Buttery, crisp cheese straws with sharp cheddar, Parmesan, and a touch of cayenne for spice.
# Ingredient List:
→ 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
# How-to Steps:
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 to the mixture and pulse until the texture resembles coarse crumbs.
04 - If dough appears too dry, add cold water 1 tablespoon at a time until 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 ½ inch wide and 6 inches long using a chef's knife or pastry cutter.
07 - Transfer strips to prepared baking sheet, spacing them slightly apart to allow for even browning.
08 - Bake for 12–15 minutes until golden brown and crisp throughout.
09 - Cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.
