Divine 1-Hour Breadsticks

I’m pulling these breadsticks out of the archives and into the spotlight for a minute today, because, well, for one, they’re fluffy and soft and buttery and super yummy. Four things that breadsticks (and probably half of my favorite foods, if you really want to know) should always be forever and ever. Amen. The fact that they can be made start-to-finish in an hour is just a big, fat, pretty bonus.

Because these breadsticks are so fast (and simple enough my kids can make them), we eat them a lot. A lot, a lot. Hence, a few updated little notes down below in the recipe (never fear, the original details are there, too). That’s what happens when you’ve been making a recipe for ten years and loving on it all that time. I’ve also added some step-by-step pictures below the recipe for those visual bakers (hand raised).

So adaptable, so easy, so yummy, these breadsticks are your secret weapon to making just about any dinner totally incredible. And if you want to let the adoring eaters at your table think you spent all day slaving over hot, fresh bread instead of confessing the whole 1-hour deal, I won’t judge.

Yield: Makes about 16-20 breadsticks, depending on how thick or thin you cut them

UPDATE: After six years on my site, I've updated this post with new pictures a few little changes in the recipe (upped the salt from 1/2 teaspoon to 1 teaspoon and added some additional notes about flour). Same great recipe - just updated a bit! The original recipe bakes at 375 degrees but I've found I like to bake them at 400 degrees to get them more brown on top.

For the flour, over the years, I've made them most often with white whole wheat flour. They are a bit heartier and slightly more dense but still delicious. They are also spectacular with bread flour. Or just regular unbleached all-purpose flour. My favorite combo (seriously, I've made these so many times) is about 10 ounces bread flour and 9 ounces white whole wheat flour. Magical.

Keep in mind that even with the weight and cup measures given, with all yeast doughs, I never use the flour amount called for in the recipe as a hard fast rule. Because humidity, temperature, altitude and a multitude of other factors can impact how much flour you need in your yeast doughs, I always judge when to quit adding flour by the texture and look and feel of the dough rather than how much flour I’ve added compared to the recipe. This tutorial on yeast may help identify how a perfectly floured dough should be. For this recipe, the dough should be soft and just slightly sticky without leaving a crazy amount of dough residue on your fingers.

Ingredients

• Dough:
• 1 1/2 cups warm water
• 1 tablespoon instant yeast
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 to 4 cups flour, about 15-20 ounces (see note above)
• Butter and Topping:
• 3 tablespoons butter, melted (for the baking sheet)
• Dried herbs, garlic salt and grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

1. In an electric stand mixer fitted with the dough hook (or in a large bowl by hand), mix together the water, yeast, sugar, salt and one cup of the flour.
2. Continue adding the flour until the dough just clears the sides of the bowl; knead for about three minutes. It should be soft and slightly sticky without leaving a lot of residue on your fingers.
3. Let the dough rest in the bowl for 10 minutes.
4. While the dough rests, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Spread the melted butter onto large, rimmed baking sheet (about 11X17-inches).
5. On a lightly greased countertop, pat the dough into a long rectangle, about 16-inches by 7-inches or so. Cut the dough every 1-inch (more or less) into strips with a pizza cutter.
6. Twist each strip slightly and place about 1/2-inch apart on the baking sheet. Sprinkle lightly with dried herbs of choice, garlic salt and Parmesan cheese.
7. Let rise for 20 minutes (you can cover with greased plastic wrap, if desired, I usually go without). Bake for 15 minutes until golden.