Cheese Breadsticks (Grocery Store Bakery Copycat)

These baked Cheese Breadsticks are similar to the ones you'll find in grocery store bakery departments. They feature soft and light bread dough studded with cheddar cheese.

If there is a grocery store bakery treat that I tend to gravitate to, it would be Cheese Breadsticks.

The ones that come in a bag at the store, studded with melted crisp cheddar cheese, which are different than the pizza-style garlic cheese breadsticks from restaurants (eg. Olive Garden or Little Caesars).

Why you'll love this recipe

The dough for these Cheese Breadsticks is incredibly light and soft, with a bouncy texture.

It's based on my Hotdog Buns recipe and is so similar to the breadsticks that you can find in grocery store bakery departments.

Using tangzhong (a flour-water roux) in the dough guarantees that the Cheese Breadsticks are soft at room temperature for a few days.

The recipes comes together within 2 hours.

These Cheese Breadsticks are great as an appetizer or snack.

Feel free to add other flavours to the breadsticks to make them your own.

Ingredients you'll need

• 1 batch of Bakery-Style Hot Dog Buns dough
• cheddar cheese: grated or shredded; you can use any cheese you like, but orange cheddar is classic for these breadsticks

Equipment you'll need

• baking sheet: 13" x 18" lined with parchment paper
• spray bottle filled with clean water: for spraying the tops of the dough

How to make it

Make a batch of Bakery-Style Hot Dog Buns dough (Step ⅔ below).

Once risen, divide the dough into 8 equal pieces, about 80g each (Step 4 below).

Roll a piece of dough into a log about 10" in length (Step 5 below).

Place the dough onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper (Step 6 below).

Repeat with the remainder.

Using a spray bottle filled with clean water, lightly spray the tops of the dough with water (Step 7 below).

Sprinkle the grated/shredded cheddar cheese over top of the dough (Step 8 below).

Bake at 375F for 14-15 minutes, until cheese is melted and crisp (Step 9 below).

If the breadsticks are not golden enough, increase to 400F for 1-2 minutes.

Optional additions

Feel free to change up the breadsticks with different flavours.

Try adding:

• parmesan cheese: adds a crusty texture to the tops of the breadsticks
• herbs: try dried oregano, basil, or parsley
• spices: garlic or onion powder; not fresh garlic or it will burn

How to store

Store the Cheese Breadsticks in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Freeze the breadsticks in an freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months.

How to serve & reheat

Serve the Cheese Breadsticks soft and freshly baked, or slightly cooled at room temperature.

They'd go great with a marinara or tomato dipping sauce.

To reheat from frozen, place the breadstick in the microwave for about 30 seconds, until soft and warmed through.

Expert tips & FAQs

My dough is really sticky.

This dough will be on the moist side.

If it's too wet, add about 1 tablespoon of flour and continue to knead. It should come together without being overly tacky.

How can I tell if the dough is done proofing?

If you poke the dough after rising, it should leave an indent and spring back a little.

When you poke the dough and it springs back right away, it needs more proofing time.

Can I use a different cheese?

Yes, you can use any low-moisture cheese.

Why do I need to spray the dough with water?

This helps the cheese to stick to the bread more easily.

Other recipes you may like

Be sure to check out these recipes:

Turkey Pepperoni Cheese-Stuffed Breadsticks

Bakery-Style Hot Dog Buns

Pizza Pockets

Mom's Pepperoni Buns

Pizza Waffles

Let me know if you try out this recipe -- tag me on Instagram @siftandsimmer or leave me a comment/rating below!