Soft Breadsticks With Fresh Milled Flour

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Soft, fluffy and topped with herbs and garlic butter – these soft breadsticks with fresh milled flour are the perfect side for pretty much any dinner. You can get these breadsticks prepped quickly and easily and I may be a little biased – but I think they are better than olive garden!

Homemade Breadsticks With Fresh Milled Flour

If you’ve ever had a craving for Olive Garden breadsticks but wanted a healthier alternative, this is the recipe for you. My homemade breadsticks recipe uses a batch of my tried and true basic bread dough recipe. Using whole grains in the way of freshly milled whole wheat berries, this creates the perfect base for already making our whole grain breadsticks way more nutritious and fresh compared to other recipes that may use white all-purpose flour. Then on top of that, we’re adding fresh and healthy simple ingredients like olive oil, fresh garlic, and other herbs and spices.

This is an easy recipe that’s simple, freezer friendly, and chock full of health benefits.

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What Are The Ingredients For Breadsticks, and What Do They Do?

Warm Water: Warm water activates the yeast, which is required for the dough to rise. It also hastens the fermentation process, which allows the dough to rise faster.

Salt: Alongside boosting the flavor of your bread, salt also tightens the gluten structure and adds strength to your dough.

Olive Oil: Olive oil as a lipid coats the flour and inhibits the gluten network, resulting in a tighter crust. This is the desired outcome if you do not like tough, chewy crusts.

Honey: Honey is a great alternative to sugar and has been used in baking bread for centuries as it adds moisture to the dough. Honey aids in the yeast growth process, providing it with food for growth.

Freshly Milled Flour: Freshly milled flour is the standout in this recipe. I like to use a blend of 50/50 flour mixture of hard red wheat and hard white wheat flour for this breadstick dough recipe. The flour’s role is to provide the structure in baked goods. It contains proteins that interact with each other when mixed in with water, forming a gluten structure.

Instant Dry yeast: Instant yeast gets reactivated and begins feeding on the sugars, or the honey, found in the dough mixture. This then releases carbon dioxide that makes bread rise. Yeast also adds a very distinctive flavor and aroma we find familiar in fresh bread.

Lemon Juice: Lemon juice provides both vitamin c and some acidity to the recipe, which yeast absolutely loves in moderation. The acid creates more elasticity to the dough which in return will make it much easier for our bread to stretch and rise.

How To Make Soft Breadsticks With Fresh Milled Flour

Dough – 1 Batch of my basic bread recipe, prepared through the first rise.

Garlic Oil for Brushing

• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 5-7 cloves minced or crushed garlic
• 1/4-1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• rosemary and parsley(optional)

1. Follow the instructions for a batch of my basic bread recipe until after the first rise. 
2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. 
3. Roll out dough onto lightly floured or oiled surface to about 1/2 inch thick, in the shape of a rectangle.
4. Using a pizza cutter, slice the dough into strips making them about 1 inch wide and 6 inches long.
5. Place on parchment lined baking sheet and allow to rise in a warm spot until puffed up, about 30-45 minutes
6. Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through. 
7. Prepare garlic oil while the breadsticks bake. 
8. Brush the garlic oil over the breadsticks immediately after they are done baking.
9. Serve warm.

Tips for Keeping Your Breadsticks Fresh

Wrap them in foil or plastic wrap and place them in an airtight container. This should prevent them from drying out and becoming stale. Keep them at room temperature, and store them in a cool, dry place for up to 3 days.

Can You Freeze Breadsticks Dipped in Olive Oil?

Yes! My favorite thing to do is make 2 batches of breadsticks, one for dinner and one for the freezer. Although eating them immediately is always best, bread can still taste good when reheated, provided you follow the proper storing instructions.

