Buttery Cheese Garlic Rolls Recipe

Prepare to fall in love—these Buttery Cheese Garlic Rolls are pillowy soft, gorgeously golden, and absolutely irresistible. Each swirl is loaded with gooey mozzarella and slathered in the most fragrant roasted garlic butter. If you adore freshly baked bread and cheesy, garlicky goodness, this recipe will quickly become a staple on your table!

Ingredients You’ll Need

Let’s keep it simple: every ingredient in these Buttery Cheese Garlic Rolls is carefully chosen for big flavor and perfect texture. Here’s how each one plays a starring role in building up that irresistible, golden pull-apart roll.

• Garlic head: Roasting a whole head mellows the garlic’s punch and makes it sweet, spreadable, and deeply aromatic.
• Salt: Just a sprinkle brings out the sweet, roasted garlic flavor and balances every bite.
• Olive oil: Used to roast the garlic, it helps create that buttery-soft roasted texture.
• Butter: Essential for both the garlic butter and the dough—a must for ultra-rich, melt-in-the-mouth rolls.
• Fresh parsley: Brightens everything up visually and gives a fresh, herbaceous finish.
• Warm milk: The perfect environment for yeast to bloom, ensuring a light, fluffy dough.
• Active dry yeast: Our secret to beautiful rise and soft, airy texture.
• Honey: Feeds the yeast, adds a slight sweetness and gorgeous color to the finished bread.
• All-purpose flour: Creates a tender crumb that isn’t too dense.
• Bread flour: Adds extra structure and a touch of chew, ensuring rolls that hold their shape without being tough.
• Milk powder (optional): Gives a hint of milky sweetness and boosts the fluffy factor, but you can skip it if needed.
• Egg yolks: Enrich the dough with color and silkiness (plus a bit of extra tenderness).
• Sugar: Just a touch helps the yeast and brings out the rich golden crust.
• Mozzarella cheese: The creamy, stretchy heart of each roll! Use a brick and grate it yourself for best melting.
• Egg (for egg wash): Brushed on top for that beautiful, shiny finish.

Variations

The beauty of these Buttery Cheese Garlic Rolls is how easily you can customize them! Whether you’re working with what you have on hand, adjusting for dietary needs, or simply feeling creative, here are some delicious ways to make them your own.

• Make it herby: Add fresh chopped basil, oregano, or chives to the garlic butter for a different aromatic twist.
• Switch up the cheese: Experiment with cheddar, provolone, or a mix of Italian cheeses for a whole new flavor dimension.
• Go spicy: Sprinkle red pepper flakes or diced jalapeños into the filling for a gentle kick and extra warmth.
• Try whole wheat: Substitute up to half of the white flour for whole wheat flour for a nutty, wholesome upgrade.
• Make it vegan: Use your favorite plant-based butter, vegan cheese, and a non-dairy milk alternative for rolls everyone can enjoy.

How to Make Buttery Cheese Garlic Rolls

Step 1: Roast the Garlic for Butter

Start by lopping the top off a garlic head, placing it cut-side up in a small oven-safe ramekin. Drizzle generously with olive oil, sprinkle with a pinch of salt, cover tightly with foil, and roast at 160°C (320°F) for a luscious 2 hours. The result? Soft, caramelized cloves that practically melt when pressed with a spoon—exactly what you want for unbeatable garlic butter.

Step 2: Make the Garlic Butter

Once cool, squeeze the sweet roasted garlic cloves into a small bowl. Add softened butter, a handful of freshly chopped parsley, and a few tablespoons of that deeply flavorful garlic-infused olive oil. Mash everything until it’s creamy and flecked with green. Set aside—you’ll want to spread this on everything!

Step 3: Activate the Yeast

Combine warm milk, active dry yeast, and honey in a bowl. Give it a gentle stir and leave it alone for about 10 minutes. You’re looking for a bubbly, frothy top—a sure sign your yeast is ready for action and will give your Buttery Cheese Garlic Rolls the perfect rise.

Step 4: Mix and Knead the Dough

Add the all-purpose and bread flours, milk powder (if using), sugar, salt, two egg yolks, butter, and the yeast mixture to a large bowl or stand mixer. Knead on medium speed for 15–20 minutes, until the dough transforms into a soft ball and is silky-smooth to the touch. This step is where the magic happens—the more you knead, the fluffier your rolls will be!

Step 5: Proof the Dough

Place your dough ball in a lightly greased bowl, cover, and let it rise in a warm spot (around 29°C or 85°F) for 1.5 hours. You’ll know it’s ready when it’s doubled in size and feels light as a cloud.

Step 6: Roll, Fill, and Shape

Roll the puffy dough into a large rectangle, aiming for about 1/4 cm (1/8 inch) thickness. Evenly spread your prepared garlic butter all over, right to the edges. Shower generously with mozzarella, then roll up tightly like a jelly roll. Slice into 6 even pieces—they should look like spirals packed with cheesy, garlicky goodness.

Step 7: Final Proof and Bake

Arrange your rolls in a parchment-lined pan, cover, and let them puff up again for about 30 minutes. Preheat your oven to 175°C (350°F), brush the tops with a golden egg wash, and bake for 20–25 minutes until gloriously golden and bubbling. For extra decadence, brush the hot rolls with more garlic butter the moment they come out of the oven and add a sprinkle of fresh parsley.

How to Serve Buttery Cheese Garlic Rolls

Garnishes

A generous brush of leftover garlic butter is the ultimate finish for Buttery Cheese Garlic Rolls. Top with extra fresh parsley or a handful of grated parmesan for a savory, restaurant-style flourish. For a hint of color and zing, a sprinkle of red pepper flakes or a dusting of smoked paprika does wonders!

Side Dishes

These rolls are born to be the hero of your bread basket! Pair with tomato basil soup, a crisp salad, or your favorite pasta dish. They’re also fabulous with grilled chicken, creamy risottos, or hearty stews—anything that’ll gladly soak up the cheesy, garlicky goodness.

Creative Ways to Present

For a festive touch, arrange the Buttery Cheese Garlic Rolls in a wreath shape on a platter and scatter with herbs and edible flowers. Serve them straight from the skillet for a rustic, cozy effect, or pile onto a wooden board with small ramekins of extra garlic butter for dipping. Individual mini rolls make for show-stopping party appetizers too!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

If you’re lucky enough to have leftover Buttery Cheese Garlic Rolls, let them cool to room temperature. Store in an airtight container at room temp for up to a day, or refrigerate for up to 3 days—they’ll stay soft and flavorful!

Freezing

These rolls freeze beautifully. Once fully cooled, wrap each roll tightly in plastic or foil and stash in a freezer-safe bag. They’ll keep for up to 2 months—perfect for a make-ahead treat or a quick snack down the road.

Reheating

To reheat, thaw (if frozen) and warm the rolls in a 160°C (320°F) oven for 5–10 minutes, or microwave individual rolls until just heated through. Don’t forget to brush with a little extra garlic butter to bring back that fresh-from-the-oven magic!

FAQs

Final Thoughts

Homemade Buttery Cheese Garlic Rolls are the sort of cozy, joy-sparking treat you’ll crave any day of the week. Whether you’re serving them for a special occasion or just want to bring a little bakery magic to your own kitchen, give these a try—you’ll be amazed at how quickly they disappear. Bake a batch, share with friends, and don’t forget to save one for yourself!

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