Gooey Cheese Sticks (Fried or Baked)
Homemade cheese sticks are made with a deliciously crispy outer coating followed closely with a surprisingly soft, gooey and cheesy middle.
Ingredients
- 16 mozzarella cheese strings (must be string cheese)
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- 2 eggs
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (or vegetable oil)
- ¾ cup Italian bread crumbs
- ½ cup Panko bread crumbs
- oil (for frying )
Directions
- 1
Open the cheese strings and cut each in half. Cover and place in the freezer for at least 2 hours or until completely frozen.
- 2
Combine flour and cornstarch in a small bowl. Combine the Italian and Panko bread crumbs in a separate shallow dish. In third small bowl, whisk eggs and olive oil until well combined.
- 3
Dip each cheese stick half into the egg mixture and then gently roll into the flour mixture.
- 4
Put back into the egg mixture and roll until coated. Finally, place into the bread crumbs pressing the crumbs on each piece of cheese to make sure it's coated all around so the cheese doesn't leak out.
- 5
Place in the freezer while the oil preheats. Preheat oil to 350°F. It should be hot enough that a few crumbs dropped into the oil will bubble.
- 6
In small batches, place breaded cheese sticks into the hot oil for about 2 minutes or just until browned. Do not overcook or the cheese will leak out.
- 7
Serve hot with warm pasta sauce.