Gilded Cage Breadsticks Cheese (Printable)

Delicate breadsticks formed into a dome encasing fine cheeses with grapes and honey accents.

# What You'll Need:

→ Breadsticks

01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 teaspoon instant dry yeast
03 - 1 teaspoon sugar
04 - ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
05 - ⅔ 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 - 2.8 oz truffled goat cheese, shaped into small balls
12 - 2.8 oz blue cheese (e.g., Roquefort), crumbled
13 - 1.75 oz 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

# Method:

01 - Combine flour, yeast, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Add lukewarm water and olive oil. Mix until dough forms, then 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 doubled in size.
03 - Set oven to 390°F (200°C). Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
04 - Divide dough into 18 to 20 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a thin stick about ⅛ inch thick and 10 inches long.
05 - Place the breadsticks on the tray. Brush lightly with egg yolk and sprinkle sesame seeds, if desired.
06 - Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, turning once, until golden and crisp. Allow to cool completely.
07 - On a serving platter, create a mound with the cheese cubes and balls. Add grapes, honey or fig jam, and garnish with fresh herbs if using.
08 - Carefully construct a dome with the breadsticks over the cheese mound, using the cheeses and other breadsticks for support. For stability, gently press breadsticks into cheese or assemble over a small bowl as a mold, then remove the bowl.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks impossibly impressive but requires no advanced skills, just patience and a steady hand.
  • The combination of crispy, warm breadsticks with cool, creamy cheeses creates a textural and temperature contrast that feels surprisingly luxurious.
  • You can prep everything hours ahead and assemble it right before guests arrive, making it perfect for entertaining without kitchen stress.
02 -
  • The breadsticks must cool completely or they'll absorb moisture from the cheese and collapse—learned this the hard way on my first attempt.
  • Assemble the dome as close to serving time as possible to keep everything crisp and prevent the cheeses from warming up too much.
  • If your dome feels unstable, don't panic—you can gently rest breadsticks against each other at slightly different angles, and the visual effect is actually more organic and interesting than perfect symmetry.
03 -
  • Make the breadsticks a few hours ahead and store them in an airtight container—they stay crispy and you eliminate the panic of timing.
  • If you want to substitute cheeses, aim for a balance of soft, aged, and blue varieties so you hit multiple flavor notes.
  • The dome looks intimidating to build, but remember the breadsticks are supporting each other, not just the cheese—lean them against each other at angles and they'll stand beautifully.
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