1. Let the breadsticks cool completely before freezing them.
2. To do a flash freeze, place the breadsticks back on the pan, and pop into the freezer until solid, about 1 hour.
3. Take the breadsticks out of the freezer, transfer them to a freezer bag, squeeze out the excess air, and label today’s date so you know when to eat them up by.
4. Alternatively, if you don’t have the freezer space, you can skip the flash freeze completely and wrap each individual breadstick in a plastic wrap or parchment paper before adding it to a freezer bag.

How long do breadsticks last in the freezer?

Garlic breadsticks should retain their quality and freshness for a long time when properly stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Are breadsticks French or Italian?

Bread sticks almost certainly were invented in Piemonte. The history behind it is a fun one.
Breadsticks, grissini, were an invention of a Doctor to the Savoy family of Turin. In 1675, he asked the baker Antonio Bruer to produce them. Crispy and pencil-shaped, the aim was to create a delicious bread that would be easier for Vittorio Amedeo II, known for his sensitive stomach, to digest much easier. This in turn helped Vittorio Amedeo II of Savoy so that he could go on to become King not only of Piemonte, but of Sicily and Sardinia as well!

How Do You Reheat Breadsticks Without it Getting Stale? My 4 Best Methods!

Breadsticks can be kinda finicky when trying to keep fresh. It dries out easily and if stored incorrectly, you take your once soft and fresh breadsticks and turn them tough and inedible. No one wants that! Here I’ve listed 4 of the best methods I find for reheating your breadsticks.

1. How To Reheat Breadsticks in the OVEN

If you’re looking for a way to reheat your breadsticks, I find using the oven to be the best method for retaining that crispiness yet not drying it out. Simply wrap the bread in aluminum foil and warm them in the oven for 5-10 minutes 350°F.

TIP: if your bread is dried out or you prefer a softer bread, sprinkle a little bit of water onto your bread before baking to steam and rehydrate the bread.

2. How To Reheat Breadsticks in the AIR FRYER

Air fryers have gained a lot of popularity over the years because of their affordability, their quickness, and their minimal use of oil. For a quick option, follow these steps.

1. Preheat the air fryer to 350°F.
2. Place the breadsticks in the air fryer basket, make sure not to stack them ontop of each other.
3. Cook for 1-3 minutes.
4. Check to see if the bread has reached your desired temperature. If it is not yet done, cook it for 30s longer and check again.
5. You want to avoid overcooking your breadsticks in the airfryer; they dry out and get too crispy very quickly!

TIP:
Put a couple of tablespoons of water into the bottom of the basket. This prevents smoking from any oils dripping off.

3. How To Reheat Breadsticks in the TOASTER OVEN

Toaster ovens are a great alternative especially in the hotter months when heating up your oven makes your whole kitchen heat up too.

1. Preheat your toaster oven to 450°F.
2. Wrap your breadsticks in aluminum foil and place them on your baking tray.
3. Bake for 8-13 minutes, or until thoroughly heated.

TIP: If the aim is for a drier and crispier bread, place the breadsticks in a single layer on the baking tray and use your toast function. It will heat your breadsticks more quickly, but this will yield a bit crunchier sticks. Watch closely for it starts to brown more quickly in this method.

4. How To Reheat Breadsticks in the MICROWAVE OVEN

Reheating breadsticks in the microwave isn’t my favorite method, but it is a way to reheat up your breadsticks in less time. If done carefully, you may still yield breadsticks that maintains that soft but crispy texture with little compromise to flavor.

1. Place your breadsticks on a microwave-safe plate.
2. Warm in the microwave in 10-second intervals, checking in between to check if they’ve been heated thoroughly.
3. Avoid overheating the breadsticks as the bread will get tougher as it comes to room temperature.


TIP: If your breadsticks are dried out even before you attempt to reheat, place a cup of water in the microwave with the bread or wrap the bread in wet paper towels to dampen and rehydrate it.

Can I substitute Fresh Garlic for Garlic Powder?

