Gilded Cage Breadsticks Cheese (Print Version)

Delicate breadsticks form a dome over a selection of fine cheeses, perfect for elegant entertaining.

# What You'll Need:

→ Breadsticks

01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 tsp instant dry yeast
03 - 1 tsp sugar
04 - 1/2 tsp fine sea salt
05 - 2/3 cup lukewarm water
06 - 2 tbsp olive oil
07 - 1 egg yolk (for glaze)
08 - 1 tbsp 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 - 3 oz truffled goat cheese, shaped into small balls
12 - 3 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 tbsp honey or fig jam
16 - Fresh thyme and rosemary, for garnish

# Steps to Follow:

01 - In a large bowl, combine the flour, yeast, sugar, and salt. Add the lukewarm water and olive oil. Mix until a dough forms, then knead for 8 to 10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
02 - Cover the dough and let it rise in a warm place for 30 minutes or until it doubles in size.
03 - Preheat the oven to 390°F. Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
04 - Divide the dough into 18 to 20 small pieces. Roll each piece into a thin stick approximately 1/8 inch thick and 10 inches long.
05 - Place the breadsticks on the tray. Brush them lightly with egg yolk and sprinkle with 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, arrange the cheeses in a mound at the center. Add grapes, honey or fig jam, and fresh herbs if using.
08 - Carefully build a dome by arranging the breadsticks over the cheese mound, using the cheese and adjacent breadsticks for support. For stability, gently press breadsticks into the cheese or use a small bowl as a mold during assembly, then remove it.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • It looks impossibly elegant but comes together in just over an hour, which means you can actually pull off impressive entertaining without losing your mind.
  • The contrast between crispy, warm breadsticks and cool, creamy cheeses creates a moment of real sensory pleasure that feels more luxurious than the effort actually requires.
02 -
  • The breadsticks must be completely cool before you attempt to assemble the dome, or they'll soften and collapse—I learned this the hard way with warm sticks sliding everywhere.
  • The cheeses do the heavy lifting structurally; a soft, creamy base actually helps support the breadsticks better than you'd expect, so don't be afraid to nestle them in firmly.
03 -
  • If your breadsticks are browning too quickly, drop the oven temperature to 190°C and add a few minutes—every oven is different, and paying attention beats following instructions blindly.
  • The dome is a visual triumph, but the real secret is that you can assemble it on any platter and it looks like you know what you're doing, which is half the battle in entertaining.
Return