The Most Fun We Ever Had: Pull Apart Garlic Rolls

The Most Fun We Ever Had is the generational story of the Sorenson family. It touches on themes of sibling dynamics, the blessings and pressures of being a close-knit family, and of love and loss.

This month I thought we would make Pull Apart Rolls - a great representation of how close the family is, as well as how individual their stories are. There are times where they lean on the each other, and others moments where they are in isolation. These rolls are super easy to make and are perfect as a side or on their own.

Pull Apart Garlic Rolls Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 cup water

• 2 tablespoons melted butter

• 1/2 cup milk

• 2 tablespoons honey

• 1 tablespoon active-dry yeast

• 3 1/2 to 4 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh rosemary

• 1 teaspoon fine sea salt

• 1 teaspoon garlic powder

• optional: flaky sea salt, for serving

Garlic Butter:

• 3 tablespoons butter

• 2 cloves garlic, peeled and thinly sliced

• 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley

Method:

1. Stir together the water and melted butter in a saucepan, then add in the milk and honey and stir until combined. Heat the mixture over medium low heat, stirring occasionally, until it reaches 110°F. It will be warm but not hot to the touch. 

2. Pour the liquid mixture into the large bowl of a stand mixer Sprinkle the yeast on top and give it a quick stir combine, then let the yeast activate for 5 minutes until it is foamy.

3. Add in 3 1/2 cups of flour (not all of the flour), rosemary, fine sea salt and garlic powder. Using the dough-hook, beat the dough on medium-low speed until combined. If the dough is sticking to the sides of the bowl, add in 1/4 cup more flour at a time (no more than 4 cups total) until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl and is only slightly sticky to the touch. Continue mixing on low speed for 4-5 minutes until the dough is smooth.

4. Form the dough into a ball with your hands and transfer it to a greased bowl. Cover the bowl with a damp towel or foil, and let it rise briefly in a warm location for 15 minutes.

5. Heat the oven to 400°F. Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish and set aside.

6. Gently punch the dough down and divide it into 15 equal-sized pieces. Form each piece into a ball and place the dough balls in the greased baking dish. Cover the dish with a damp towel or foil and let the dough balls rise for an additional 15-20 minutes.

7. Uncover and bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until the tops of the rolls are browned to your liking, then transfer the pan to a wire baking rack.

8. While the rolls are baking, melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Add the sliced garlic and simmer for 2 minutes, then remove the pan from heat, strain out and discard the garlic slices. Stir in the chopped parsley until combined.

9. Brush the hot rolls with the garlic butter and sprinkle with a pinch of flaky sea salt. Serve warm and enjoy!