Creating these Cheesy Stuffed Garlic Bread Rolls is surprisingly straightforward. Follow these step-by-step instructions to bake up a batch of irresistible, cheesy, garlicky goodness:

Step 1: Prepare the Garlic Butter

• Melt the Butter: In a small saucepan or microwave-safe bowl, melt the unsalted butter over low heat or in short intervals in the microwave, until completely melted but not bubbling. Be careful not to overheat the butter.
• Mince the Garlic: While the butter is melting, peel and mince the garlic cloves finely. The finer you mince the garlic, the more evenly it will distribute throughout the butter and the stronger the garlic flavor will be. You can also use a garlic press for convenience.
• Combine Garlic and Butter: Add the minced garlic to the melted butter. Stir well to combine, ensuring the garlic is evenly distributed.
• Add Herbs and Spices: Stir in the chopped fresh parsley, dried Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper (and red pepper flakes, if using) to the garlic butter mixture. Mix thoroughly to combine all the seasonings and ensure they are well incorporated.
• Simmer (Optional for Deeper Flavor): For a richer and more infused garlic flavor, you can gently simmer the garlic butter mixture over low heat for about 5-7 minutes. This allows the garlic to infuse the butter more deeply. Be careful not to burn the garlic; keep the heat very low and stir occasionally. If simmering, remove from heat and let it cool slightly before proceeding.

Step 2: Prepare the Dough and Cheese

• Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Pan: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking pan or a large baking sheet. Greasing prevents the rolls from sticking and ensures easy removal after baking. You can also line the pan with parchment paper for even easier cleanup.
• Prepare the Dough: If using store-bought dough, ensure it is thawed according to package instructions. If using homemade dough, allow it to rise according to your recipe instructions. Once ready, gently punch down the dough and divide it into equal portions. The size of the portions will depend on the desired size of your rolls – typically, you’ll get about 12-16 rolls from a pound of dough.
• Shape the Dough into Balls: Roll each portion of dough into a smooth ball. Place the dough balls evenly spaced in the prepared baking pan or on the baking sheet. Spacing them allows for even baking and prevents them from sticking together too much during rising and baking.
• Prepare the Cheese Mixture: In a medium bowl, combine the shredded mozzarella cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, and grated Parmesan cheese (if using). Toss the cheeses together to ensure they are evenly mixed. This creates a balanced cheese blend for stuffing.

Step 3: Assemble and Stuff the Rolls

• Make Indentations in the Dough Balls: Using your thumb or the back of a spoon, gently create a deep indentation in the center of each dough ball. Make sure the indentation is large enough to hold a generous amount of cheese filling. Be careful not to poke all the way through the bottom of the dough.
• Stuff with Cheese: Spoon a generous amount of the cheese mixture into each indentation, filling it to the top. Don’t be shy with the cheese – the more cheese, the cheesier and more delicious the rolls will be! Press the cheese down gently to secure it in the indentation.
• Brush with Garlic Butter: Generously brush the tops and sides of each stuffed roll with the prepared garlic butter. Ensure every part of the roll is coated with the flavorful butter. This will give the rolls a beautiful golden color, enhance the garlic flavor, and keep them moist.
• Optional Second Brush (for Extra Flavor): For an even more intense garlic flavor, you can reserve some of the garlic butter and brush the rolls again halfway through baking.

Step 4: Bake the Rolls

• Bake in Preheated Oven: Place the baking pan with the stuffed rolls in the preheated oven and bake for 18-22 minutes, or until the rolls are golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly. The baking time may vary slightly depending on your oven and the type of dough used.
• Check for Doneness: The rolls are done when they are golden brown on top and bottom, and the cheese is melted, bubbly, and starting to turn lightly golden brown as well. You can also gently tap the bottom of a roll; it should sound hollow when done.
• Optional Broil (for Extra Browning): For extra browning on the cheese and tops of the rolls, you can broil them for the last 1-2 minutes of baking. Watch them very closely to prevent burning, as broiling can brown them quickly.

Step 5: Cool and Serve

• Remove from Oven and Cool Slightly: Once baked, remove the rolls from the oven and let them cool in the pan for a few minutes before serving. This allows the cheese to set slightly and prevents burning your mouth.
• Serve Warm: Cheesy Stuffed Garlic Bread Rolls are best served warm, when the bread is soft, the garlic butter is fragrant, and the cheese is melty and gooey.
• Garnish (Optional): If desired, garnish the rolls with a sprinkle of fresh parsley or grated Parmesan cheese before serving for added visual appeal and flavor.