✨🍞Mrs. Clay’s Cozy Garlic Parmesan Breadsticks 🍞✨
Soft, fluffy homemade breadsticks brushed with warm garlic butter and finished with layers of parmesan for that cozy pizza-night feeling at home.
These were one of those recipes that started as “let’s make breadsticks” and somehow turned into everyone reaching for just one more.
Makes 16 breadsticks
❤️ A Little Story from My Kitchen
This recipe ended up being one of those kitchen memories worth saving.
The dough was softer than expected (future note: shape on parchment next time), the kitchen was cool so the breadsticks needed a warm cozy place to rise, and at one point I accidentally grabbed onion powder instead of garlic powder for the first butter brush.
Thankfully it was the tiniest amount and didn’t hurt a thing.
By the end we had soft, buttery breadsticks with golden tops and enough garlic parmesan flavor to make them disappear quickly.
This one earned a permanent place in my recipe box.
Ingredients
Dough
- 1½ cups whole milk, warmed to 105–110°F
- 1 Tbsp instant yeast
- 2 Tbsp sugar
- 5 Tbsp salted butter, melted
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 egg
- 2 tsp kosher salt
- 3½ – 4 cups King Arthur bread flour
Optional (but highly recommended):
- 1 Tbsp dry milk powder
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
Garlic Parmesan Butter
- 1 stick butter, melted
- 1½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp MSG (optional, but gives a cozy pizza-chain flavor)
- ¾–1 cup parmesan cheese
Step-by-Step with Mrs. Clay 🌸
Step 1 — Wake Up the Yeast
Warm milk to 105–110°F.
Add yeast and sugar and allow to sit briefly until dissolved and beginning to look active.
Step 2 — Build the Dough
Add:
- melted butter
- olive oil
- egg
- kosher salt
If using, also add:
- dry milk powder
- garlic powder
Mix in flour until a soft dough forms.
Don’t panic if it feels softer than expected.
Step 3 — Rest Before Kneading
Because of the added richness from the butter, egg, milk, and olive oil:
Let the dough rest 10 minutes before kneading.
This allows the flour to hydrate and creates softer bread.
Step 4 — Knead
Knead for 6–8 minutes.
The finished dough should feel:
- soft
- smooth
- slightly tacky
Avoid adding too much extra flour.
Step 5 — First Rise
Cover and let rise for 30 minutes.
This enriched dough may not dramatically double—look for softness and puffiness instead.
Step 6 — Shape the Breadsticks
Gently turn dough onto a lightly floured surface. Do not punch dough. Gently pat into 10″x14″ rectangle Cut with pizza cutter into 16 breadsticks.
Mrs. Clay note:
Next time shape directly on parchment. This dough became very soft after rising and was harder to move than expected.
Step 7 — Final Rise
Allow shaped breadsticks to rest and rise another 15 minutes.
Our kitchen was cool, so warmth helped.
The goal is slightly puffy—not giant.
Step 8 — Bake
Bake at 400°F for approximately 11–12 minutes, or until lightly golden.
Watch color more than the clock.
Step 9 — Finish with Garlic Parmesan Butter
While still hot:
Brush generously with garlic butter.
Sprinkle parmesan.
Then do it again.
Our winning finish:
Butter → Parmesan → Butter → Parmesan
That second coat made them extra delicious.
🍲 Optional:
Finish with a final dusting of parmesan while warm.
Things I want to remember:
- Added 1 Tbsp olive oil
- Rest dough before kneading
- 30-minute first rise
- 15-minute final rise
- Warm spot helped
- Parchment earlier next time
- Double topping was worth it
🌸 Mrs. Clay’s Tip:
If dough feels softer than expected, resist adding a lot of flour. Give it warmth and a little time first.
This dough is enriched with milk, butter, egg, and olive oil, so resist adding too much extra flour. Soft dough plus warmth gave us soft breadsticks.
Also: next time, parchment first.
✨ A Thought to Close the Day:
Some recipes become favorites because they are impressive.
Others become favorites because you remember standing in the kitchen together waiting for them to turn golden.
From My Recipe Box to Yours
Mrs. Clay’s Cozy Garlic Parmesan Breadsticks
Yield: 16 breadsticks
Prep Time: About 1 hour
Bake Time: 11–12 minutes
Total Time: About 1 hour 15 minutes
INGREDIENTS
Dough
1½ cups whole milk (105–110°F)
1 Tbsp instant yeast
2 Tbsp sugar
5 Tbsp salted butter, melted
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 egg
2 tsp kosher salt
3 ½ – 4 cups King Arthur bread flour
Optional:
1 Tbsp dry milk powder
¼ tsp garlic powder
Garlic Parmesan Butter
1 stick butter, melted
1½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp onion powder
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp MSG (optional)
¾–1 cup parmesan cheese
INSTRUCTIONS
- Warm milk and combine with yeast and sugar.
- Add melted butter, olive oil, egg, salt, and optional dry milk powder and garlic powder.
- Mix in flour until dough forms.
- Rest dough 10 minutes.
- Knead 6–8 minutes until smooth.
- Cover and rise 30 minutes.
- Gently turn dough onto a lightly floured surface. Do not punch dough.
- Gently pat into 10″x14″ rectangle
- Cut with pizza cutter into 16 breadsticks.
- Let rise 15 minutes.
- Bake at 400°F for approximately 11–12 minutes.
- Mix garlic butter ingredients.
- Brush hot breadsticks with butter mixture and sprinkle parmesan.
- Repeat:
Butter → Parmesan → Butter → Parmesan
Serve warm.
