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A baking tray with several golden, twisted breadsticks on a blue and tan cloth, next to a jar of seasoning and a bowl of melted butter with a red pastry brush.
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Italian Breadsticks {Twisted Breadsticks}

Learn how to make easy Italian Breadsticks at home with this simple recipe. These soft, buttery twisted breadsticks with a homemade garlic and parmesan seasoning are perfect for any meal and will become your family's favorite bread side dish!
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
1 hour 15 minutes
Course: Bread, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegetarian
Servings: 12 breadsticks
Author: Melissa Griffiths

Ingredients

  • 1½ cups warm water
  • 1 tablespoon instant yeast
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 3½ to 4½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons butter melted
  • Parmesan cheese or Garlic Parmesan Seasoning optional, see notes

Instructions

  • In a medium bowl, combine warm water, yeast, sugar, olive oil, and salt.
  • Stir in 1 cup of flour. Add another cup and stir again.
  • Add remaining flour a little at a time, stirring until a shaggy dough forms.
  • Transfer to a floured surface and knead in more flour until a smooth, elastic dough forms. It should be soft but not sticky.
  • Place dough back in the bowl, cover, and let rise for 20 to 45 minutes, depending on your schedule.
  • Roll the risen dough into a rectangle about 18x10 inches.
  • Cut into 12 equal strips using a sharp knife or pizza cutter.
  • Take each strip, fold it in half, and twist the ends in opposite directions.
  • Place twists on a baking sheet lined with a silicone mat or parchment paper, pressing the ends against the pan to help them hold their shape.
  • Let the shaped breadsticks rise for 15 to 30 minutes while the oven preheats to 425°F.
  • Bake breadsticks for 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown.
  • Brush hot breadsticks with melted butter.
  • Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese or your favorite Garlic Parmesan Seasoning (highly recommended!).

Notes

Rising Time: The rising times for this dough are NOT firm. It is a really forgiving dough and you can work with it to suit your schedule! I'll often use quit short rising times for this recipes with no issues if I'm in a hurry to get these on the dinner table. And if you have more time, there's no harm in letting the dough rise longer. You'll love how flexible this recipe is! 
Best Topping: The cheese and garlic topping is what makes these in my opinion. It really puts them over the top and everyone (including my pickiest kid) LOVES it. We make this recipe all of the time because it's a huge family favorite. You can also just do melted butter or you can do melted butter with just the sprinkle cheese (the powdery parmesan) on top. All are great choices. 
Feed A Crowd: This is a really easy recipe to double or triple if you are making these for a crowd. Just get some help with the twisting! 
Sugar Substitute: You can sub the sugar for honey if you'd like. 
Storing Breadsticks:
  • Store cooled breadsticks in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. Reheat in a 350°F oven for 5-7 minutes to restore their texture.
  • Freeze baked and cooled breadsticks in freezer bags for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature and reheat in the oven for best results.

Nutrition

Serving: 1breadstick | Calories: 70kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 211mg | Potassium: 15mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 58IU | Vitamin C: 0.001mg | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 1mg

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