Pimento Cheese Straws
These Pimento Cheese Straws are crispy, spicy, flaky, and cheesy. The perfect combination for these delicious snacks you won’t be able to stop eating!
What is a cheese straw?
A Cheese Straw is small, thin strip of pastry (like a cookie) that is made of cheese and other spices, that are baked and then eaten as a light snack.
Six years after we moved Waycross and I started to eat these tasty cheese straws amongst other goodies.
When called upon to make some of those delectable bites for a party, Judy, my mother in law, had a brilliant idea to make them even better. Pimento cheese straws!
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Ingredients Needed
Flour – Use pastry flour or all purpose flour for this recipe. I haven’t tested it with gluten free flours or flour alternatives.
Cheese – I use a block of sharp cheddar cheese and grate it myself for better mixing.
Butter – Use unsalted butter to control the amount of salt.
Pimentos – Drain the pimentos really well before mixing.
Spices – Italian seasoning and crushed red pepper flakes.
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How to make cheese straws
First: Heat the oven to 350 F. Using a stand mixer or food processor, mix butter and cheese together.
When butter and cheese are incorporated add in the pimento, juice, and seasonings and mix briefly. Add the flour and mix until a dough-like consistency.
Second: Pull dough out of mixer bowl, place on a lightly floured surface, and form dough into a ball. At this point, you can wrap in plastic and store in the fridge until you are ready to bake. If chilling first, make sure you bring to room temperature before attempting to shape into balls/straws unless you need an upper body workout.
Third: Shape, roll, or cut your straws into the desired shape.
Fourth: Once formed, bake the pimento cheese straws on a parchment-lined cookie sheet for 25 minutes or until slightly brown around the edges.
Cool on rack and store in airtight container for up to 4 days. You can also freeze for up to 3 months for a soiree at a later date!
*I like the straw shape over a cookie shape myself. Since my cookie press does not have enough strength, I actually use a child’s playdough apparatus (purchased new, sterilized, and used for cheese straws alone) to make mine. This way my kids can join in the fun too!
For the full recipe and detailed instructions, please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
If you love this recipe as much as I do, please write a five-star review in the comment section below (or on Pinterest with the “tried it” button – you can now add pictures into reviews, too!), and be sure to help me share on facebook!
These Pimento Cheese Straws will be the new favorite snack at your next event! They are perfect for your Kentucky Derby Party Menu.
Pimento Cheese Straws
Ingredients
- 4 ounces sharp cheddar cheese shredded
- 4 ounces pepper jack cheese shredded
- 1/2 cup butter room temperature
- 1 tablespoon pimento juice
- 1 tablespoon pimentos chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 dash Tabasco
- 1 1/2 cups pastry flour AP flour can be substituted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- Using a stand mixer or food processor, mix butter and cheese briefly.
- When butter and cheese are combined, add the juice, pimentos, and seasonings.
- Mix briefly.
- Add the flour and mix until just combined.
- Knead dough and form into a ball.
- Wrap in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour or until baking.
- Set the dough out for about 10 minutes before shaping.
- Bake for 25 minutes or until the edges are slightly brown.
- Cool on a cooling rack before storing in an airtight container.
- These freeze well so you can make in advance!
Notes
Nutrition
(Recipe adapted from Mrs. L.H. Dunham, Southern Sideboards, Taylor Publishing, 1978.)
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What a great twist on a classic! Can’t wait to make them.
What a great twist on a classic! Can’t wait to make them.
You had a link, I think, for a coffee pretzel snack. The blogger makes her own spice blends. I cannot find your blog that mentioned that. Can you PLEASE send me that link? Thank you!
I am so happy with your site, I will never be able to make all the things that sound so good, the fun will be in trying!!
Are you referring to my Pumpkin Spice Espresso Pretzels? https://www.taketwotapas.com/pumpkin-spice-espresso-pretzels/ or the French Onion Pretzels https://www.taketwotapas.com/tangy-french-onion-pretzel-nuggets/. The french onion one references Sallys Baking Addiction where she makes her own seasoning mix but also has a link for a book of how to make 10 of your own spice mixes. I hope this help and I hope you have fun making my recipes. Thank you for reading and shoot me a pic so I can see your finished product:)
Oh, Yay for the cheesy snacks! Looks delicious, great recipe! – Love, Anna
Thanks Anna!
Oh, Yay for the cheesy snacks! Looks delicious, great recipe! – Love, Anna
Oh, Yay for the cheesy snacks! Looks delicious, great recipe! – Love, Anna
These look great, I’m such a cheese lover. Beautiful photos, love the wood piece you used also. Pinning
Thanks Jacqueline! It was a gift from a friend:)
Wow! Jen, these are awesome!! I love cheese and pimientos together – the combo rocks all the time! Yum!
Thanks Jhuls! I love the combo too!
These sound so good. Would love to feature this next week – do you have a link party page? I couldn’t find one or if you add party links anywhere. If you do just let me know so I can share it. Thanks for linking up to Craftastic Monday at Sew Can Do!
I do share! I will add it to the bottom of the page and my about page where I add what parties I link to. Thanks so much!!
Mmmmm…..pimento cheese! Dip or straw, these look delish & I think your MIL’s idea was brilliant!!
I’m already thinking of other things I can do with it!!
What a fun story! I love family recipes! I also happen to l-o-v-e pimento cheese, so this recipes looks like one I have to try, and soon!
Family recipes always taste better!
I have never tried pimento cheese, but I am sure I would love it and these straws
Ahhh pimento cheese is SO GOOD! Great job with these!
Thanks Ashley! I never really cared for it but it has grown on me!
I crave savory snack now..pass me some please.. 🙂
Grab a handful!
Awww! Looks yum! I will definitely try this.
Thanks! I always have fun making these with the kids. They like them better than Cheeze its. Thanks for checking us out. Keep coming back for more recipes!
Great instruction on how to make! These will be a hit with my family for the holidays!
Thank you so much! I am glad that my MIL introduced me to them. I like them as a movie snack.