Derby Day Cheese Straws (Printable)

Buttery cheese straws with sharp cheddar, Parmesan, and cayenne create a crisp, flavorful snack.

# Components:

→ Dairy

01 - 1½ cups sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated
02 - ½ cup Parmesan cheese, finely grated
03 - ½ cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed

→ Pantry

04 - 1¼ cups all-purpose flour
05 - ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
06 - ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
07 - ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Optional

08 - 1-2 tablespoons cold water as needed

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a food processor, combine cheddar, Parmesan, flour, cayenne, salt, and black pepper. Pulse until evenly mixed.
03 - Add cold butter cubes and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with pea-sized pieces.
04 - If the dough appears too dry, add cold water 1 tablespoon at a time, pulsing until the dough just comes together without overworking.
05 - Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and roll into a rectangle approximately ¼ inch thick.
06 - Cut dough into strips approximately ½ inch wide and 6 inches long using a sharp knife or pastry cutter.
07 - Transfer strips to the prepared baking sheet, spacing them slightly apart to allow for even browning.
08 - Bake for 12-15 minutes until straws are golden brown and crisp throughout.
09 - Allow straws to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack for complete cooling.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They're ready in 30 minutes flat, which means you can make them the morning of your party without stress.
  • The ratio of cheese to butter creates this shatteringly crisp texture that's honestly addictive.
  • One batch makes 24 straws, so you get plenty to pass around without feeling like you're showing up empty-handed.
02 -
  • Room-temperature butter will ruin this recipe because you need those distinct pockets of fat to create the crispy texture, so plan ahead and cube your butter straight from the cold fridge.
  • Opening the oven door to peek makes the straws bake unevenly, so set a timer and trust it, checking only at the final minute if you're genuinely unsure.
03 -
  • For extra pizzazz, lightly brush the unbaked straws with egg white and sprinkle a tiny pinch of fleur de sel on top before baking so they glisten and taste even more sophisticated.
  • If your straws seem to be browning too fast around the edges, tent them loosely with foil for the last few minutes of baking to even out the browning.
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