Step 1

In a large mixing bowl, add the water, yeast, sugar, salt, and olive oil. Allow mixture to stand for 5 minutes. Add one cup of flour, and mix to combine. Add another cup of flour, and mix to combine for 1 to 2 minutes. The dough should be the consistency of cake batter. Mixing a bunch at this stage helps the gluten to develop.

Step 2

Add another cup of flour, and mix to combine. Add flour until you can’t mix it by hand very easily. Sprinkle some flour on your table, and turn the dough onto the table. Knead the dough by hand until it is smooth and elastic, adding flour as needed. This should take 6 to 10 minutes of kneading. Place the dough back in the bowl, cover it with a towel, and let it rise in a warm place for 15 to 60 minutes. (This time varies a lot for me. I just let it rise according to how long it is until dinner time).

Step 3

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Divide the dough in half. Use one half to make a pizza and use the other half for cinnamon sticks! Roll the cinnamon stick dough out on a piece of parchment paper until it is about a half-inch thick. Slide the dough and parchment on a rimmed baking sheet (don’t use a rimless because the sugar mixture may drip off and make your oven smoke). Use your fingers to make deep dimples all over the surface of the dough. Pour the melted butter over the dough. Sprinkle the sugar and then the cinnamon over the butter. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, until the bottom is golden-brown. Remove from the oven, and let cool for 5 minutes. Use your pizza cutter, and slice the dough into 1 1/2-inch wide strips, and then cut them again down the middle (you’ll end up with sticks that are about 4 inches long and 1 1/2 inches wide). Serve with the dipping sauce.

Step 4

Mix the butter for the dipping sauce with the powdered sugar and 1 tablespoon milk. Add milk until it is the desired consistency.