Homemade Pokey Sticks: The Ultimate Cheesy Breadsticks for Your Next Pizza Night
There’s nothing quite like a warm, cheesy breadstick to complete a perfect pizza night. If you’ve ever found yourself in a bustling Midwest college town like Madison or Iowa City, you might be familiar with Gumby’s Pizza and their legendary Pokey Sticks. These weren’t just any breadsticks; they were an experience – thick, fluffy, and loaded with savory flavor. For those who didn’t get to savor this collegiate classic, think of the best cheesy breadsticks you’ve ever had from your favorite local pizza joint, but taken up a notch.
Now that my college days are a fond memory, the quest began to recreate these iconic cheesy breadsticks at home. This recipe was born out of that desire, quickly becoming a staple in my kitchen. It’s one of those beloved dishes that you make so often, the steps become second nature. It’s truly a testament to how simple and incredibly satisfying homemade Pokey Sticks can be, transforming an ordinary weeknight into a special occasion.
My love for cheese breadsticks runs deep. Whenever they appear on a restaurant menu, I’m invariably drawn to them, eager to sample each unique interpretation. Some establishments serve them super thin and crispy, while others opt for a denser, bready texture, or simply drown them in an extravagant amount of cheese. You never truly know what culinary adventure awaits until you take that first bite. My homemade Pokey Sticks, however, strike a perfect balance: a thick yet airy crust that’s delightfully light and fluffy, generously topped with a seasoned butter mixture and then blanketed with an abundance of gooey, melted cheese. This combination creates a textural and flavorful masterpiece that’s hard to resist.
The choice of dipping sauce is entirely up to your preference. Back in the day, ordering Pokey Sticks from Gumby’s meant you received both ranch dressing and pizza sauce for dipping. At our house, we uphold this tradition, ensuring both creamy ranch and tangy pizza sauce are readily available on the table. This allows everyone to customize their experience, whether they prefer the cooling richness of ranch or the classic zest of marinara, enhancing the breadsticks’ already incredible flavor.
The idea of making cheese breadsticks from scratch might initially seem daunting, especially with the mention of yeast. Many home bakers feel a slight trepidation when yeast is involved, fearing it’s a complicated or fussy ingredient. But I assure you, this recipe is surprisingly simple and incredibly forgiving! The process involves just a few straightforward steps: a quick mixing of ingredients, a mere 2 minutes of kneading, and then a brief rest for the dough. Because the dough is similar in style to a pizza crust, it doesn’t require a lengthy rise time. We’re aiming for the substantial, satisfying texture of a thick pizza crust, not the light, fluffy rise of a dinner roll, which simplifies the whole process significantly. Don’t let yeast anxiety hold you back; these homemade breadsticks are an easy win!
How to Master Homemade Pokey Sticks: A Step-by-Step Guide
Crafting these delectable cheese breadsticks at home is a rewarding experience. Here’s a detailed breakdown of each step, ensuring you achieve that perfect balance of fluffy dough, savory seasoning, and melted cheese.
- Prepare the Dough Base: Begin by combining your dry ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, sugar, and rapid rise yeast. This ensures all components are evenly distributed before liquid is added.
- Activate the Yeast Perfectly: The temperature of your water is crucial for activating the yeast. It needs to be warm enough to awaken the yeast, but not so hot that it kills it. Aim for a temperature between 110-115 degrees Fahrenheit (43-46 degrees Celsius) for optimal results. Use a kitchen thermometer for accuracy.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Once your water is at the correct temperature, add it along with the oil to your flour mixture. Mix everything together, either with a sturdy spoon or a stand mixer with a dough hook, until the ingredients begin to coalesce and form a shaggy ball of dough.
- Kneading for Texture: Generously flour a clean countertop or a large wooden board. Turn the dough out onto this floured surface. Now, knead the dough for approximately 2 to 3 minutes. The goal is to bring the dough together so it feels smooth and is no longer excessively sticky to the touch. This short kneading time is perfect for developing a pizza-like crust that’s substantial yet tender.
- The Brief Rise: After kneading, lightly coat a clean bowl with non-stick cooking spray. Place the dough ball into the bowl, turning it once to coat lightly. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel and let it rest in a warm place for about 20-25 minutes, or until it has visibly doubled in size. This relatively quick rise is another reason this recipe is so approachable.
- Prepare the Seasoned Topping: While your dough is rising, prepare the flavorful topping. In a small bowl, combine the grated Parmesan cheese, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and onion powder. This aromatic blend will be mixed with melted margarine (or butter) and brushed over the dough, infusing every bite with incredible flavor.
- Prep Your Baking Sheet: Take a large baking sheet and grease it thoroughly with butter or shortening. Then, evenly sprinkle about 1 tablespoon of cornmeal over the greased surface. This provides a subtle crunch and helps prevent the breadsticks from sticking. Set this aside.
