📋 Instructions

1. 1Heat the oven and pan — Preheat your oven to 425 F (220 C) and slide a rimmed sheet pan onto the middle rack for 5 minutes. A hot pan gives the bread sticks a head start on a crisp, golden bottom.
2. 2Make the garlic butter — In a small bowl, stir together the melted butter, grated garlic, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, garlic powder, and black pepper. It should smell sharp and garlicky, not sweet.
3. 3Stretch the dough — Lightly flour your counter and press the dough into a rough 10 by 8 inch rectangle, about 1/2 inch thick. If it springs back, cover it with a towel for 5 minutes and try again.
4. 4Cut the sticks — Use a bench scraper or sharp knife to cut the dough into 12 strips, roughly 1 inch wide. Press straight down rather than sawing so the edges stay clean and rise evenly.
5. 5Brush and top — Carefully pull out the hot pan, brush it with olive oil, and lay the sticks 1 inch apart. Brush the tops with about two-thirds of the garlic butter and sprinkle with Parmesan if using.
6. 6Bake until golden — Bake at 425 F (220 C) for 18 to 22 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through. They are done when the tops are deep golden brown and the edges sound crisp when tapped with a spoon.
7. 7Finish with butter and parsley — Brush the hot sticks with the remaining garlic butter and scatter the chopped parsley over the top. The butter will sizzle and soak in as they cool for 3 minutes.
8. 8Serve warm — Pile the sticks into a basket or serve them right on the pan with warm marinara for dipping. They are best within 20 minutes of coming out of the oven.