Fluffy Cottage Cheese Garlic Rolls

These ultra-soft and fluffy rolls feature a medium garlic flavor, made with a dough enriched with cottage cheese and topped with a fragrant garlic butter. They are easy to moderate in difficulty and take approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes to prepare.

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup cottage cheese
• ¼ cup warm milk
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1 large egg
• 2 tablespoons warm water
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (for topping)
• 3 cloves garlic, minced (for topping)
• 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped (for topping)
• ¼ teaspoon salt (for topping)
• Optional: grated parmesan cheese for topping

Instructions

1. In a small bowl, combine the warm water, warm milk, sugar, and yeast. Stir gently and let it sit for about 5–10 minutes until frothy.
2. Place the cottage cheese in a blender or food processor and blend until mostly smooth. In a large bowl, combine the blended cottage cheese, melted butter, and egg. Mix until smooth.
3. Add the yeast mixture into the cottage cheese mixture and stir well. Gradually add the flour and salt. Mix until a shaggy dough forms. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead for 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic (or 5–6 minutes with a stand mixer dough hook).
4. Place the dough into a lightly greased bowl. Cover with a towel or plastic wrap. Allow the dough to rise in a warm place for 1 to 1½ hours or until doubled in size.
5. Punch down the dough gently to release excess air. Divide the dough into 12 equal pieces. Shape each piece into a smooth ball by tucking the edges underneath. Place the rolls into a greased baking dish or lined baking sheet, leaving slight space between each roll.
6. Cover the rolls loosely and let them rise again for 30–40 minutes until puffy. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
7. Bake the rolls for 18–22 minutes or until golden brown on top.
8. While the rolls bake, melt the topping butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in parsley and salt.
9. As soon as the rolls come out of the oven, brush them generously with garlic butter. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese if desired. Serve warm.

Notes

Tips: Use fresh yeast, blend the cottage cheese for a smoother dough, avoid adding too much flour to keep the dough soft, and brush butter immediately while hot. Variations include adding shredded cheese to the dough, mixing in dried herbs, adding red pepper flakes to the butter, or sprinkling parmesan before baking. Storage: Room temperature for up to 3 days, refrigerator for up to 5 days, or freezer for up to 2 months (reheat at 300°F/150°C for 10 minutes).