- Preheat Your Oven: Preheat your oven to a high temperature of 450 degrees Fahrenheit (232 degrees Celsius). The hot oven is key to achieving a quick cook time and a beautifully golden crust.
- Shape the Dough: Once the dough has risen, gently transfer it to your prepared baking sheet. Using your hands, carefully spread and press the dough out, shaping it into a roughly 12-inch circle. Don’t worry about perfection; a rustic shape adds to the homemade charm.
- Apply the Flavorful Coating: Melt the margarine (or butter) and then combine it with your prepared Parmesan and seasoning mixture. Using a pastry brush, generously brush this savory butter mixture evenly over the entire surface of the rolled-out dough.
- Pile on the Cheese: After the seasoned butter, liberally sprinkle the 1 1/2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese over the dough. Ensure an even layer so every breadstick portion gets a good share of melty cheese.
- Bake to Golden Perfection: Place the baking sheet into your preheated oven. Bake for 12-14 minutes, or until the edges of the breadsticks are beautifully golden brown and the mozzarella cheese is thoroughly melted and bubbly.
- Serve and Enjoy: Once baked, remove the Pokey Sticks from the oven. Let them cool for a minute or two before slicing into strips. Serve immediately with your choice of pizza sauce, ranch dressing, or both!
There’s a special kind of joy that comes from recreating beloved restaurant dishes in your own kitchen. It’s not just about the food; it’s about the memories, the nostalgia, and the satisfaction of mastering a favorite. For me, making these copycat Pokey Sticks is particularly meaningful because the original Gumby’s Pizza in Madison, Wisconsin, is no longer there. This recipe allows those cherished college-town flavors to live on, and sharing it with friends who either remember the original or are experiencing this deliciousness for the first time is always a delight.
My culinary adventures often involve developing copycat recipes for dishes I miss or simply adore. The blog features a variety of popular restaurant remakes, and I’m always on the lookout for new challenges. If there’s a particular dish you’ve been dreaming of recreating at home, please let me know! I love the process of reverse-engineering flavors and textures to bring those restaurant experiences into your home kitchen.
More Delicious Copycat Recipes to Try
If you’re anything like me and enjoy bringing restaurant favorites into your home, you’ll love these other popular copycat recipes available on the blog. Each one is crafted to capture the essence of the original, providing a delightful and often more economical way to enjoy the dishes you crave.
- Chick Fil A Nuggets
- Pasta Milano
- Cavatappi Noodles
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake
- Cafe Rio Chicken
- Olive Garden Breadsticks
Pokey Sticks
By Erin Sellin
Pokey Sticks – Homemade cheese breadsticks that are the perfect addition to your next pizza night!
- Prep Time:
- 10 mins
- Cook Time:
- 15 mins
- Additional Time:
- 20 mins
- Total Time:
- 45 mins
- Servings:
- 6
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Ingredients
Dough
- 2 1/2 cups flour
- 1 Tbls Rapid Rise Yeast
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 cup Hot water, 115 degrees F
- 1 Tbls Canola oil
Topping
- 2 Tbls Parmesan Cheese
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 cup margarine, melted
- 1 1/2 cup Mozzarella Cheese
- 1 tbls cornmeal
- Butter or Shortening for greasing the pan
Instructions
- Whisk together flour, yeast, salt, and sugar. Combine the hot water and oil, and mix into the flour mixture until it forms a ball.
- Turn the dough onto a generously floured surface and knead for about 2-3 minutes, just until it is no longer sticky. Place the dough into a bowl sprayed with non-stick spray and let it rise for 20-25 minutes, or until it doubles in size.
- Meanwhile, grease a large baking sheet and sprinkle evenly with cornmeal. Set aside.
- Preheat your oven to 450 degrees F (232 degrees C).
- While the dough is rising, mix together the Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and onion powder for the topping.
- Spread the risen dough out onto the prepared baking sheet. Using your hands, gently shape it into about a 12-inch circle.
- Combine the melted margarine with the Parmesan cheese mixture. Brush this mixture evenly over the dough. Sprinkle with Mozzarella cheese.
- Bake for 12-14 minutes, or until golden brown on the edges and the cheese is beautifully melted and bubbly.
Notes
The recipe calls for margarine because I believe it closely mimics the original taste of Gumby’s Pokey Sticks. However, you can certainly use butter as a substitute if preferred.
Nutrition
Serving: 1g | Calories: 486kcal | Carbohydrates: 58g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 30mg | Sodium: 716mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 1g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Additional Info
- Author:
- Erin Sellin
- Prep Time:
- 10 minutes
- Cook Time:
- 15 minutes
- Additional Time:
- 20 minutes
- Total Time:
- 45 minutes
- Course:
- Bread Recipes
- Cuisine:
- American
- Servings:
- 6
- Calories:
- 486
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