Soft Breadsticks

Soft Breadsticks

            Grandma Carroll makes these breadsticks to go alongside her Best Chili.  They are so soft and delicious, my kids love them!  This recipe is so easy and quick you can have homemade breadsticks for dinner any time.  Simply mix, roll out and let rise 30 minutes and bake!  For a heartier flavor I like to  add some whole wheat flour in place of some of the white. The large recipe makes two 11x17 inch rimmed baking sheets full, perfect for serving a large group of family or friends. The small recipe makes 6-12 breadsticks on a rimmed baking sheet, which is often the perfect amount on a week night!  

                                      Small Batch
(fills on one 11X17 rimmed baking sheet)

2 ¼ teaspoons or 1 pkg. active dry yeast

2/3 cup warm water
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
¼ cup canola oil or olive oil
2 –2 ¼ cups all- purpose flour                                              

                          Large Batch
(fills two 11x17 inch rimmed baking sheets)

2 ¼ teaspoons or 1 pkg. active dry yeast

2 cup warm water
3 tablespoons sugar
3 teaspoons salt
¾ cup canola oil or olive oil
6-6 ¾ cups all- purpose flour

 For the large batch prepare TWO 11 x 17 inch rimmed baking sheets, for small batch prepare ONE 11x17 inch rimmed baking sheet with a piece of parchment paper sprayed with cooking spray. Fit electric mixer with dough hook.  In bowl of electric mixer mix yeast with warm water and whisk by hand to dissolve.  Add sugar, salt, oil and 1 cup of flour and whisk by hand until smooth, scraping sides to incorporate flour.   Add remaining flour and mix in electric mixer with dough hook for 5 minutes. Let dough stand in mixer for 5 minutes. Break off pieces of dough and roll into a rope (about 1/2 inch to 1 inch thick.)  You shouldn't need to flour the countertop, but if your dough is too sticky, you may need to flour the surface.   Make the rope as long as your baking sheet is wide (about 11 inches long if your baking in a jelly roll pan.)  Place breadsticks about an inch apart on prepared pans.  Allow breadsticks to rise for 20-30 minutes.  Mix 1 egg with 1 TBS. water in a small bowl and brush egg over breadsticks.  Sprinkle with coarse salt , garlic salt, fresh or dried herbs, sesame seeds or poppy seeds and bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.  Brush tops of breadsticks with melted butter and serve.