Description
This viral Hawaiian Roll Garlic Bread transforms sweet, pillowy Hawaiian rolls into the most addictive garlic bread you’ll ever taste. The secret is slicing the connected rolls horizontally, slathering them with garlicky herb butter, and baking until golden and crispy on top while staying soft and buttery inside. Perfect for parties, family dinners, or anytime you need a crowd-pleasing side dish.
Ingredients
1 package (12-count) King’s Hawaiian Original Sweet Rolls
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
4 cloves garlic, minced (or 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder)
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped (or 2 teaspoons dried parsley)
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Optional: 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Optional: 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
2. Remove Hawaiian rolls from packaging and let sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes.
3. In a small bowl, combine melted butter, minced garlic, chopped parsley, Parmesan cheese, garlic salt, and black pepper. Whisk until well combined.
4. Place the connected roll slab on a cutting board. Using a long serrated knife, carefully slice horizontally through all 12 rolls at once, cutting about 90% through and leaving the bottom 1/4 inch connected.
5. Carefully transfer the sliced roll slab to the prepared baking dish.
6. Gently pull the top and bottom halves apart slightly. Brush half of the garlic butter mixture over the cut side of the bottom layer of rolls.
7. Brush the cut side of the top layer with a generous portion of the remaining butter mixture.
8. Press the halves back together gently. Brush or drizzle the remaining garlic butter over the top of the rolls.
9. Cover loosely with aluminum foil. Bake for 15 minutes.
10. Remove foil and bake uncovered for an additional 5-7 minutes until tops are golden brown.
11. Optional: Turn on broiler for final 1-2 minutes for extra-crispy tops. Watch carefully to prevent burning.
12. Remove from oven and let rest for 2-3 minutes.
13. Garnish with additional fresh parsley and Parmesan cheese if desired.
14. Serve warm, allowing guests to pull apart individual portions.
Notes
For make-ahead convenience, prepare through the butter application step, cover, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Let sit at room temperature 30 minutes before baking.
The key to pull-apart success is NOT cutting all the way through—leave bottom 1/4 inch connected.
Don’t double the butter amount—the recipe’s proportions are perfect. More butter creates soggy bread.
Room temperature rolls slice more cleanly and absorb butter better than cold rolls.
Store leftovers covered at room temperature for 24 hours or refrigerated up to 4 days. Reheat wrapped in foil at 300°F for 10-12 minutes.
One package serves 6-8 as a side dish. For larger crowds, prepare multiple batches.
Fresh garlic provides best flavor, but jarred minced garlic or garlic powder works in a pinch.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 22
- Category: Side Dish, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1-2 rolls
- Calories: 195
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 340mg
- Fat: 11g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 28mg
Keywords: hawaiian roll garlic bread, pull apart garlic bread, sweet roll garlic bread, easy garlic bread, party bread, viral garlic bread recipe