Crispy Southern Cheddar Cheese Straws Recipe
Make these classic Southern Cheese Straws for a flavorful, crispy snack or party appetizer. This straightforward recipe uses sharp cheddar for maximum taste.
- Prep Time: 20 min
- Cook Time: 14 min
- Total Time: 54 min
- Yield: About 3 dozen 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 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 grated
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1 tablespoon cold water
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and cayenne pepper, if using.
- Cut the cold butter into the flour mixture using a pastry blender or your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Stir in the grated sharp cheddar cheese until evenly distributed.
- In a small bowl, whisk the egg yolk with the cold water. Add this liquid mixture to the flour and cheese, mixing just until a cohesive dough forms. Do not overmix.
- Shape the dough into a ball, flatten it into a disk, wrap it in plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll the chilled dough out to about 1/8-inch thickness.
- Use a knife or pizza cutter to cut the dough into strips, about 1/2-inch wide and 4 to 5 inches long. You can twist each strip once or twice for a classic look.
- Place the cheese straws on the prepared baking sheets, leaving a small space between them.
- Bake for 10 to 14 minutes, or until the straws are golden brown and crisp. Baking time varies based on thickness.
- Transfer the straws to a wire rack to cool completely. They will crisp up further as they cool.
Notes
- Use high-quality, sharp cheddar cheese; this provides the best flavor for these savory snack recipes.
- For a different flavor profile, substitute half the cheddar with Parmesan cheese for Rosemary Parmesan Cheese Straws.
- You can prepare the dough up to 2 days ahead; keep it tightly wrapped in the refrigerator.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3 straws
- Calories: 110
- Sugar: 0.2
- Sodium: 180
- Fat: 8
- Saturated Fat: 5
- Unsaturated Fat: 3
- Trans Fat: 0.2
- Carbohydrates: 6
- Fiber: 0.3
- Protein: 4
- Cholesterol: 25