Just As Good As Olive Garden Bread Sticks Using Your Bread Machine

Oh my goodness, who does not adore Olive Garden's Bread Sticks?  We LOVE them.  It is not something that I would made allot due to them not being a healthy choice,  but every once in awhile I would love to be able to serve something like them. 

I have tried a few different recipes that vowed that they were copy cat's of the famous bread stick.  In fact I tried one yesterday that was NO where even near a light fluffy bread stick.  The batch went into the garbage.

Today I just had to try again.  Were were having an Italian dish so I was determaned to give it one more try.  I told everyone here one more shot.  If it did not work I would give this one up. 

This batch Worked--------

 They ended up darker than Olive Garden's but were fluffier then yesterdays and the taste was amazing.  Our 14 yr old said "Thank goodness you think  they turned out cuz I really like them".  Anyone out there that has a 14 year old you know that is the seal of approval.

Bread Sticks-Kind of like Olive Garden 
Adapted from the recipe by Todd Wilbur found here http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/recipe?id=11745412

Ingredents

For Bread
1 cup plus 1 tablespoon warm water 
1/4 cup melted butter
2 Tablespoons Sugar
1 1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1 Package Yeast
3 Cups Bread Flour

For Top
3 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter Melted
2 Teaspoons Garlic Powder 


1.  Run your tap water until hot to touch.  Measure out water, place into bread machine pan.  
2.  Melt  butter in Microwave for about 30 seconds.  You want it really soft but not a total water consistency.  Add to water in machine
3.  Add Sugar and Salt.  Assure that both are disolved in water/butter liquid.
4.  Add Flour then Yeast on top.
5.  Program bread machine to Dough cycle.
6.  Allow to finish cycle, remove from machine and punch down dough.
7.  Divide dough into 12 balls.  Each should be about 2 oz.
8.  Roll out into a snake type roll of about 7 inches.  They do shrink a little.  Place on prepared pan of foil, or parchment paper.  Spray with oil if you do not have a non stick surface.  I used non-stick foil so I needed no spray. 
9.  Allow to rise for and additional  1 1/2 hours.
10.  Pre-Heat oven to 400 degrees.
11.  In a seprate small bowl melt 4 tablespoons of butter.  Add 2 teaspoons garlic, mix together for topping.
12.  After bread sticks have been in oven for 8 minutes remove.  With a basting brush spread butter mixture over bread sticks.  Return to oven for 4 more minutes.
13.  Remove and brush the remaining butter over bread sticks.  Enjoy!          

 This is what it looked like after the dough cycle finished.  Mine is at 1.5 hours start to finish.  It was just right.

 Divide dough into 12 equal portions of about 2 oz each.

Roll out into a bread stick of about 7 inches long.  It will shrink fast at first so make a little longer than you think you should.

 
 Place on a greased cookie sheet, parchment paper or a foil lined pan.  Allow to rise for another 1.5 hours.

Total Yummy when you have the butter over the top and they are cooked.  They are even good when cooled.

Enjoy!