Favorite Breadsticks

We love breadsticks at our house.  We eat them with pasta, pizza, soup, and sometimes even by themselves. These breadsticks topped with butter, garlic, salt, and parmesan cheese are delicious.

Favorite Breadsticks 

1 scant tablespoon active dry yeast

1-1/2 cups, plus 2 tablespoons warm water

4-1/4 cups flour

2 tablespoons butter, room temp

2 tablespoons sugar

1 tablespoon salt

Topping:

3 tablespoons butter, melted

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

pinch of dried oregano

1/8 cup powdered Parmesan cheese

To make the dough:  Place 1/4 cup warm water into the bowl of a mixer; sprinkle in yeast and let sit for about 5 minutes.  Add the flour, butter, sugar, salt, and remaining water.  Mix until a slightly sticky dough forms.  Let knead 3 minutes until soft and smooth.  Roll into a 2 foot long log; cut into 16 1-1/2 inch long pieces.  Shape each piece into a 7-inch long breadstick.  Place 2 inches apart on a greased baking sheet.  Cover with a cloth and let rise until almost doubled (about 45 minutes).

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  

In a small bowl, combine melted butter, salt, garlic powder, and oregano.  Brush topping onto breadsticks.  Bake 15 minutes or until lightly golden.  While breadsticks are baking add Parmesan cheese to the melted butter mixture.  Finish breadsticks by brushing them heavily with butter mixture.

Step-by-Step

 Add 1/4 cup water to bowl 

 and 1 scant tablespoon of yeast.  Let rest until foamy (about 5 minutes).

 Add sugar

 flour

 butter

 salt

 and remaining water.

 Mix using a dough hook until a slightly sticky dough forms. Let the mixer continue to knead the dough for 3 minutes.

 Remove dough from bowl, and roll into a 2 foot long log.

 Divide into 16 1-1/2 inch pieces.

 Shape each piece into a 7-in long breadstick.  Place 2 inches (or so) apart on a greased cookie sheet.

 Cover with a cloth and let the dough rise until doubled (about 45 minutes).

 Meanwhile make the topping by melting 3 tablespoons of butter and mixing in

 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder, and a pinch of dried oregano.

 Once breadsticks have doubled in size, gently brush on butter mixture.  Bake in a 400 degree oven for 15 minutes or until golden brown.

 Now add 1/8 cup of powdered Parmesan cheese to the butter mixture.

 Once breadstick come out of the oven, generously brush butter/cheese mixture over them.

Serve warm.