Cheesy Halloween Breadstick Bones
Cheesy Halloween Breadstick Bones are easy, spooky snacks made from pizza dough, cheese, and served with marinara. Perfect for a fun Halloween treat!
Equipment
- Baking sheets
- Parchment paper
- Kitchen scissors
- Small bowl
- Pastry brush
Ingredients
- All-purpose flour for dusting
- 1 pound pizza dough
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- Marinara sauce for dipping
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 375°F and allow it to heat up. While waiting, prepare two baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper to prevent the breadsticks from sticking.
- Shape the Dough: Take your pizza dough and divide it into 10 equal portions. Roll each portion into a rope about 8 inches long. To create the “bone” effect, make sure the ends of each rope are slightly thicker than the middle. Place the shaped dough onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving some space between each piece so they don't touch while baking.
- Snip the Ends: Grab your kitchen scissors and make two small cuts (about 1 inch deep) on both ends of each dough rope. Gently pull and stretch these cut pieces apart to create the shape of bone ends.
- Brush and Bake: Melt the butter and, using a pastry brush, generously coat each breadstick with it. Sprinkle the grated Parmesan cheese over the top for extra flavor. Place the breadsticks in the oven and bake for about 15 minutes, or until they begin to turn golden.
- Add Mozzarella: After 15 minutes, take the breadsticks out of the oven. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over each one, then return them to the oven. Bake for another 5 to 7 minutes, or until the mozzarella has melted and is bubbling.
- Serve: Once the breadsticks are out of the oven, serve them warm with a side of marinara sauce for dipping. Enjoy the spooky, cheesy snack!
Notes
- Room Temperature Dough: Always let the pizza dough come to room temperature before rolling. This makes it easier to handle and shape.
- Snipping with Scissors: Kitchen scissors work best for shaping the "bone" ends of the breadsticks. A knife may not create clean cuts.
- Cheese Tips: For extra cheesiness, use freshly grated Parmesan and mozzarella. Pre-grated cheese can work but may not melt as smoothly.
- Butter for Browning: Brushing with melted butter before baking helps the breadsticks turn golden brown and gives them a rich flavor.
- Stretching Dough: The dough may shrink back after rolling. If your breadsticks turn out "fat," consider rolling the ropes slightly longer.
- Making Ahead: You can prepare and bake these a day in advance. Store them in an airtight container and reheat in the oven to retain crispiness.
- Freezing Option: Freeze baked breadsticks after cooling. Reheat them in the oven to maintain texture—freezing before baking may alter the texture upon reheating.
- Gluten-Free/Dairy-Free Substitutes: You can make these gluten-free with gluten-free pizza dough and dairy-free with vegan cheese and butter.
- Avoid Overloading with Cheese: Adding too much mozzarella can make the breadsticks soggy. Use just enough to cover the surface.