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Classic Southern Cheddar Cheese Straws

A close-up of a pile of golden brown, flaky, twisted cheese straws served on a small ceramic plate.
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A recipe for traditional, savory, and crispy cheddar cheese straws, perfect as a party appetizer.

Ingredients

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  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for spice)
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
  • 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, finely shredded
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 1 tablespoon cold water

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and cayenne pepper.
  2. Cut the cold butter into the flour mixture using a pastry blender or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
  3. Stir in the shredded cheddar cheese until evenly distributed.
  4. In a small bowl, whisk the egg yolk and cold water together. Add this liquid mixture to the flour and cheese mixture. Mix until a stiff dough forms. Do not overmix.
  5. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
  6. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
  7. On a lightly floured surface, roll the chilled dough out to about 1/8 inch thickness.
  8. Cut the dough into strips about 1/2 inch wide and 4 to 6 inches long. You can twist the strips slightly for a classic look.
  9. Place the strips on the prepared baking sheets.
  10. Bake for 10 to 14 minutes, or until the straws are golden brown and crisp.
  11. Let the cheese straws cool completely on the baking sheet before serving. They will crisp up as they cool.

Notes

  • For a Parmesan variation, substitute half of the cheddar cheese with grated Parmesan cheese.
  • If you prefer a quicker method, use one sheet of store-bought puff pastry, mix in the cheese and seasonings, roll thin, cut, and bake according to package directions for puff pastry.
  • Store cooled cheese straws in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://tastytribune.com/classic-southern-cheddar-cheese-straws/