Why This Recipe Works

These supersimple bread sticks are the perfect snack or dinner side dish. We developed this recipe for toddlers ages 2 and up to make with a grown-up, but kids of any age will have fun making them! Start with store-bought pizza dough, butter, garlic, and Parmesan cheese. End with the best bread sticks—or twists or coils or any other shape. We cut the dough into 12 strips, which gave us pieces just the right size for young hands to create fanciful shapes. This recipe is also the perfect time to give kids a refresher on using a ruler. While your young chef is measuring their dough rectangle in step 1, remind them to line up the “0” on the ruler with the edge of their dough, and hold the ruler horizontal and level. You can also review what the different markings on the ruler mean (the longest mark an inch, the next longest mark half inches, then quarter inches, and so on).

Before You Begin

Serve with your favorite dip or store-bought marinara sauce. Make sure to let the pizza dough come to room temperature before shaping the dough. (To bring dough to room temperature faster, place cold dough in zipper-lock plastic bag, squeeze out extra air, and seal bag. Place bag in large bowl filled with hot water. Turn and squeeze dough a few times until warmed to room temperature, about 15 minutes.)

Instructions

Line rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and spray parchment with vegetable oil spray. Spray clean countertop lightly with vegetable oil spray.

Transfer dough to greased counter. Press and stretch dough into 12-by-6-inch rectangle, with long side parallel to counter edge. Using pizza cutter or chef’s knife, cut dough crosswise (the short way) into twelve 1-inch-wide strips. Cover dough strips loosely with greased plastic wrap.

Working with one piece of dough at a time (keep remaining pieces covered), stretch and roll dough into 14-inch rope (see photos, “Step-by-Step: Two Options for Bread Shapes,” below). Shape each rope into desired shapes.

Arrange shaped pieces of dough on greased parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving about 1 inch between pieces. Cover loosely with greased plastic and let rise until nearly doubled in size, 1 to 1½ hours.

Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 450 degrees. In small bowl, use spoon to stir together melted butter and garlic powder. Brush shaped pieces of dough with half of garlic butter and sprinkle Parmesan evenly over top.

Place baking sheet in oven. Bake until bread sticks are golden brown, about 5 minutes. Ask an adult to rotate baking sheet in oven. Bake for 5 more minutes.

Use oven mitts to remove baking sheet from oven and place on cooling rack (ask an adult for help). Brush bread sticks with remaining garlic butter (ask an adult for help—baking sheet will be HOT!). Let cool for 10 minutes. Serve warm. (Bread sticks can be stored at room temperature for up to 2 days. To serve, reheat in 350-degree oven for 5 minutes.)