If you love bread recipes, make sure to try the Best Homemade Rolls, Garlic Knots, Buttermilk Cornbread, Cinnamon Roll Biscuits.
How to make Breadsticks:
Make the Dough: Combine warm water, sugar, and yeast in the bowl of a stand mixer and stir. Let it rest for 5 minutes until it starts to foam on top. (If using Instant yeast, skip this step and add all of the ingredients to the bowl.) Knead: Add in 1 ½ cups flour, oil, and salt and mix until combined, on medium speed. Add another 1 ½ cups flour or so, until the dough begins to pull away from the sides of the bowl but still slightly sticky when touched. Add additional flour if needed. Knead in stand mixer for several minutes, or until dough is smooth and elastic Rise and Shape: Cover bowl tightly with a dish towel and allow dough to rise until doubled in size, about 1 ½ hours. Punch the dough down, then divide into 12 equal sections. Roll each dough ball into a 9 inch rope. Transfer to a greased cookie sheet, cover with a dish towel and rise again for 1 hour. Bake at 425ºF for 10-12 minutes. Remove from oven, brush tops with butter, and place on wire cooling rack. Serve this soft breadsticks recipe with your favorite main dish or soup.
Storage and Freezing Instructions:
Store leftover breadsticks in an airtight container on the counter for a day or two, or freeze them. To Freeze Breadstick Dough: Follow the instructions for the dough, allowing it to complete the first rise, then shape into breadsticks and place on a baking sheet. Spray a piece of plastic wrap with cooking spray then wrap it lightly over dough. Place pan in freezer and “flash freeze” for 1 hour. Transfer breadsticks to a freezer safe bag and freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to bake it, place frozen breadstick dough on a greased cookie sheet, cover with a dry towel and allow breadsticks rise for several hours, until room temperature and risen bigger. To Freeze Baked Breadsticks: Allow breadsticks to cool completely then transfer to a freezer safe bag and freeze for 2 months.
Breadstick Flavors Variations:
Garlic Butter Topping (Olive Garden style): Mix together ½ teaspoon garlic powder and 4 Tablespoons salted butter and spread over warm breadsticks. Cheesy Breadsticks: Form breadsticks on baking sheet, brush with melted butter and sprinkle ½ cup finely shredded cheese on top (we do ¼ cup parmesan and ¼ cup mozzarella). Cover, rise, and bake as directed. Little Caesars Crazy Bread: Brush warm-from-the-oven breadsticks with garlic butter topping (above) and sprinkle with powdered parmesan cheese. Cinnamon Sugar Breadsticks: Form breadsticks on baking sheet, brush with 2 Tablespoons melted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar (¼ cup granulated sugar + 1 ½ tsp cinnamon). Cover, rise, and bake as directed.
Serve With:
Homemade Lasagna Boursin Pasta Tuscan Chicken Pasta Taco Soup Chicken Parmesan Creamy Zuppa Toscana Quinoa Salad Pink Sauce Pasta Spaghetti Chicken Cordon Bleu
*I originally shared this post September 2014. Updated April 2020 and August 2024.
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