Classic Southern Cheese Straws

Crispy and buttery, these highly addictive cheese straws are a true southern classic.

4.93 from 13 votes

Classic Southern Cheese Straws

Southern Cheese Straws are a timeless and highly addictive classic. Crispy and buttery, Southern Cheese Straws are amazing when paired with dry sherry or just by themselves. It’s impossible to eat just one!

Prep Time15

Cook Time16

Total Time31

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American, Southern

Servings: servings

Calories: 144kcal

Ingredients

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter at room temperature
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded extra-sharp Cheddar cheese at room temperature (See Tip 1)
1 Tablespoon baking powder
¾ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 cups (10 ounces) all-purpose flour (See Tip 1)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350° F.
With an electric mixer, cream butter and cheese until well blended. Add baking powder, salt, and cayenne pepper. Beat on medium speed until well blended. Add flour; beat on medium speed for 5 minutes until very creamy, scraping down the sides of the bowl several times. (See Tip 2)
Transfer the dough to a piping bag fitted with a 1M large star tip. (See Tip 3)
Pipe 3-inch long cheese straws onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Leave at least ½-inch space between cheese straws. Bake for 14 to 16 minutes or until golden brown.
Remove from the oven and transfer the cheese straws to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.
Yield: 12 dozen.

Video

Notes

To ensure consistent results with this recipe, weigh the cheese and the flour.
This recipe calls for room-temperature butter and room-temperature cheese. Room temperatures can vary widely. For example, I generally keep my house at 73°F in the warmer months and at 68°F in the colder months. You want the dough to have the consistency of a thick buttercream. Therefore, you may need to warm the dough a bit before piping it. I like to do this in the microwave on power level 1 for several minutes. Watch carefully—you don't want to cook the dough; just warm it enough to pipe easily.
You can use a cookie press instead of a piping bag for this recipe.
This recipe makes a lot of cheese straws, which is not a problem in my house because they don't last that long! However, the recipe can be easily cut in half.
Cheese straws make a perfect holiday gift for your family, friends, and coworkers. Package them in clear cellophane bags tied with a decorative ribbon or in clear plastic cups with dome tops for added protection.

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