I love the taste of fresh garlic in this oil, but if you don’t happen to have fresh garlic on hand, you may use garlic powder as an alternative. However, I would recommend using granulated garlic rather than garlic powder. Both granulated garlic and garlic powder are made from dehydrated garlic that has been ground, but garlic powder has been ground much finer than granulated garlic.

Aside from freshness, the reason I prefer both fresh garlic and granulated garlic is because both are easy to spread and mix into the oil. Like Kosher salt, the great thing about granulated garlic is is much coarser than garlic powder, and it’s easier to spread because it doesn’t clump when mixed with the oil. This isn’t as easy with garlic powder because it has been ground more into a fine dust.

Even still, garlic powder is a fine substitute if you do have neither fresh garlic nor granulated garlic. Just remember whether you’re using granulated garlic, garlic powder, or fresh garlic cloves, you want it to be fresh. Making homemade garlicky breadsticks can easily become a nightmare if you try to use old garlic, and old bottles of ground herbs and spices lose their punch over time, and will directly affect how the recipe turns out. Stay away from the fresh garlic that is dried or mushy in texture, and don’t use garlic powder that is older than 2 years.

Since my breadstick recipe calls for 5-7 garlic cloves, adjusted for your preferences, you may use 1-2 teaspoons of granulated garlic or garlic powder.

Are Breadsticks Healthy?

I cannot speak for all breadstick recipes, but these whole wheat breadsticks certainly are. Not only does using your own grain mill to produce your own wheat flour provide a fresher taste and quality to your baking, but a superior nutritional profile as well. This is because most commercially milled flours are made after the removal of the bran and germ. Doing this diminishes the true value of the grain, as a large proportion of the natural vitamins are made absent in this process. Then, to make up for the loss of nutrients, commercially milled flour is then reintroduced with the nutrients that freshly milled flour already contains – but the “enrichment” is made of synthetic vitamins, ones that our bodies likely cannot even assimilate properly. This just hurts us in the long run.

Making your own bread using freshly milled flours ensures you’re using the whole wheat at its nutritional peak, flourishing with nutrients and vitamins such as thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, vitamin B-6, folic acid and iron. All of which have been removed from all-purpose flours, and reintroduced using a synthetic method.

What to Dip Your Breadsticks In?

In this recipe you’re making your own garlic oil to brush onto your breadsticks. This alone is more than enough flavor to serve alongside recipe, but if you have some extra time and are looking for a dipping sauce to dip your garlicky breadsticks in, marinara sauce can be a great combo you may want to try. All of the ingredients you can find at your local grocery store.

To make marinara sauce, add 2 tbsps of olive oil to a medium pan over medium heat and wait until the oil is shimmering. Then add 3 minced cloves of garlic, 2 tsps dried oregano, and 1 tsp of red pepper flakes and cook for 30 seconds.

Next, add 28oz can of crushed tomatoes, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, and sugar and salt to taste.

Bring to a simmer and cook for 30 minutes, allowing it to thicken to a perfect dipping consistency. Enjoy!

Favorite Tools And Supplies For Homemade Breads

• Grain Mills – Classic Grain Mill or Harvest Grain Mill – I have both and love them both!
• Sourdough Starter Kit – this kit has my very own dehydrated sourdough starter, banneton baskets, dough whisk, bread lame and more!
• Farmhouse Apron – beautiful and functional!
• The prettiest and most functional bread knife – gotta have it!
• Freshly Milled Bread Course – for walking you through all the steps from milling flour to making delicious and healthy breads for your family!
• Fresh Milled Sourdough Mini Course – for helping you get off to a great start with fresh milled flour and sourdough.
• Sourdough Mini Course – for those who haven’t yet stepped into the world of fresh milled flour and need to use store-bought flours.
• Ankasrum Mixer
• Bread Machine – for those busy days
• Kitchen Aid Mixer
• Stainless Bread Pans
• Favorite Yeast
• White Wheat
• Red Wheat