Soft Sourdough Breadsticks

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These soft sourdough breadsticks are a special treat—buttery with coarse salt and garlic on the outside and perfectly tender on the inside. They are easy to make, and there is nothing like these sourdough breadsticks when they are fresh out of the oven.

*This recipe was updated on 3/27/23 to gram weights for consistency (the recipe has not changed). The original recipe can be found in the recipe card notes.

Sourdough Guides for Beginners

• How to Feed and Maintain a Sourdough Starter (Easy Refrigerator Method)
• Sourdough Baking Terms for Beginners
• Essential Sourdough Bread Making Tools

We usually serve these soft sourdough breadsticks for special occasions alongside spaghetti or linguine with shrimp scampi. My husband loves these homemade breadsticks…

And I have to cut him off after three or four.

Let’s just say they really are worth making from scratch so they can be eaten warm and fresh!

They are super simple to shape by rolling the dough into a rectangle and slicing into sticks with a pizza cutter.

The baking schedule offers some flexibility. You can start the dough in the morning to bake the same evening, or you can make the dough in advance, letting it ferment in the refrigerator until you’re ready to proof and bake.

Why Make Breadsticks with Sourdough Starter Instead of Yeast?

Traditionally, bread was always made from a wild yeast (or sourdough) starter. The long ferment time improves the digestibility of the bread, reduces the gluten content, and increases the nutritive properties.

Commercial yeast, then, is more like the “fast food” of the bread world. For most people, sourdough is the healthiest way to enjoy eating bread.

I use my starter all the time in my kitchen! I make Sourdough Soft Pretzels, Sourdough Croissants, Soft Sourdough Potato Rolls, and more!

I would still consider these breadsticks as more of a treat than a health food, but I’m happy that they are probably more nourishing for my family than the same breadsticks would be made with commercial yeast.

This recipe calls for active starter at 100% hydration. This just means it’s been fed with equal weights flour and water. You should plan to feed it a few hours before you plan to mix your dough so it’s nice and bubbly.

If you don’t have your own starter yet, you can learn how to make one in about 7 days here: Easy Sourdough Starter from Scratch

Tips for Making Soft Sourdough Breadsticks

• Start with active, bubbly sourdough starter.
• Make sure to knead your dough properly. It takes about 8 minutes on low speed in a stand mixer until the dough becomes smooth and elastic (or you can do it by hand).
• Finally, don’t skimp on time. Allow enough time for the dough to ferment and later proof before baking. If your house is chilly, try proofing in a turned-off oven with the oven light on for more warmth. Pale breadsticks that won’t brown in the oven likely indicate under-proofed or under-fermented dough.

Recommended Equipment

• Kitchen scale (this one is my favorite)
• Mixer (optional)
• Large lidded glass bowl
• Half sheet baking pan
• Parchment paper
• Rolling pin
• Cutting board
• Pizza cutter
• Pastry brush

How to Make Soft Sourdough Breadsticks

Step 1- Make and Ferment the Sourdough Breadstick Dough

Add sourdough starter, water, sugar, salt, softened butter and flour to the bowl of a mixer fitted with a dough hook. Mix until a smooth dough forms.

You can also knead the dough by hand if you don’t have a mixer.

Continue kneading on low speed for 8 minutes. The dough should be smooth and elastic.

Form the dough into a smooth ball. Transfer to a bowl that is big enough to allow it to double in size and cover. Now you have two options depending on your schedule:

1. Allow the dough to ferment at room temperature until it has doubled in size. This could take 8-12 hours or less if your kitchen is warm. Roll, cut and proof right away.

2. Let the dough nearly double, then cover tightly and refrigerate for 24 hours and up to 2 days before baking your breadsticks. You can roll and cut them while the dough is cold, they will just take longer to proof.

Step 2 – Cutting and Proofing the Sourdough Breadsticks

When you’re ready to form your breadsticks, turn out your dough onto a large, lightly floured cutting board.

Roll the dough to a 12×7-inch rectangle.

Use a pizza cutter to slice the rectangle into 12 even breadsticks. I like to cut it in half first, then into quarters…

And then it’s easier to cut them evenly. Cutting the bread sticks is so much quicker than hand rolling the dough into snakes.

Transfer the breadsticks to a parchment-lined half sheet pan, leaving space between each one.

Then cover the pan with plastic wrap (not too tightly) and allow the breadsticks to proof in a warm place for 1-2 hours, or until they look “poofy.” When my house is cool, I set the pan in my turned-off oven with the light on for extra warmth.

Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 400°F (remove the pan if it’s proofing in there!).

Step 3 – Baking and Seasoning the Soft Sourdough Breadsticks

Remove the plastic wrap from pan, and bake the sourdough breadsticks on the center rack of your oven for 10 minutes or until they take on some color.

You can even bake them darker than mine if that is your preference.

Perfectly imperfect, right?

Use a pastry brush to brush the hot breadsticks with the 1½ tablespoons of melted butter. Immediately sprinkle them with coarse salt and a bit of garlic powder to taste.

And that’s all there is to it! I guarantee you they won’t last very long!

Do Sourdough Breadsticks Freeze Well?

Yes! Leftover breadsticks will keep better in the freezer, in fact, than if you store them on the counter.

Allow them to cool completely before freezing them in an airtight container. Simply microwave them to thaw and warm them for another meal later.

If you make this recipe and love it, I would be so grateful if you would come back to leave a star rating and a comment. Your feedback is very appreciated!

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