Description

These Garlic Dinner Rolls are soft, fluffy, and infused with a rich garlic flavor. Perfectly baked golden brown and topped with a fragrant garlic butter, they make a delicious accompaniment to any meal or a tasty snack on their own. The rolls feature a tender crumb from enriched dough and a subtle herbal hint from parsley, offering a delightful homemade bread experience.

Ingredients

Scale

Dough Ingredients

4 ¼ cups bread flour (510 g)
2 ¼ teaspoons instant yeast (or active dry yeast)
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 ½ teaspoons table salt
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 cup whole milk (240 ml, warmed to 110–115°F / 43–46°C)
½ cup water (120 ml, warmed to 110–115°F / 43–46°C)
¼ cup unsalted butter (57 g, softened)
1 large egg (room temperature)

Garlic Butter Topping

4 tablespoons unsalted butter (57 g)
3 garlic cloves (smashed)
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (or 1 teaspoon dried parsley)
Pinch of table salt

Instructions

Mix the Dough. Combine the bread flour, instant yeast, granulated sugar, table salt, and garlic powder in a stand mixer bowl fitted with a dough hook. Mix briefly to incorporate dry ingredients. Add the warm whole milk, warm water, softened unsalted butter, and the egg. Mix on low speed until a shaggy dough forms with no dry flour remaining. Let rest for 5 minutes for the flour to hydrate fully.
Knead the Dough. Knead the dough on low to medium-low speed for 8 to 10 minutes, scraping down the bowl occasionally. The dough should become soft, smooth, and slightly tacky, pulling away from the sides while still sticking slightly to your finger. Add flour or water in small increments only if needed to adjust consistency.
First Rise. Transfer the dough to a lightly greased bowl and turn once to coat all sides. Cover the bowl and let the dough rise in a warm spot until doubled in size, about 60 to 90 minutes. The dough is ready when it has visibly expanded and a lightly floured fingertip pressed ½ inch into it leaves an indentation that slowly springs back.
Shape the Rolls. Grease a 9 × 13-inch baking dish. Divide the dough into 12 equal pieces, roughly 86 grams each. Shape each piece into smooth round rolls by pinching the edges underneath and rotating gently on the counter until taut. Place the shaped rolls seam-side down in the prepared dish, spacing evenly.
Second Rise. Cover the rolls loosely and let rise again until puffy and nearly doubled, with rolls touching or nearly touching. The rolls should feel light and airy to the touch and a fingertip indentation should remain visible but slowly spring back. This may take from 30 minutes to over an hour depending on your kitchen temperature. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) toward the end of the rise.
Bake the Rolls. Bake the rolls in the preheated oven for 18 to 22 minutes until the tops are golden brown and center rolls reach about 190°F (88°C) on an instant-read thermometer. If the tops brown too fast, tent loosely with foil during the last few minutes.
Prepare Garlic Butter. While baking, melt the 4 tablespoons of butter over low heat. Add the smashed garlic cloves and gently cook for 3 to 5 minutes until fragrant without browning the garlic. Remove and discard the garlic pieces. Stir in the chopped fresh parsley and a pinch of salt.
Finish and Serve. Brush the warm rolls generously with the prepared garlic butter. Serve the rolls warm for best flavor and texture.

Notes

If you don’t have a stand mixer, you can mix and knead the dough by hand using a large bowl and your hands. Mix the ingredients until a shaggy dough forms, then knead on a floured surface for 10 to 12 minutes until smooth and elastic.
Using instant yeast helps speed up the rising process compared to active dry yeast. If using active dry yeast, dissolve it in warm water first and wait until foamy.
Fresh parsley adds a bright flavor to the garlic butter, but dried parsley works well as a substitute.
Do not add too much flour during kneading as it could make the rolls dense; the dough should remain slightly tacky but manageable.
For softer tops, brush the rolls again with garlic butter after baking while still warm.

Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Bread
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: garlic dinner rolls, garlic bread rolls, homemade bread, soft dinner rolls, garlic butter rolls