Gilded Cage Breadsticks Cheese (Printable Version)

Delicate breadsticks form a crispy dome around assorted fine cheeses for an elegant appetizer centerpiece.

# What You Need:

→ 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 ounces triple-cream Brie, cut into cubes
10 - 3.5 ounces aged Comté, cut into cubes
11 - 2.8 ounces truffled goat cheese, shaped into small balls
12 - 2.8 ounces blue cheese (e.g., Roquefort), crumbled
13 - 1.75 ounces Parmigiano Reggiano, shaved

→ Accompaniments (optional)

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

# Step-by-Step Directions:

01 - In a large bowl, combine flour, yeast, sugar, and salt. Add lukewarm water and olive oil. Mix to form a dough, then knead for 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
02 - Cover the dough and leave it in a warm spot for 30 minutes until it doubles in size.
03 - Set oven to 390°F. Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
04 - Divide the risen dough into 18–20 pieces. Roll each piece into a thin stick approximately 1/8 inch thick and 10 inches long.
05 - Place breadsticks on the tray, brush lightly with egg yolk, and sprinkle with sesame seeds if desired.
06 - Bake for 15–18 minutes, turning once, until golden and crisp. Allow them to cool completely.
07 - Arrange the cubed and crumbled cheeses in a mound at the center of a serving platter. Add grapes, honey or fig jam, and fresh herbs if using.
08 - Carefully assemble breadsticks into a dome over the cheese mound, using the cheeses and breadsticks for support. For added stability, gently press breadsticks into cheese or use a small bowl as a base mold while building, then remove it.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks like you spent hours in a French patisserie, but it's genuinely doable in an afternoon.
  • Every element—the crispy breadsticks, the cheese tower, the textural play—actually works together instead of feeling like decoration.
  • People remember this kind of moment; it becomes part of the dinner story.
02 -
  • Room temperature matters more than you'd think—cold dough won't rise properly, and cold cheese makes the breadsticks slip and slide when you're trying to build.
  • If your dome collapses, don't panic; serve it as a rustic cheese and breadstick platter. Guests care about taste far more than Instagram perfection.
  • Assemble this as close to serving time as possible; breadsticks can absorb moisture from the cheese and lose their crispness if they sit too long.
03 -
  • Cold cheese is your enemy; take it out of the fridge 30 minutes before you assemble so it's pliable and the breadsticks won't slip.
  • If you want drama, paint a few breadsticks with edible gold leaf before assembling—it catches light and makes the whole thing feel like something from a high-end restaurant.
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