A Homemade Garlic Knots recipe made completely from scratch! We’re keeping the prep simple, too: only 30 minutes of rise-time and there’s no mixer required!
For today’s recipe we start with my easy (from-scratch) pizza dough and add a few garlicky, buttery tweaks. Be sure to check out the video showing you exactly how I make garlic knots in my own kitchen, it’s just below the printable recipe!
As promised, today’s recipe for Garlic Knots is perfect for sopping up flavorful tomato sauce from your new favorite Baked Ziti.
I know that plenty of recipes for garlic knots start with pre-made dough, and I totally understand being in a rush sometimes, but nothing stacks up to the taste of a completely from-scratch recipe. Maybe I’m biased, but homemade is always better!
We start with a simple yeast dough. Don’t be intimidated if you don’t often bake with yeast (like I was for the longest time), this is a great recipe for beginners. If you can stir and can tie a knot, you can make this recipe.
Bread Flour vs All-Purpose Flour in Garlic Knots
You can use either bread flour or all-purpose flour when making garlic knots. Either one will work, but you will get slightly different results.
Bread flour is my preference for this recipe. Using bread flour will give your garlic knots a slightly more crisp exterior and a chewier interior. All-purpose flour will make them softer and fluffier. While I like my cake recipe to be soft and fluffy, I prefer my garlic knots to be a bit chewier and more like a breadstick, so I stick with bread flour here.
Make sure to brush them with just enough olive oil to coax them to turn a beautiful golden brown in the oven.
Melted Garlic Butter
Now let’s get to all that garlicky goodness I talked about earlier.
We are adding a bit of garlic powder (just half a teaspoon) into our dough, but most of the garlic flavor is going to come from our buttery garlic-infused topping. You’ll need just three ingredients for this topping:
- Butter (salted)
- Minced garlic
- Fresh basil
While your garlic knots are baking, combine your butter and garlic on the stove over low heat, cooking until the butter is melted and the garlic is fragrant. Remove from heat and stir in fresh minced basil (parsley will also work).
Once your garlic knots are out of the oven, generously brush them with garlic butter before serving. The butter (and that flavor) will absorb into the garlic knots as they cool down just enough for you to dig in.
Enjoy!
Recipes that pair well with garlic knots:
How to Make Garlic Knots
Garlic Knots
Ingredients
- 2-2 1/3 cups bread flour* divided (250-295g)
- 1 packet instant yeast 2 1/4 teaspoons
- 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil + additional
- 3/4 cup warm water 105-115F [40-46C] (180ml)
Garlic Butter:
- 4 Tablespoons salted butter
- 3 cloves minced garlic about 1 ½ Tablespoons
- 1 Tablespoon minced fresh basil
- Grated parmesan cheese optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400F (205C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine 1 cup (125g) of flour, instant yeast, sugar, salt, and garlic powder and stir well.
- Add olive oil and warm water and use a wooden spoon to stir until all ingredients are well-combined.
- Gradually add another 1 cup (125g) of flour. Add any additional flour as needed (I've found that sometimes I need as much as an additional 1/3 cup), stirring until the dough forms a cohesive, elastic ball and is beginning to pull away from the sides of the bowl (see video below recipe for visual). The dough will still be tacky but still should be manageable with your hands.
- Drizzle a separate, large, clean bowl generously with olive oil and use a pastry brush to brush up the sides of the bowl.
- Transfer your dough to prepared bowl and roll the dough through the oil until the entire surface of the dough is lightly coated with oil, then cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and place on top of your oven to rise for 30 minutes or until doubled in size.
- Once the dough has risen, use your hands to gently deflate it and transfer to a lightly floured surface. Form into a log about 15” long and cut into 9 even pieces.
- Roll each piece between your palms and slightly pull it to form a rope about 8” long (lightly dust the dough with flour if needed).
- Carefully tie each rope into a knot (see video for guidance) and place on prepared baking sheet. Lightly brush with olive oil if desired.
- Set tray on top of warm oven and let garlic knots rest/rise for 5 minutes before baking.
- Transfer to oven and bake on 400F (205C) for 13 minutes or until just beginning to turn a light golden brown.
- While garlic knots are baking, prepare Garlic Butter.
Garlic Butter
- Combine butter and garlic in a small saucepan over medium/low heat. Cook until butter is melted and garlic is fragrant.
- Remove from heat and stir in minced basil. Once Garlic Knots have finished baking, use a pastry brush to generously brush garlic butter mixture over each knot. Sprinkle with grated parmesan, if desired.
- Enjoy served warm.
