Puff pastry cheese straws
I’d completely forgotten about puff pastry – it’s been such a long time since I last baked with it! I have to admit, though, that this isn’t really the best time of year to make it from scratch. Puff pastry likes to be kept cool, and working with soft butter in a warm kitchen can be tricky. So, for now, let’s give ourselves a little break and use ready-made puff pastry instead ;).
These cheesy puff pastry straws are such a simple and delicious snack, and they’re sure to be a hit with both adults and children. They’re packed with cheese, lightly crisp and wonderfully flaky. They’re perfect for serving when you have friends over, and they make a great accompaniment to a beer for the grown-ups too ;). I often see them in supermarkets here in the UK, so they’re clearly a popular little snack. They take just a few minutes to put together and bake in no time at all. They really couldn’t be easier – give them a try!
Makes 23 straws (each straw will be approximately 2.5–3 cm wide after baking).
Ingredients for the cheese straws:
- 2 ready-rolled sheets of puff pastry (375 g each, 35 x 22.5 cm)
- 230 g Cheddar or another hard cheese, finely grated
- paprika, to taste
- salt, to taste (optional; I don’t add any, as I find the puff pastry is already salty enough)
Additionally:
- 1 beaten egg, for brushing
Place one sheet of puff pastry on a lightly floured work surface. Brush with the beaten egg, then sprinkle evenly with half of the finely grated cheese. Sprinkle with paprika to taste. Gently press the cheese into the pastry so that it sticks well. Cover with the second sheet of puff pastry. Brush with beaten egg again, sprinkle with the remaining cheese and paprika. Gently press the cheese into the pastry. Using a sharp knife, cut the pastry into strips approximately 1.5 cm wide. Take each strip by both ends and twist the ends in opposite directions to create a spiral.
Place the straws on a baking tray lined with baking paper, leaving 2–3 cm between them. Gently press the ends of the straws onto the baking tray so that they don’t unravel during baking.
Bake the cheese straws at 200°C for approximately 13–15 minutes, until noticeably golden and crisp. Remove from the oven, leave to cool slightly and serve.
Enjoy!
