Pin it & Spin it: Olive Garden-{like} Breadsticks

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If ever there was a pin that lived up to it’s name, this one is it. These Olive Garden inspired breadsticks adapted from this blog are easy to make with minimal rise-time. Paired with a hot steamy bowl of soup or pasta a restaurant style dinner can be made at home in just an hour.

Olive Garden-{like} Breadsticks

4 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 tbsp salt

1 package active dry yeast

2 tbsp sugar

1 1/2 cups warm water {110/120 degrees}

2 tbsp butter, melted

Garlic Butter Sauce

1 stick unsalted butter, melted

2 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp salt

{combine ingredients and set aside}

Dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water. Allow to sit ten minutes, until frothy.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with dough attachment combine flour and salt. After ten minutes, add yeast/sugar mixture. Add melted butter and start the mixer on low speed increasing the speed as the flour and water mix. Knead until just combined and the dough balls up {this can also be done by hand with a wooden spoon. Knead with hands until dough ball forms}.

Remove dough from the bowl and place on a cutting surface {I use a cutting board}. Divide dough ball into eighths. Roll each piece into rounded strips and place on greased cookie sheet.

At this point I followed another pin from my Tips & Tricks Pinterest board and my own tip to try to create a little proofing box {from my time as a baker’s helper}.

Place the cookie sheet on a heating pad set on medium heat. Cover the dough with a dampened towel** {I wetted a towel, squeezed as much water as I could and placed in the microwave for 20 seconds}.

Let rise, covered 20-25 minutes on the heating pad. If you’re not using the heating pad/covered method let rise for 45 minutes.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Bake breadsticks for 6 minutes. Remove and brush with half of the garlic butter mixture. Bake for an additional 6-9 minutes {my total bake time was 12 minutes}. Remove and brush with remaining garlic butter sauce.

Enjoy!

**The dampened towel allows a slight crust to form on the dough that lends a slightly crunchy texture to the finished breadsticks.