MAMA’S CHEESE STRAWS

  • PREP TIME: 10 minutes
  • COOK TIME: 12 minutes
  • YIELDS: about 3 dozen

Ingredients

  • 1 – 10 ounce block sharp cheddar, room temperature
  • 1 stick unsalted butter (1 cup), softened
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper or more to taste

At special occasions in our house, cheese straws were served in a little silver bowl next to the bar. My served them at weddings, dinner parties, and of course throughout the holidays. If you have never had a true southern cheese straw, you are missing out on something amazing.

Instructions

FIRST Preheat oven to 350°F. Grate cheese using a food processor or hand grater. Combine shredded cheese, butter, flour, salt and pepper in a food processor fitted with the blade attachment. Process until dough forms a ball.

NEXT Using a cookie press with a star shaped disk, follow the manufacturers instructions and make long ribbons on a parchment lined cookie sheet. Cut ribbons into 2-3 inch straws using a sharp knife. If dough is too soft, chill for a few minutes in the refrigerator before putting in cookie press.

LAST Place on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 12 minutes or until cheese straws are lightly golden brown.