Festive Candy Cane Breadsticks (Print version)

Soft twisted breadsticks shaped like candy canes with garlic butter, mozzarella, and pepperoni—perfect holiday party fare.

# What you need:

→ Dough

01 - 1 pound refrigerated pizza dough

→ Toppings

02 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
03 - 24-32 slices pepperoni
04 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
05 - 1 clove garlic, minced
06 - 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
07 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs

→ To Serve

08 - 1 cup marinara sauce for dipping

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line large baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - On lightly floured surface, roll pizza dough to 12 x 8-inch rectangle.
03 - Cut dough into 8 equal strips lengthwise using pizza cutter or sharp knife.
04 - Twist each strip slightly and shape into candy cane form. Place on prepared baking sheet, spacing apart.
05 - Brush each breadstick with melted butter mixed with minced garlic.
06 - Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over each breadstick.
07 - Arrange pepperoni slices diagonally along each breadstick to create striped pattern.
08 - Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and Italian herbs.
09 - Bake 13-15 minutes until golden brown and cheese is bubbly.
10 - Cool slightly before serving. Serve warm with marinara sauce for dipping.

# Expert advice:

01 -
  • These are the kind of appetizers that make people pause and grab their phones because they're just that fun to look at
  • The dough gets perfectly golden and chewy while the cheese creates those irresistible pockets of gooey goodness
  • They come together in about 35 minutes start to finish, which is basically magic during the chaotic holiday season
02 -
  • Don't overload each breadstick with cheese or toppings, or they'll end up sagging and losing their candy cane shape in the oven
  • Let them cool for just a few minutes before serving, because the cheese stays molten hot longer than you'd expect
  • If your dough starts springing back while you're rolling it, let it rest for 5 minutes, then try again
03 -
  • Twisting the dough strips before shaping them creates nice ridges that catch all that garlicky butter and cheese
  • If your candy canes start losing their shape while baking, you can gently reshape them with tongs halfway through cooking

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