Pull Apart Pepperoni Bread Sticks

Course Appetizer, Bread

Cuisine American, Italian Inspired

Keyword bread-sticks, pepperoni-bread-sticks, pull-apart-pepperoni-bread-sticks

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 35 minutes

Rise time 1 hour

Total Time 1 hour 55 minutes

Servings bread sticks

Author Melissa Sperka

2 (8-inch) loaves frozen bread dough, thawed but still cold (i.e. Rhodes or similar)
2 Tbsp butter melted (Plus additional to brush pan)
2 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese divided
3/4 tsp garlic salt divided
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese divided
30 slices pepperoni May use more if desired
1/4 tsp dry Italian seasoning
2 cups warm pizza sauce for dipping

Thaw frozen bread in the refrigerator covered per the package instructions. Cut each loaf into 9 equal pieces. (See Cook's note)
Lay dough pieces side by side and press together to form roughly two 10 x 16 inch rectangles.
Brush the entire surface of each rectangle with melted butter. Sprinkle each side with 1 Tbsp Parmesan cheese, and ¼ tsp garlic salt..
Sprinkle one side of dough with 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese. Arrange pepperoni slices over the cheese then sprinkle with another 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese.
Carefully, cover with the second piece of dough to form the top. Press the edges to seal.
Use a pizza cutter or sharp knife to cut from top to bottom through the middle.
Next, cut the dough crosswise into approximate 1-inches thick strips. Separate the pieces and twist. Tuck any loose pieces of cheese into the dough.
Arrange the twisted bread sticks side by side in a buttered 13 x 9 inch baking pan. Brush the tops with remaining butter.
Sprinkle the top with remaining 1/4 tsp garlic salt, dry Italian seasoning and last 1 cup mozzarella cheese. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise for 1 hour.
To prepare: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Remove the plastic wrap. Bake bread sticks for 25-35 minutes or until golden and cooked through.
Pull apart and serve with warm pizza sauce for dipping.

If you're unable to find frozen loaves of dough to divide for this recipe, you can be adapt using unbaked rounds of dinner yeast rolls. When doing so, you'll need 24 rolls. 12 rolls to make each side of the bread sticks.
If adapting using rolls, flatten and press them together exactly as if you're working with pieces of bread dough, as instructed in the recipe. In fact, they thaw rather quickly and may speed up preparation.
You can also adapt using frozen or homemade pizza dough.