Pesto Cane Breadsticks Recipes

CHRISTMAS TREE PESTO BREADSTICKS

Steps:

• Position an oven rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat to 375 degrees F. Line an upside-down baking sheet with parchment and set aside.
• Add the basil, pine nuts, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper to a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped. With the motor running, drizzle in 1/4 cup of the olive oil until incorporated. The pesto should be slightly chunky, not smooth.
• Combine the mozzarella, ricotta, pecorino, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a medium bowl. Add the pesto to the cheese mixture and stir to combine.
• Roll out the pizza dough into a 12-by-15-inch rectangle. Using a pizza cutter, cut the dough into 1 large and 2 small triangles; one of the 12-inch sides will be the base of the large triangle with the 2 small triangles on either side. Combine the 15-inch sides of the 2 small triangles to create a large triangle on the prepared baking sheet, tugging and pressing down on the dough as needed to shape it. This will be the base of the tree.
• Leaving a 1/4-inch border around the perimeter of the triangle, spread the pesto and cheese mixture evenly to cover the base. Cover it with the remaining large triangle, tugging the dough as needed to fit over the base. Seal the 1/4-inch border by firmly pressing the top edge down onto the bottom.
• Leaving a 1-inch "trunk" down the middle of the tree intact, use a sharp knife to cut horizontal lines, about 1 1/2 inches apart, from the middle "trunk" to each edge, making "branches." Twist each "branch" to reveal the layers of cheese and pesto. The shorter ones will twist once or twice. The longer ones will twist three or four times.
• Bake until golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Lightly brush with the remaining 1 teaspoon olive oil. Serve warm.

PESTO CANE BREADSTICKS

Steps:

• Grease 2 large cookie sheets. Roll dough on lightly floured surface into rectangle, 16x8 inches. Spread pesto over dough. Cut crosswise into sixteen 1-inch strips.
• Twist each strip. Place on cookie sheet; form into candy cane shape. Arrange strips of pepper over twists in dough to cover pesto and look like striped candy cane.
• Beat egg white and water; brush over breadsticks. Cover and refrigerate remaining egg white mixture. Cover and let rise in warm place about 30 minutes or until double.
• Heat oven to 375°. Brush again with egg white mixture. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown.

SOFT ASIAGO CHEESE CANDY CANES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°. Line 2 cookie sheets with cooking parchment paper. Make roll mix as directed on package, using 1 egg, the butter and water, and adding cheese to dough when mixing.
• Divide dough in half. Mix food color into half of dough. Divide each half into 24 pieces; roll each piece on lightly floured surface into 8-inch rope. Twist 1 red and 1 plain rope together; press ends to seal. Form each twist into candy cane shape. Place candy canes 2 inches apart on cookie sheets; brush with beaten egg. Let stand 5 minutes before baking.
• Bake 10 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack; serve warm or cool slightly.
• Mix oil and pesto. Serve breadsticks with pesto oil for dipping. Store breadsticks in tightly sealed container at room temperature up to 24 hours.

BASIL PESTO BREAD ROUNDS

Steps:

• Preheat oven on broiler setting. Arrange bread slices in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Place under broiler for 5 to 8 minutes, or until lightly toasted on one side. Watch carefully to ensure they don't burn. Remove from oven, and flip bread slices so that the toasted side is on the bottom.
• Set the oven temperature for 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a small bowl, mix together mayonnaise, pesto, garlic, Parmesan and salt. Spread evenly over untoasted sides of bread slices.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 6 to 8 minutes. Set the oven to broil, and place the rounds under the broiler just until they begin to bubble and turn golden. Let cool slightly before serving.