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Quick Spooky Cheese Straws: Easy Halloween Appetizer

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These quick spooky cheese straws are a perfect Halloween appetizer that comes together in about 25 minutes. With a simple pastry dough and a cheesy coating, they look like witchy fingers or spooky twisted wands and are always a crowd-pleaser.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
  • ½ teaspoon fine sea salt (or ¼ teaspoon table salt)
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
  • ½ cup cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
  • ¼ cup cold water (ice water preferred)
  • 1 ½ cups sharp cheddar cheese, finely shredded
  • ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • ½ teaspoon paprika (smoked paprika preferred)
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • Optional: black sesame seeds or poppy seeds for topping
  • Optional: a few drops of orange food coloring

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, cayenne (if using), and paprika.
  3. Add the cold butter cubes to the flour mixture. Using a pastry cutter or forks, cut the butter into the flour until it looks like coarse meal with some pea-sized butter pieces remaining (about 2 minutes).
  4. Sprinkle the cold water over the flour-butter mixture. Stir with a fork until the dough just comes together. It will look shaggy. If too dry, add another tablespoon of cold water; if too wet, add a sprinkle of flour.
  5. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Gently knead 3-4 times until it forms a cohesive disk. Do not overwork. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 10 minutes.
  6. While the dough chills, mix the shredded cheddar, Parmesan, and garlic powder in a shallow bowl or plate. Set aside.
  7. On a lightly floured surface, roll the chilled dough into a rectangle about ¼-inch thick (roughly 10×12 inches).
  8. Sprinkle about half of the cheese mixture evenly over the dough. Gently press it into the dough with a rolling pin or hands. Flip the dough over and repeat with the remaining cheese on the other side. Press gently.
  9. Using a sharp knife or pizza cutter, cut the dough into strips about ½-inch wide and 6-8 inches long. You’ll get about 20-24 strips.
  10. Pick up each strip by both ends and twist gently in opposite directions. Place on the prepared baking sheet, pressing the ends down slightly. Space them about 1 inch apart.
  11. Bake for 12-15 minutes, until the edges are golden brown and the cheese is bubbly. Halfway through, rotate the baking sheet for even browning.
  12. Let the cheese straws cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. They will crisp up as they cool.

Notes

Keep everything cold for flaky layers. Do not over-twist the strips. Watch the last 2 minutes of baking to avoid burning. The dough can be made up to 2 days ahead and refrigerated. Unbaked twisted straws can be frozen and baked directly from frozen, adding 2-3 minutes to the baking time.

Nutrition

Keywords: cheese straws, Halloween appetizer, quick snack, party food, cheddar cheese straws, spooky snacks

Find it online: https://dinadishes.com/quick-spooky-cheese-straws-easy-halloween-appetizer/