Gilded Cage Breadsticks Cheese (Printable)

A stunning dome of crisp breadsticks surrounding a luscious mix of fine cheeses and garnishes.

# Ingredient list:

→ Breadsticks

01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 teaspoon instant dry yeast
03 - 1 teaspoon sugar
04 - 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
05 - 2/3 cup lukewarm water
06 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
07 - 1 egg yolk, for glaze
08 - 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, optional for garnish

→ Cheese Selection

09 - 3.5 oz triple-cream Brie, cut into cubes
10 - 3.5 oz aged Comté, cut into cubes
11 - 3 oz truffled goat cheese, shaped into small balls
12 - 3 oz blue cheese, such as Roquefort, crumbled
13 - 1.75 oz Parmigiano Reggiano, shaved

→ Accompaniments

14 - 1 small bunch seedless red grapes, optional
15 - 2 tablespoons honey or fig jam, optional
16 - Fresh herbs (thyme, rosemary), for garnish

# How to Make It:

01 - In a large bowl, combine flour, yeast, sugar, and salt. Add lukewarm water and olive oil; mix to form a dough. Knead for 8 to 10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
02 - Cover the dough and allow it to rise in a warm place for 30 minutes, or until the volume doubles.
03 - Preheat oven to 390°F. Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
04 - Divide the dough into 18 to 20 pieces. Roll each piece into a thin stick approximately 1/8 inch thick and 10 inches long.
05 - Place breadsticks on the prepared tray. Brush lightly with egg yolk and sprinkle with sesame seeds if desired.
06 - Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, turning once during baking, until golden and crisp. Allow to cool completely.
07 - On a serving platter, mound the assorted cheeses in the center. Add grapes, honey or fig jam, and garnish with fresh herbs if using.
08 - Carefully construct a dome by placing breadsticks around and over the cheese mound, using cheeses and breadsticks for support. For extra stability, gently press breadsticks into cheese or use a small bowl as a mold during assembly, then remove it.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It looks like you hired a professional caterer, but it's entirely homemade and utterly doable.
  • Your guests will remember this long after they forget what you served last week.
  • You get to make fresh breadsticks from scratch, which fills your kitchen with an aroma that no candle can replicate.
02 -
  • Breadsticks need to cool completely before assembly or they'll be too pliable and your dome will sag like it's had a long day.
  • The cheese pile acts as both filling and structural support, so mound it confidently rather than arranging it flat.
  • If your dome feels shaky, gently nestle a small bowl underneath during assembly, then carefully remove it once everything is balanced.
03 -
  • If your dough feels sticky, resist the urge to add more flour; instead, wet your hands slightly and knead that way—it changes everything.
  • The breadsticks can be made a full day ahead and stored in an airtight container; they actually become crispier as they sit.
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