Homemade Garlic Knots

If you’re a garlic lover, these homemade garlic knots might just become your new favorite savory baked good. They’re soft, fluffy, packed with flavor, and better than the ones you’ll find in any restaurant. You’ll start this recipe by making a yeasted dough enriched with milk and butter. Once the dough has proofed, you form the knots with a few easy twists, and bake them until they’re golden. Coat the warm rolls in garlic butter and plenty of shredded Parmesan cheese, and they’re perfect for snacking, dunking, or as a side for any pasta recipe.

Homemade Garlic Knots Ingredients

• All-purpose flour: All-purpose flour provides structure for the dough.
• Quick-rise yeast: Yeast makes garlic knots rise while baking, giving them a fluffy texture. For this recipe, we’re using quick-rise yeast (aka rapid-rise yeast), which doesn’t need to be proofed ahead of time like active dry yeast.
• Sugar: A small amount of granulated sugar flavors the dough while feeding the yeast.
• Salt: A touch of salt balances the dough’s flavor and seasons the garlic butter.
• Milk: Warm 2% milk provides moisture and richness in the dough. If you don’t have 2%, feel free to use whole milk.
• Butter: A small amount of butter is added to the dough for a rich taste and texture.
• Garlic butter: The coating for the garlic knots—melted butter, minced garlic, dried parsley and oregano, and salt—gives the Parmesan cheese something to stick to.
• Parmesan cheese: Shredded Parmesan adds extra flavor. Grate the Parmesan from a block for the best taste and texture.

Directions

Step 1: Make the dough

In a mixing bowl, combine 1-1/2 cups of flour, yeast, sugar and salt. In a small saucepan, heat the milk, 1/4 cup of water and 1 tablespoon of butter to 120° to 130°F. Add the liquid mixture to the dry ingredients. Beat them on medium speed just until the dry ingredients are moistened. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a stiff dough.

Step 2: Knead the dough

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead the dough until it’s smooth and elastic, six to eight minutes.

Step 3: Proof the dough

Place the dough in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let the dough rise in a warm place until it has doubled in size, about 45 minutes.

Step 4: Form the garlic knots

Punch down the dough and divide it into 24 pieces. Roll each piece into a 4-inch rope and tie it into a knot. Tuck the ends under. Place the knots 2 inches apart on a greased baking sheet. Cover the sheet and let the knots rise for 15 minutes. Preheat the oven to 400°F.

Editor’s Tip: Be gentle with the dough while forming the knots. The knot should be fairly loose, and tucking the ends underneath will help secure its shape.

Step 5: Bake the garlic knots

Bake the garlic knots until they’re golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes.

Step 6: Make the garlic butter

Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine the remaining 3/4 cup of butter, garlic, oregano, parsley and salt. Cook them over medium heat until the butter melts and the garlic becomes fragrant. Transfer the garlic butter to a large bowl.

Step 7: Coat garlic knots

Add the warm garlic knots and Parmesan to the bowl and gently toss to coat.

Homemade Garlic Knots Variations

• Use another cheese: Parmesan enhances these garlic knots, but you can swap it out for another hard cheese option if desired. Use grated Asiago, Grana Padano or pecorino Romano.
• Brush with pesto: Want to infuse even more flavor? Brush the garlic knots with pesto before baking them.
• Add some heat: Crushed red pepper flakes are the perfect addition to add some heat to these homemade garlic knots. When tossing the garlic knots with the herbed and garlic butter mixture, incorporate red pepper flakes to taste as well.

How to Store Homemade Garlic Knots

Homemade garlic knots are best served fresh and warm. To preserve their texture, leftovers should be stored in an airtight container or zip-top bag.

How long do homemade garlic knots last?

Homemade garlic knots can be stored at room temperature for three to five days. We don’t recommend storing them in the refrigerator, as they will dry out.

Can you freeze homemade garlic knots?

Once the garlic knots have cooled, you can store them in an airtight container or freezer bag. Keep them in the freezer for up to three months and let them thaw at room temperature. Enjoy them at room temperature or reheat the garlic knots in the microwave or oven.

Should you reheat homemade garlic knots?

You can reheat garlic knots in 10-second intervals in the microwave or in the oven at 350°. Wrap garlic knots in aluminum foil and leave them in the oven to reheat for 5 to 10 minutes.

Homemade Garlic Knots Tips

Can you make homemade garlic knots with store-bought dough?

Store-bought bread or pizza dough is an excellent shortcut for making garlic knots. Shape and bake the dough, then toss the garlic knots in the prepared garlic butter.

How do I know if my dough for garlic knots has proofed?

This recipe calls for quick-rise yeast, so it will not be activated beforehand. After the initial rise, your dough should have doubled in size after about one hour.

How should you serve garlic knots?

Garlic knots are delicious on their own, but you can enhance them with dipping options. Dip garlic knots in marinara sauce, warm pesto, Alfredo sauce or spinach artichoke dip. Garlic knots are an ideal side for spaghetti and meatballs or your other favorite pasta dishes.