This cheesy breadsticks recipe makes crispy, golden Romanian Sarațele in 25 minutes-a perfect salty snack for school or parties, made with simple pantry ingredients.
Quick Look: Cheese Breadsticks Recipe (Saratele)
⏱ Prep Time: 15 minutes
🔥 Cook Time: 10 minutes
⏳ Total Time: 25 minutes
🍽 Servings: 6
⚡ Calories: 426 kcal per serving
🥐 Texture: crispy, golden, lightly puffed
🥚 Features: high-protein, vegetarian
👌 Difficulty: easy, quick snack
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Nora says:
"Perfectly crispy, salty, and nostalgic. Saratele are such a great snack idea for lunches or anytime cravings!"
In Romania, we call these "saratele". The name comes from the word for salt, so you can think of them as 'salties'-the ultimate salty snack! You can make these in minutes, and they are much better than anything you'll find at the store.
If you have kids, these are the best school cheesy breadsticks because they stay crunchy in a lunchbox. I often make a big batch on Sundays, so we have a cheese snack for the entire week. They are fun to shape and even more fun to eat! If you are planning a party, these fit perfectly on a platter next to my Romanian-style deviled eggs, which are another classic family favourite. If you're new to homemade bread, start with my easy no-knead bread - it's impossible to mess up.
💗 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Quick to Make: You go from dough to oven in just a few minutes.
- Zero Waste: It uses up small pieces of cheese you might otherwise toss.
- Kid-Friendly: These make a great addition to any school lunch.
- Crispy Texture: The butter and cheese create a flaky, golden bite.
🥘 Ingredients
*See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Cheese: semi-hard cheeses like cheddar, gouda, or emmental work very well.
Butter: Melt, then let it cool slightly before adding so it doesn't affect the yeast.
Dry Yeast: instant or active dry both work.
Seeds: Golden sesame, poppy, or caraway seeds add a classic crunch.
♻️ Substitutes & Variations
- The Cheese: Swap Feta for a salty kick or Mozzarella for a milder bite. Even cottage cheese works if you drain the liquid first.
- Toppings: Skip the seeds and try garlic powder, Parmesan, or ranch seasoning. For a different taste, use rosemary salt, shredded Gruyere, Asiago, or a pinch of dried oregano before baking!
- Gluten-Free: Use a 1-to-1 gluten-free baking mix in place of regular flour.
- Want a Sweeter Bread? For a richer, egg-based option, try my easy challah bread - it's soft, slightly sweet, and perfect for braiding.
While these cheesy breadsticks (saratele) are thin and crunchy, sometimes I crave a softer bite. If you feel like turning your kitchen into a full bakery today, you should try this homemade artisan bread at home. It uses similar simple steps but gives you a big, fluffy loaf!
👩🍳 How To Make This Cheesy Breadsticks Recipe (Saratele)
Step 1: Mix the Base. Stir the flour, salt, yeast, and one egg together, then pour in the melted butter.
Step 2: Add the Cheese. Grate your favourite cheese and mix it into the dough until it looks crumbly.
Step 3 (alternative): Add all the ingredients to a food processor and pulse for a few seconds, just until the dough comes together smoothly and is ready to shape.
Step 4: Knead Until Smooth. Work the dough for a few minutes until it is firm and no longer sticks to your hands.
Step 5: Roll and Cut. Roll the dough to 1cm thick and use a pizza wheel to cut thin, even strips. Brush with egg wash and sprinkle your seeds or extra cheese over the top.
Step 6: Bake Until Golden. Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 8 to 10 minutes until they are crispy and golden. If they lose their crunch after a few days, put them in a pan in the oven for 2 or 3 minutes. They will crisp right back up and taste like they were just made!
*See the recipe card for detailed instructions.
💭 Expert Tips
- Chill the dough: If your kitchen is hot, put the dough in the fridge for 10 minutes before rolling to get straighter lines.
- Use a Pizza Cutter: A pizza wheel is much faster and cleaner for cutting strips than a knife.
- Double the Batch: These disappear fast, so I always make two trays at once.
- Love Italian Bread? If you enjoy crispy, golden bakes, my authentic Italian focaccia is another foolproof recipe with a soft, airy inside.
🥗 Serving Suggestions
While this easy cheesy breadsticks recipe is a holiday tradition, they are also a great summer snack that goes perfectly with a cold beer or a crisp soda!
Pair with Veggies: For a full school lunch, serve these with cheesy leek and potato patties to add more vegetables to their day.
❓ Cheesy Breadsticks Recipe (Saratele) FAQs
Once they are cool, put them in a glass jar or a zip-top bag. They stay crunchy for up to 5 days on the counter.
