Olive Garden Breadsticks Copycat Recipe

I recently posted an Olive Garden soup recipe that I love (my Pasta e Fagioli copycat recipe) and realized I needed to post a breadstick recipe to go along with it. These breadsticks are deliciously soft and fluffy, with just the right amount of chew and they taste just as delectable as the real thing. According to this source I found online the Olive Garden uses margarine to coat their breadsticks. With that said, if you prefer butter over margarine (like me) then feel free to use that instead. Now you can enjoy bottomless breadsticks at home =)!  

Olive Garden Breadsticks {Copycat Recipe}

Yields 1 dozen

Ingredients:

1 cup + 2 Tbsp warm water (110 - 115 degrees)

1 1/4 tsp active dry yeast

2 Tbsp granulated sugar, divided

3 - 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 3/4 tsp salt

3 Tbsp vegetable oil

Topping:

2 Tbsp margarine or butter*

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp garlic powder

Directions:

In the bowl of an electric stand mixer, whisk together warm water, yeast and 1/2 tsp granulated sugar until yeast has dissolved. Allow to rest 10 minutes. Add in remaining 1 Tbsp + 2 1/2 tsp granulated sugar, 1 1/2 cups flour, 1 3/4 tsp salt and vegetable oil, then fit mixer with paddle attachment and blend mixture until well combine. Switch mixer to dough hook attachment, add in remaining 1 1/2 cups flour and knead mixture on low speed, adding up to 1/4 cup additional flour as needed, and knead until dough is smooth and elastic (dough should pull away from sides of the bowl but should still be slightly sticky). Transfer dough to a large buttered mixing bowl, cover with plastic wrap and allow to rest in a warm place free from draft until double, about 1 1/2 hours.

Punch risen dough down, divide into 12 equal portions (2 ounces each by weight), keep them covered with plastic wrap as you work. Roll each piece into a 9 inch rope on a lightly floured surface, then transfer to two Silpat lined or buttered cookie sheets. Cover and let rise 1 hour. Preheat oven to 425 during the last 10 minutes of rising. 

Bake in preheated oven 11 - 13 minutes until golden (I actually broiled mine during the last minute for a perfectly golden crust). Meanwhile, in a small bowl whisk together 1/2 tsp salt and garlic powder. Remove breadsticks from oven and run a stick of margarine or butter over hot breadsticks and immediately sprinkle with salt mixture. Serve warm or allow to cool and store in an airtight container.

Recipe Source: Cooking Classy

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