Forget the fryer, and opt for baked mozzarella sticks. This recipe takes less than 20 minutes from prep to plate, and the final result comes out of the oven with a perfect gooey center. Add a little fresh tomato sauce to the side, and you've cooked up a festive party appetizer at a fraction of the calories.
Preheat oven to 400°F. Coat two large baking sheets with cooking spray.
Combine panko, bread crumbs, and Italian seasoning in a food processor and process until finely ground. Transfer mixture to a shallow dish.
In a separate shallow dish, whisk together milk and 2 tablespoons of the flour. Place remaining 1/2 cup of flour in a large freezer bag.
Add cheese sticks to the bag with the flour and shake to coat. Working in batches, dip the flour-coated cheese sticks into the milk mixture and then into the panko mixture. Arrange cheese, in a single layer, on prepared baking sheets. Spray the surface with cooking spray. Refrigerate for at least 10 minutes.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until crust is golden brown and cheese is soft. Be sure to watch the oven to make sure they keep their stick shape!