Witch's Finger Bread Sticks with Maple Mustard Dip

EQUIPMENT:

• Stand mixer with paddle attachment and dough hook; 1 or 2 small paintbrushes

INSTRUCTIONS:

For Dough:

• Stir together water, sugar, and yeast in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment until sugar is dissolved; let stand until yeast bubbles, about 5 minutes.
• Beat in 1 cup of flour on low speed until combined.
• Clean dough from paddle, then attach dough hook. Add 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 2 1/2 cups flour to mixture and beat until dough pulls away from the side of the bowl, about 3 minutes. (If dough is too sticky, add enough of 1/2 cup remaining flour, 1 tablespoon at a time, until dough is no longer sticky.)
• Oil a large bowl and transfer dough to bowl, then turn dough over to coat it with oil. Cover bowl with a dry towel, then let dough rise in a draft-free place at warm room temperature until it is double in size, about 1 hour.

For Fingers:

• While dough is rising, place green food coloring in a small bowl, and using a paintbrush, paint one side of the almond slices or the rounded side of the peanut halves.
• Heat oven to 450°F with rack in middle. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Divide dough into quarters. Work with 1 piece at a time, and keep remaining dough covered.
• Roll one quarter into a 12-inch log, then cut it into 12 (1-inch) pieces.
• Dust work surface with additional flour, if necessary, to facilitate rolling. Roll and stretch each piece into a craggy 5-inch "finger." Transfer fingers to baking sheets and let stand at warm room temperature, loosely covered with a smooth kitchen towel, until fingers are slightly puffed, 15 minutes.
• Pinch top of fingers to look like knuckles, then lightly score each knuckle with a sharp knife.
• Brush fingers with egg wash, then press on nails. With cleaned paintbrush, dab a little red color around the cuticles. Sprinkle fingers all over with pretzel or coarse sea salt.
• Bake fingers until deep golden, about 15 minutes (form more fingers while first batch is baking). Transfer to a rack to cool.
• Repeat forming and baking in batches with remaining dough.

For Dip:

• Whisk together mayonnaise, mustard, and maple syrup until combined. Refrigerate until ready to use.

COOKS' NOTES:

• Witch's Finger Bread Sticks are best eaten the day they are made, but they can be made 1 day ahead and kept, tightly wrapped, in a resealable plastic bag, or frozen 1 week. Remove from bag and rewarm on a baking sheet in a 350°F oven before eating.