With the big football game coming up this weekend, it’s time to think Football Food! I’ve always been a fan of Little Caesar’s™ crazy bread bread sticks, so I’m recreating them at home to enjoy on the weekend. They freeze perfectly, so bake them ahead and tuck them away to have ready, so you can enjoy the game.
Crazy Bread Breadsticks
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1⁄2 tsp. kosher salt
1 cup water, heated to 115° F.
1 tbsp. active dry or instant yeast
1 tsp. sugar
4 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted, plus more for greasing
1⁄2 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes (optional)
Additional salt, for sprinkling
Marinara sauce, for dipping
Instructions
In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer fitter with a kneading hook, mix together the flour and salt in a bowl. In a small bowl, stir together the water, yeast, and sugar. Let sit until foamy, about 10 minutes. With the mixer running, slowly add the yeast mixture and mix until dough is moist and smooth. You may need to add a bit more flour. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and set in a warm place until doubled in size, about 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 425° F. and line a baking sheet with greased parchment paper. When dough has risen, remove to parchment paper covered baking sheet and pat dough into a 14-inch oval, about 1⁄3” thick. Using a pizza cutter, slice dough crosswise into 1 1⁄2” strips. Brush with half of the butter and sprinkle with half the parmesan and a generous sprinkling of table salt. Bake until golden, about 15 minutes. Remove from oven and brush with remaining butter, then sprinkle with remaining parmesan, red pepper flakes and salt, to taste.
Adapted from a Saveur recipe
