Garlic and Cheese Pull Apart Buns

Big garlicky dinner rolls... crisp on the outside and oh so fluffy on the inside!

Ingredients:

1 cup water (105-110°F)

2 tbsps olive oil

1 tbsp sugar

1 egg yolk

2 tsps instant yeast

3 1/2 - 3 3/4 cups bread flour

3/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup butter

2 tsps minced garlic

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp dry oregano

1 cup shredded cheese (mozzarella, cheddar)

Mix the water, olive oil, sugar, egg yolk and yeast together. Then add about 1/4 of the flour. Next add the salt and gradually add the rest of the flour until a slightly sticky ball forms. You may not use all of the flour.

Knead in mixer using dough hook or on a floured surface by hand for 4-5 minutes. Form into a ball and place in a greased bowl. Cover in a warm place for 1-2 hours or until doubled. I like the oven with the light on...works great!

Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and roll out 1/2" thick to about 8 or 9" X 10". Combine the butter, minced and powder garlic and dry oregano to make a garlic butter and spread over the dough. Reserve 1 tbsp of the garlic butter for later.

Sprinkle the shredded cheese on top and and from the long end begin to firmly roll up. Pinch the edge to seal.

Use dental floss to cut 8 equal pieces. 

Sit the rolls in an oiled 8" baking dish. (I thought this one was 8" but might have been a little too snug. There should be a bit of space between the buns.) Cover and let rise on counter an additional 30-40 minutes.

Bake at 400°F for 25 minutes. Then melt the reserved garlic butter, brush over the rolls and return to the oven for another 5 minutes. And you might want to put another pan underneath in case some of the butter runs over 

Once they come out of the oven you could brush them again with garlic butter if you have any left. Leave them in the baking dish on a rack to cool for about 10 minutes.

Then, using a thin spatula, loosen all around and underneath and lift the bread out of the dish and onto the rack to cool further.

Then pull apart and enjoy!

Makes 8 big fluffy garlic buns