Yes! You can freeze the whole ball of dough, or to make these ahead, place the raw cut sticks on a tray and freeze them until solid. Then, tuck them into a freezer bag for up to a month. Just thaw them in the fridge overnight before baking fresh!
Your cheesy breadsticks recipe might have turned out soft if the dough was too thick. Aim for 1cm or slightly less when rolling out the dough for this cheesy breadsticks recipe. Also, make sure your oven is fully heated to 400°F (200°C) before you start baking the cheesy breadsticks.
Butter is better for that flaky texture in this cheesy breadsticks recipe, but you can use solid coconut oil if you prefer. The butter creates those crispy, golden layers that make these cheesy breadsticks so delicious.
For this cheesy breadsticks recipe, a mix of Feta and a hard cheese like Swiss or Gouda gives the best results.
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📖 Recipe
Cheesy Breadsticks Recipe (Saratele)
Video
Equipment
- Pizza cutter or pastry cutter wheel
Ingredients
For the Dough:
- 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour
- 1 large egg
- 1¼ cups (150g) cheese, shredded (cheddar, mozzarella, or your choice)
- 7 tablespoons (100g) butter melted and slightly cooled
- 2¼ teaspoons (10g) instant yeast
- 1 teaspoon salt
For the Topping:
- 1 egg beaten (for egg wash)
- 2 tablespoons golden sesame seeds
- 2 tablespoons poppy seeds or caraway seeds optional
- Extra shredded cheese optional
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients - flour, salt, dry yeast, one egg, melted butter, and grated cheese - into a food processor and pulse for a few seconds. The dough comes together smooth and ready to shape.2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour, 1 large egg, 1¼ cups (150g) cheese, shredded, 7 tablespoons (100g) butter, 2¼ teaspoons (10g) instant yeast, 1 teaspoon salt
- If you prefer, everything can be mixed in a bowl and kneaded by hand until the dough is firm and smooth.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking tray with parchment paper.
- Roll the dough into a 1 cm thick sheet and cut it into sticks using a pastry cutter wheel. Brush with egg wash and sprinkle sesame seeds on top.
- Place the sticks on the tray and bake for 8-9 minutes, until they puff slightly and turn golden.
- Once cooled, store in a glass jar or zip bag - perfect for a quick snack anytime!
Mark says
Everyone loved these! The combination of seeds was particularly great.
Claudia-Cristina Ciorteanu says
I'm so glad everyone liked them! Using a mix of seeds really adds such a nice crunch and flavor.
Rory says
You truly can't beat a homemade cheese stick! These look so much better than anything you'd find in a box.
Claudia-Cristina Ciorteanu says
I totally agree! Nothing beats that fresh, homemade taste you just can't get from a store-bought box.
Swathi says
This Romanian cheese sticks are so yummy. I am going to make it again. Thanks for sharing this wonderful recipe.
Claudia-Cristina Ciorteanu says
It makes me so happy to hear you’re already planning a second batch, Swathi! They really are a staple in our house, too.
Tamara says
Made a large batch of these saratele and we've been taking them to work to snack on every day! Lovely snack!
Claudia-Cristina Ciorteanu says
That’s the way to do it, Tamara! Having a bag of these at your desk makes the workday go by a lot faster. Glad you’re enjoying them!
Beth says
These Romanian cheese sticks turn crisp and golden in just 25 minutes. A perfect salty snack for school, parties, or any quick bite.
Claudia-Cristina Ciorteanu says
You nailed it, Beth! When you need a salty fix in a hurry, you really can’t beat a 25-minute recipe.
Nora says
Perfectly crispy, salty, and nostalgic. Saratele are such a great snack idea for lunches or anytime cravings!
Claudia-Cristina Ciorteanu says
I love that they feel nostalgic for you, Nora. There’s something so special about a snack that tastes like home but fits perfectly in a modern lunchbox.
Ali says
I'm obsessed with this recipe! So great for soup season too!
Claudia-Cristina Ciorteanu says
Oh, I’m right there with you, Ali! Dipping these into a hot bowl of soup is a total game-changer. So glad it's one of your favorites!
Joyce says
You can never go wrong with homemade cheese sticks! These look perfectly golden-brown and so wonderfully crispy.
Claudia-Cristina Ciorteanu says
Thank you, Joyce! There is nothing quite like that first bite when they have that perfect snap.
Nicole says
Thank you for sharing this recipe
Claudia-Cristina Ciorteanu says
You are so welcome, Nicole! I’m just happy to share a bit of my kitchen with you.
Rachel says
I made these cheese sticks for my teens' lunch boxes and they love them! Thanks for another epic recipe!
Claudia-Cristina Ciorteanu says
That’s a big win, Rachel! It's always a relief when the kids actually finish what you pack for them. Glad they liked them!
Claudia-Cristina Ciorteanu says
My family loved this!