Cheese Straws

A little change from baking deliciously sweet things, but nevertheless still a classic British bake, I thought I’d try my hand as cheese straws.

I always associate these with Christmas, as there were always a freshly baked batch waiting for us to get our paws on as children. These can be enjoyed anytime of year by mixing and experimenting with different flavours.

I decided to take a traditional recipe and add my own twists. I made a cheddar cheese biscuit dough and added different toppings such as simple sea salt, smoked paprika, garlic powder, curry powder and fennel seeds. Basically I raided my dad’s herbs and spices cupboard and use whatever I thought would taste nice.

You can do the same, using your own ideas such as rosemary, thyme…

So, here is the basic biscuit recipe:

100g of plain flour

75g of softened butter

50g of grated cheese (any kind)

1 egg yolk

Your choice of toppings!

And here’s how to create them:

1. Preheat the oven to Gas mark 5/190 degrees
2. Measure out the flour and butter and in a bowl, rub the butter into the flour using your fingertips until it resembles breadcrumbs
3. Add the cheese and mix
4. The last thing to add is the egg yolk but make sure you save a tiny bit for glazing the biscuits before they go into the oven
5. Mix it all together until it form a fairly solid dough. Wrap in cling film and place in the fridge for around 30 minutes
6. Roll the dough onto a floured surface to about half a cm in thickness. Cut out biscuits in any shape. I used a simple knife and made 12 rectangular finger-like biscuits (apart from the remaining dough mixture!), but you can experiment using cookie cutters or you’re own creation!
7. Place on a greased baking tray and brush the remaining egg yolk over the tops.
8. Next, add your toppings and place in the oven to bake for around 10-15 minutes, or until they are golden brown.
9. Once cooled, transfer to a wire rack before digging in!

These are perfect treats to enjoy after a festive dinner or Sunday roast, and are easy to make so why not give it a try. They would even make the perfect Christmas gift.