Derby Day Cheese Straws (Print Version)

Crispy, buttery cheddar and Parmesan cheese straws with a touch of cayenne, perfect for tasty snacking.

# What You'll Need:

→ 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

# Steps to Follow:

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 cubed butter and pulse until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
04 - If dough is too dry, add cold water 1 tablespoon at a time until dough just comes together.
05 - Turn dough onto lightly floured surface and roll into rectangle approximately ¼ inch thick.
06 - Cut into strips ½ inch wide and 6 inches long using a chef's knife or pastry cutter.
07 - Transfer strips to prepared baking sheet, spacing slightly apart to allow for even browning.
08 - Bake for 12–15 minutes until golden and crisp throughout.
09 - Allow to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • They're ready in 30 minutes flat, which means you can make them the morning of your gathering without stress.
  • The cayenne gives just enough kick to make people ask what the secret ingredient is.
  • They stay crispy for hours, so they're perfect for snacking straight from the tin or arranging on a platter.
02 -
  • If your dough cracks and won't roll, you went too light on the water; if it's sticky and won't hold a shape, you added too much—the sweet spot feels like slightly crumbly pie dough.
  • Don't overbake them by even a minute or two; they harden further as they cool, and there's a thin line between crispy and bitter.
03 -
  • Keep everything as cold as possible—work quickly, use a cold surface, and chill your ingredients before starting if your kitchen is warm.
  • The secret to that shatter-in-your-mouth texture is knowing when to stop—the moment they turn golden, pull them out, because they brown quickly.
Return