There’s something magical about the aroma of fresh garlic bread rolls baking in your oven. The way that buttery, garlicky scent fills every corner of your kitchen and has everyone gravitating toward the dining room before you’ve even called them to dinner? Pure perfection.
I’ve been making these garlic bread rolls for years now, and they never fail to steal the show at dinner parties, family gatherings, or even just a regular Tuesday night meal. What started as a simple craving for something more exciting than plain dinner rolls has turned into my most requested recipe.
The best part? These aren’t your average store-bought garlic bread. We’re talking about pillowy-soft, homemade rolls that are infused with garlic goodness from the inside out, then brushed with an incredible herb butter that creates the most amazing golden crust.
GARLIC BREAD ROLLS
These homemade garlic bread rolls are about to become your new obsession. Unlike traditional garlic bread that’s made from sliced loaves, these individual rolls give everyone their perfect portion of garlicky goodness.
- Cuisine: American
- Category: Side Dish
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Rise Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 8 minutes
- Serves: 12 people
What makes these garlic bread rolls special is the double dose of garlic flavour. We’re incorporating roasted garlic directly into the dough for a mellow, sweet garlic base, then finishing with a bold garlic herb butter that gives these rolls their signature punch.
INGREDIENTS FOR GARLIC BREAD ROLLS
For the Dough:
- 3½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 packet (2¼ teaspoons) active dry yeast
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1½ teaspoons salt
- 1 cup warm water (110°F)
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cloves roasted garlic, mashed
- 1 large egg
For the Garlic Herb Butter:
- 6 tablespoons butter, softened
- 4 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
The magic starts with using both roasted and fresh garlic. The roasted garlic in the dough provides this amazing sweet, caramelised flavour that permeates every bite, while the fresh garlic in the butter gives you that sharp, pungent kick we all crave in garlic bread rolls.
PREPARATION FOR GARLIC BREAD ROLLS
Step 1: Activate the Yeast
Start by combining your warm water, sugar, and yeast in a large mixing bowl. The water should feel like a comfortable bath temperature – too hot and you’ll kill the yeast, too cool and it won’t activate properly. Let this mixture sit for about 8-10 minutes until it becomes foamy and bubbly.
Step 2: Make the Dough
Add the flour, salt, olive oil, mashed roasted garlic, and egg to your activated yeast mixture. Mix everything until a shaggy dough forms, then turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead for about 8-10 minutes until the dough becomes smooth and elastic.
The roasted garlic will create little golden specks throughout your dough – this is exactly what you want! It’s going to give your garlic bread rolls that beautiful colour and incredible flavour depth.
Step 3: First Rise
Place your dough in a greased bowl, cover with a damp kitchen towel, and let it rise in a warm spot for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size. I like to put mine on top of the refrigerator or in a slightly warm oven.
Step 4: Shape the Rolls
Once your dough has doubled, punch it down gently and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into 12 equal pieces – I use a kitchen scale for this to ensure perfectly uniform garlic bread rolls. Shape each piece into a smooth ball by tucking the edges underneath and rolling between your palms.
Step 5: Second Rise and Bake
Cover the shaped rolls with a damp towel and let them rise for another 30-45 minutes until they’re puffy. Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 375°F and prepare your garlic herb butter by mixing the softened butter, minced fresh garlic, parsley, oregano, salt, and pepper.
Brush the tops of your risen rolls generously with the garlic herb butter. Bake for 16-18 minutes until the tops are golden brown and the rolls sound hollow when tapped. As soon as they come out, brush them with any remaining garlic herb butter while they’re still hot.
NUTRITION INFORMATION
These garlic bread rolls offer a satisfying balance of carbohydrates and flavour without being overly heavy. Each roll contains approximately:
- 187 calories per serving
- 5g protein per serving
- 28g carbohydrates per serving
- 6g fat per serving
- 2g fibre per serving
CONSEILS/SUGGESTIONS
The secret to incredible garlic bread rolls lies in patience and technique. Don’t rush the rising process – good bread baking takes time, and these rolls are worth every minute of waiting. If your kitchen is cool, create a warm environment by turning your oven to the lowest setting for just 2-3 minutes, then turning it off.
For extra flavour depth, try adding a tablespoon of grated Parmesan cheese to your garlic herb butter. The cheese creates this amazing golden crust and adds a subtle nutty flavour that pairs beautifully with the garlic.
Storage is simple – keep these homemade rolls in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. To refresh day-old rolls, wrap them in damp paper towels and microwave for 15-20 seconds, then pop them in a 350°F oven for 2-3 minutes.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can I make these rolls ahead of time?
Yes! You can prepare these garlic bread rolls in several ways for convenience. Shape the rolls completely, place on a baking sheet, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Remove from fridge 30 minutes before baking to come to room temperature, then proceed with rising and baking.
Why didn’t my rolls rise properly?
Poor rising usually comes down to yeast issues or temperature problems. First, check your yeast activation – if the yeast mixture doesn’t foam after 8 minutes, your yeast may be expired, or the water was too hot (over 115°F kills yeast).
Can I freeze these garlic bread rolls?
Absolutely! These garlic bread rolls freeze beautifully either before or after baking. To freeze unbaked rolls, shape them completely, place on a baking sheet, freeze until solid, then transfer to freezer bags. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, let come to room temperature, then bake as directed.
What can I substitute for roasted garlic?
If you don’t have roasted garlic, you can use two cloves of fresh minced garlic mixed with one teaspoon of olive oil. The flavour will be sharper and more pungent than roasted garlic, but still delicious in these garlic bread rolls.
How do I know when the rolls are fully baked?
Perfectly baked garlic bread rolls will be golden brown on top and sound hollow when tapped on the bottom. If you have an instant-read thermometer, the internal temperature should reach 190°F.
SHARE YOUR RESULTS!
I love seeing how your garlic bread rolls turn out! Share your baking adventures on my Facebook page – I love seeing your creations and hearing about any variations you tried!
Pin this recipe on Pinterest @OlyviaBestRecipes and tag me @OlyviaBestRecipes on Pinterest when you make these amazing garlic bread rolls!
Author: Olyvia T.
