Description
These Parmesan Bread Bites are soft, chewy, and packed with rich garlic butter and freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Made with homemade pizza dough for the best texture and flavor, these bite-sized treats are perfect as an appetizer or snack paired with warm marinara sauce for dipping.
Ingredients
Scale
Homemade Pizza Dough
- 1 batch homemade pizza dough (made from flour, water, active dry yeast, olive oil, salt)
Garlic Butter
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
- 2 cloves garlic, finely minced (or 1 teaspoon garlic salt as substitute)
- 3/8 teaspoon salt (¼ + ⅛ teaspoon combined, adjust if using garlic salt)
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (blend of oregano, basil, rosemary, thyme, marjoram)
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley or 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, minced
Additional Ingredients
- 4 to 6 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Marinara sauce, warmed, for dipping
- Olive oil or non-stick cooking spray for greasing baking sheet
Instructions
- Prepare the Baking Sheet: Generously grease a large baking sheet with olive oil or non-stick cooking spray to prevent sticking. Set aside.
- Prepare the Pizza Dough: Follow your favorite homemade pizza dough recipe by combining flour, water, yeast, olive oil, and salt. Knead until smooth and let rise in a warm spot until doubled in size. Gently punch down and transfer to a floured surface.
- Cut the Dough into Bite-Sized Pieces: Using a sharp knife or pizza cutter, cut the dough into approximately 1-inch pieces, aiming for uniform sizes to ensure even baking.
- Arrange Dough Bites on Baking Sheet and Rest: Place dough pieces on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 1 inch apart. Cover loosely with a clean kitchen towel and let rest in a warm spot for about 30 minutes to rise slightly again (proofing).
- Prepare the Garlic Butter and Preheat Oven: In a small bowl, mix room temperature unsalted butter, minced garlic (or garlic salt), salt, Italian seasoning, and parsley until creamy. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Brush with Garlic Butter and Bake: Unwrap the towel and generously brush the tops of the dough bites with garlic butter, reserving some butter for later. Bake in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes, or until the tops turn golden brown.
- Second Butter Brush and Parmesan Sprinkle: Remove the bites from the oven and place on a wire rack. Immediately brush with the remaining garlic butter, reheating it slightly if needed. Then, sprinkle a generous amount of freshly grated Parmesan cheese over the hot bites, allowing it to melt slightly.
- Serve Hot: Serve the Parmesan Bread Bites warm with warm marinara sauce for dipping. Enjoy immediately for the best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Using homemade pizza dough results in superior flavor and texture compared to store-bought dough.
- Room temperature unsalted butter is key for creaminess and control over saltiness.
- Freshly minced garlic is preferred over garlic salt for robust flavor; adjust salt accordingly if using garlic salt.
- Parmesan cheese should be freshly grated for best melting and flavor.
- The bread bites are best eaten warm and fresh but can be briefly reheated.
- Dough can be made ahead and refrigerated or frozen; let come to room temperature before shaping.
- Spacing dough bites properly ensures even baking and a slightly crisp exterior.
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: Parmesan bread bites, garlic bread bites, homemade pizza dough, appetizer, Italian snack, cheesy bread bites