JoDee says
These were fantastic! I followed the recipe to a T (OK, I let the dough rise about an hour instead of 30 minutes because I was busy making meatballs- but that’s about how long it took to double for me) and am OBSESSED with them. They are so amazingly chewy and garlicky I can’t say enough good things about them!! I will be making these again and again and I can’t wait to try them for company! Perfect compliment to a big plate of spaghetti and meatballs!
Sugar Spun Run says
I am so glad that you enjoyed them, JoDee! I am happy to hear that they paired perfectly with your dinner and you will be making them again. Thanks for commenting. 🙂
Sara says
I made these and got rave reviews. I made a few small changes, I made my strips/knots much thinner so they came out bite sized. I also used almost 1/4 cup minced fresh parsley in place of basil (since that is how I am used to having them) and added another tablespoon of butter and some salt to the sauce. Once they came out of the oven, I drizzled the butter sauce on them and also sprinkled a good amount of fresh grated Parmesan on top and some fresh ground pepper. I served them with a ramekin of warm marinara sauce for dipping…they were gone in minutes. They were just like the ones at a restaurant I used to frequent in David Island Florida. Will be making these a lot. Thank you!
Sugar Spun Run says
I am so happy to hear that the garlic knots were such a hit, Sara! Thank you for trying my recipe and sharing the modifications you made to make them to your liking. I appreciate the feedback! 🙂
Dave says
I just made these garlic knots and they are awesome! These just earned a spot on the recipe rotation.
Sam says
I am so glad you enjoyed them so much, Dave! 🙂
Jenn says
I’m excited to try these! I have a wall oven so just wondering if I can just let the dough rise on the countertop? Or maybe let sit for longer? I’m making homemade cream of mushroom soup and thinking these would be a great addition!
Sugar Spun Run says
This would pair perfectly with our homemade soup, Jenn! Yes, you should be fine letting them rise on the countertop as long as your kitchen is a warmer temperature. If not, they will just need to sit a little longer. Enjoy the garlic knots. 🙂
Tammy says
I really enjoyed the recipe for garic knots! It was my most favorite of all! Thanks again for your video that made it more enjoyable!😁
Sam says
I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed, Tammy!! Thank you so much for commenting and letting me know how they turned out for you! 🙂
Claire says
I made these with my sisters and they were amazing! They were so soft and fluffy – just like the ones at a great restaurant. I will be making these again soon
Sam says
I am so happy to hear this! Thanks for letting me know how you liked the garlic knots, Claire, I appreciate it! 🙂
isabelle frost says
this was such a nice dough and the knots were so easy to make. there was just too much garlic for me but next time i will cut down on the fresh garlic. they turned out beautiful.
Sugar Spun Run says
I am so glad that you enjoyed the garlic knots, Isabelle! Thanks for commenting. 🙂
Allisa says
Thanks so much for the recipe! Definitely will be trying it soon!
Sugar Spun Run says
You are welcome, Allisa! I hope that you enjoy the garlic knots. 🙂
Heather says
Can these be made ahead and frozen? Would you bake them before freezing? They are delicious, I make them often. Thank you for sharing the recipe.
Sam says
Hi Heather! I have not frozen them, but if you wanted to freeze them, you could do it before baking. I would make the dough roll out the garlic knots and then wrap them individually and stick in a freezer bag. They would probably need a little more time in the oven when baking from frozen. 🙂
ryma says
Thankyou for the recipe sugar spun sam.My garlic knots look so beautiful and so delicious because your recipe is folowable not like ither bread recipes I tried.Once again thankyou so much
Sam says
I am so glad you enjoyed the garlic knots so much! Thank you for the kind comment. 🙂
Sarah says
Wonderful recipe, thanks, Sam! No more store bought garlic bread for me. These were easy to make (your helpful videos rock!) and tasted great. Made as instructed!
Sam says
I am so glad you enjoyed them, Sarah! Homemade is always better if you ask me. 🙂
Valerie L. says
Hi, I have always been intimidated about making recipes that have yeast as one of the ingredients. However, after watching your helpful video, I am definitely going to give this delicious-looking recipe a try. Thanks, Sam!
Sam says
I hope you love it, Valerie! Baking with yeast really isn’t as intimidating as it seems 🙂
Deeksha says
Garlic knots look awesome!! I am sure going to try this week!
Sam says
Thank you! I hope you LOVE them!!
Mikaru86 says
I’m very happy to see that you are getting more into yeast recipes. I remember back when you were very hesitant to try them and I kept insisting that you should try them more 😉
Those garlic knots look amazing by the way. I think I’ll have to try them some time 🙂
Sam says
It intimidated me for the LONGEST time! Thank you so much for all of your encouragement, it really was a big help to me! And thank you!! Have a great weekend! 🙂