Description
These Homemade Cheesy Pizza Sticks are a delightful twist on traditional pizza, featuring a soft, homemade dough filled with a blend of mozzarella and cheddar cheeses and seasoned with Italian herbs. Rolled, baked to golden perfection, and brushed with a flavorful garlic herb butter, they make the perfect appetizer or snack to share.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough
- 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
- 1 cup warm water (110°F)
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup semolina
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
Filling and Topping
- 1 cup pizza sauce
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella
- 1 cup shredded cheddar
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons butter, melted
Instructions
- Activate Yeast: Combine the warm water, active dry yeast, and sugar in a small bowl. Stir gently and let it sit for 5–7 minutes until foamy to ensure the yeast is activated. Avoid water hotter than 115°F to not kill the yeast.
- Make Dough: In a large bowl, whisk together flour, semolina, and salt. Add the yeast mixture and one tablespoon of olive oil. Stir until a shaggy dough forms, then knead on a floured surface for 6–8 minutes until smooth and elastic, with the dough springing back when pressed.
- Let Dough Rise: Lightly oil a clean bowl with remaining olive oil, place the dough inside, cover with plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm place for about 1 hour until doubled in size.
- Prepare Dough for Filling: Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment and dust with semolina. Punch down the dough, roll it into a 12×8 inch rectangle, and spread pizza sauce evenly with a 1/2-inch border. Sprinkle mozzarella and cheddar on top.
- Roll and Slice: Roll the dough tightly from the long side into a log. Pinch the seam to seal. Slice the log into 12 equal pieces. Make two small slits on top of each slice for steam release.
- Apply Garlic Butter and Arrange: Mix melted butter, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, paprika, and black pepper. Brush half the mixture over the pizza sticks and place them seam-side down on the baking sheet.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 12–15 minutes until golden brown and cheese just starts to ooze.
- Final Butter Brush and Serve: Remove from oven and immediately brush with the remaining garlic herb butter. Let rest for 2 minutes before serving. Serve warm with extra pizza sauce for dipping.
Notes
- Ensure water is at the correct temperature (around 110°F) to activate yeast without killing it.
- Making small slits on the top of each stick helps prevent sogginess by allowing steam to escape.
- You can use a mixture of mozzarella and cheddar or any other preferred cheeses for different flavor profiles.
- For extra crispiness, you can sprinkle the sticks with Parmesan cheese before baking.
- Leftover pizza sticks can be reheated in the oven to retain crispiness.
