar and yeast in warm water and allow to sit for 10 minutes, covered. Mixture should be frothy.

In separate bowl, combine the flour and salt. First, add in the yeast mixture. Then, add melted butter. Mix with paddle attachment of stand mixer or wooden spoon until fully combined.

Knead dough for a few minutes just until dough is smooth, but do not overknead. Grease or parchment paper-line a cookie sheet. Pull off pieces of dough and roll out into strips.

Cover the dough and let sit in a warm place for 45 minutes to an hour.

Bake at 400 degrees for 12-14 minutes, longer if you like them crispy on the outside.

In the microwave, combine the topping ingredients. After 6 or 7 minutes, brush the bread sticks with half of the butter mixture.

Continue to bake, then right after you take the breadsticks out of the oven, brush the tops with the rest of the butter topping. Let cool for a minutes or so, and eat.