Copycat Olive Garden Breadsticks

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line two 15x10x1-inch baking sheets with parchment paper, and set them aside. In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in the whole milk, and warm the mixture to 105 to 112°. Editor’s Tip: Don’t overheat the milk mixture. Doing so will kill the yeast and inhibit your dough from rising sufficiently.

Step 2

Add the yeast and sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. Slowly add the warmed milk mixture, and gently stir to combine.

Step 3

With the stand mixer on its lowest speed, stir in the egg and salt. Add in 2-1/2 cups of flour. Continue to mix, then add the remaining 1 cup of flour until the dough clings to the hook, the sides of the bowl are clean and the dough is smooth and soft. Increase the mixer speed to medium-low, and knead the dough for three to four minutes.

Step 4

With lightly floured hands or a bench knife, divide the dough into 12 equal pieces. Then, shape the dough into 12 breadsticks, about 9 inches long. Place the breadsticks onto the prepared pans, leaving 1 inch of space between each stick. Cover the breadsticks with a clean tea towel and let them rest until they've risen slightly, 10 to 15 minutes. Editor’s Tip: Feel free to use a digital scale to divide your dough into 12 equally sized portions, weighing the dough and dividing by 12 to get the target weight for each breadstick.

Step 5

Uncover the breadsticks and pop them into the preheated oven. Bake the breadsticks until they’re nicely golden brown, 15 to 18 minutes.

Step 6

Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add in the flaky salt and garlic powder, then stir to incorporate. Brush the garlic butter over the hot breadsticks and serve them warm.