Cheese Straws -A Savoury Home Made Gift

Cheese Straws Recipe: spicy and savoury cheese shortbread straws, perfect for gift giving or as part of a charcuterie board.

I first tried cheese straws one day when I was at a West Indian bakery.  My husband is from Guyana, and we would sometimes go there for some Guyanese treats. Guyanese cheese straws are like a savoury, spicy cheese shortbread.  They are buttery and crisp like the best shortbread, but also cheesy tasting, and then they have a little heat to them too.  They’re kind of perfect.

If you’re looking for a savoury home made gift for someone special, these spicy cheese straws are perfect.   A home made food treat is the great gift -since lots of people don’t have time to cook or bake these days, it doesn’t add clutter to anyone’s house, and tastes delicious!  I love cheese straws as part of a cheese board around the holidays, or even served with a  soup.  They’re also great for snacking.

I’m sharing the Guyanese Cheese Straws today as part of the Seasonal Simplicity Christmas series, so be sure to check out all the other amazing DIY Holiday Gift Ideas linked at the end of this post.

You are going to need a cookie press for this job, but other than that it’s pretty straight forward.

Recipe

Cheese Straws

Print

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter
• 1/2 lb sharp cheddar cheese
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 - 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
• 2 cups flour

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 F
2. Grate sharp cheddar cheese with the fine side of the grater.
3. In a stand mixer cream together the butter and grated cheese, until the mixture is well mixed and fluffy.
4. In a another bowl combine the flour, salt, and cayenne pepper -1/4 tsp if you don't like it too spicy, or up to a 1/2 tsp if you like a lot of heat.  Using a whisk, whisk together the flour, salt, and pepper.  Then slowly add the flour mixture to the butter and cheese mixture in the stand mixer.
5. Beat the dough on high for about 5 min. until the dough is very creamy.  Be sure to scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl occasionally.
6. Put your dough in a cookie press, and pipe about 3 inch straws onto an uncreased cookie sheet.
7. Bake 12-15 minutes until slightly browed.  Cool and store in an airtight container.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

48

Serving Size:

1 Servings
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 72Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 73mgCarbohydrates: 4gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 2g

Package For Gift Giving

For gift giving, wrap up the cheese straws in a cello bag, or bakery box.  Or to make it extra special, use a vintage container, like this enamelware refrigerator box.  Combine the cheese straws with a beautiful bottle of wine, some cheese, and chutney -or just give them on their own.

Charcuterie Board

I used some of my cheese straws for a beautiful charcuterie board.  I love this style of entertaining over the holidays.  Create an amazing cheese board with something for everyone, and let guests help themselves throughout the whole party.

For an amazing charcuterie board think about including different flavours and textures -sweet, creamy, sour, spicy, salty.

Cheese -we used a swiss cheese, harvarti cheese, and a soft cheese, think of different textures, and be sure to include everyones favourites too.

Meat -we used a mild salami, a spicy salami, some turkey pepperoni sticks, and a peppercorn pate.

Fruit -we used grapes, pears, pomegranate, blackberries, and some dried apricots and dried strawberries.

Pickles and Condiments -we included some pickled onions, gherkins, stuffed olives, and a pepper honey.  I often include a grainy mustard, and a onion jam as well.

Nuts -salted roasted cashews, and spicy maple pecans.

And don’t forget some crackers, and breads, and of course our Cheese Straws.

And what goes great with our Cheese Straws and the charcuterie board?  A little bubbly, or something else to wet your whistle.

I hope you enjoy these delicious cheese straws -spicy or not so spicy, for all your holiday home made gift giving, and entertaining.  If you do like some spice another great homemade gift, also from my Guyanese mother-in-law is this amazing no-cook hot sauce recipe.

With home made Cheese Straws, life really is a party!

More DIY Gift Ideas

And now are you ready for whole lot of inspiration for DIY Gifts for the Holidays?

Today I’m thrilled to be part of a fantastic group of bloggers who are also sharing their DIY Gift Ideas for the holidays with you (many with free printable tags)!

DIY Simmering Potpourri at The Happy Housie
Scandi Style Printable Gift Tags at tatertots and jello
Wooden Calendar Holder at Lolly Jane
Peppermint Hot Chocolate at A Pretty Life
Makeup Gift Bag at Inspiration for Moms

Rudolph the Red Toes Reindeer Gift Tags at Tauni Everett
Hot Chocolate Gift Ornament at Clean and Scentsible
Chili and Garlic Olive Oil Holiday Gift at Satori Design for Living
Daiso Hot Chocolate Gift at Paint Me Pink
Gingerbread Slime Recipe with Printable Gift Tags at All Things With Purpose

Farmhouse Kitchen Wrap Free Printable at Hallstrom Home
Potted Paper Whites with Printable Gift Tags at Sincerely, Marie Designs
Printable Christmas Wine Gift Tags at The Heathered Nest
Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix with a Gift Tag at Happy Happy Nester

Candy Cane Dipped Hot Cocoa Spoons at Jenna Kate at Home
Etched Glass Water Bottles at TIDBITS
Homemade Cheese Straws at Life is a Party
Gift Idea for the Pink Loving Baker at Summer Adams Designs

Christmas Flower Gift Box at Craftberry Bush
Hand Lettered Christmas Gift Tag Printables at Modern Glam Home
Holiday Gift at Grace Gathered Home
DIY Metallic Candlesticks at Love Create Celebrate