Description
Savory Southern cheese straws highlight delicious cheddar and spice combinations from scratch. Crisp, flaky pastry strips deliver tangy flavor with elegant simplicity you can enjoy alongside cocktails or as a quick snack.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 8 ounces (226.8 grams) sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated
- 1.75 cups (228 grams) self-rising flour
- 0.5 cup (113.5 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature
Spices and Seasonings:
- 0.5 teaspoon paprika (smoked or sweet)
- 0.25 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 0.25 teaspoon kosher salt
Liquid:
- 1–4 tablespoons water, as needed
Instructions
- Blend dry ingredients thoroughly in a mixing bowl, combining flour, paprika, cayenne, and salt with precision to ensure even distribution of spices.
- Cream butter and freshly grated cheese in an electric mixer for 2 minutes, creating a smooth, uniform texture that will provide rich flavor and delicate consistency.
- Gradually incorporate dry ingredients at low speed, adding water incrementally until dough reaches an ideal malleable texture – reminiscent of play dough, soft yet structured.
- Wrap dough in plastic film and allow to rest while preheating oven to 350°F, enabling ingredients to meld and develop deeper flavor profiles.
- Utilize a cookie press to extrude uniform 2-3 inch straws, alternatively rolling and slicing dough into precise strips that maintain consistent width.
- Arrange cheese straws on parchment-lined baking sheets, ensuring adequate spacing to promote even heat circulation and crisp edges.
- Bake for 14-17 minutes, monitoring color transformation until straws achieve a delicate golden-brown hue and crisp texture throughout.
- Remove from oven and allow complete cooling on wire rack before handling, which helps straws set and develop optimal crunchiness.
Notes
- Customize Spice Levels Adjust cayenne and paprika quantities to match your heat tolerance, creating a milder or spicier version that suits personal preferences.
- Perfect Texture Technique Ensure butter is exactly room temperature for smoother mixing and optimal dough consistency, preventing tough or crumbly cheese straws.
- Rolling Alternative If lacking a cookie press, use a piping bag with a star tip or carefully roll dough into thin uniform strips for consistent shape and even baking.
- Storage Hack Store completely cooled cheese straws in airtight container at room temperature for up to a week, maintaining crispness and preserving delicate flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 110
- Sugar: 0.5g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 10g
- Fiber: 0.3g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 20mg