Buttery Garlic Cheese Sticks

For the dough:
Combine oil, sugar, yeast, and warm water in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. Let it sit until foamy, about 10 minutes.

Mix flour and salt in a medium bowl. With mixer on low, slowly add flour mixture. Mix until a smooth dough forms, 8–10 minutes. Transfer dough to a greased bowl. Cover with plastic wrap. Let it sit at room temperature until doubled in size, 1–1½ hours.

Alternate instructions: You can make the dough in a bread machine using the dough setting. You can also make the dough by hand kneading until it is smooth. I prefer to use the bread machine because it also provides the warmth for the dough to rise.

For the topping:
Melt butter in a small saucepan with the olive oil. Add the garlic and cook over low heat for 6–7 minutes until the garlic is soft but not browned. Remove from heat and add the minced parsley.

For the assembly:
Preheat oven to 375ºF.

When the dough has doubled in size, roll it out on a sheet of parchment paper dusted with flour into a rectangle about a 1/2-inch thick. Move the sheet of parchment to a large sheet pan. Use a knife or pizza cutter to cut the rectangle into strips. Leave them side by side with the edges touching.

Use a large brush to coat the entire surface of the dough with the garlic butter. Season with pepper and crushed red pepper flakes to taste. Sprinkle the Parmesan cheese evenly over the top.

Bake in a 375ºF oven until the top is golden brown, about 12–15 minutes. Remove from the oven and while still hot, brush with a little extra melted butter if desired for a little sheen on the sticks. Serve with warm marinara sauce for dipping.