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Crispy cheese straws lined up on a baking sheet.
Golden baked cheese straws with a crispy cheese topping.

Flaky Cheddar Cheese Straws

Author: Flavelo
Recipes Cakes and Desserts
The secret to shortcrust pastry is the union of cold butter and flour. The goal is to keep butter bits intact rather than melting them. During baking, these butter pockets melt, creating tiny steam voids that result in a pastry that creates a flaky, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
🕒 Prep Time 15 mins
🍳 Cook Time 20 mins
⌛ Total Time 1 hr 5 mins
🍽️ Servings 5 servings
🔥 Calories 160 kcal
🌍 Cuisine Hungarian

Ingredients

Equipment Needed

  • Large mixing bowl
  • Pizza cutter or knife
  • Baking sheet
  • Pastry brush

Allergen Information

⚠️ Wheat
⚠️ Milk
⚠️ Egg

Instructions

1 ✓

Combine flour, salt, and baking powder in a bowl.

Tip: Baking powder adds a little lift to the dense dough.
2 ✓

Add the cold butter cubes. Use your fingers or a pastry cutter to rub the butter into the flour until it resembles damp sand.

Tip: Work quickly to keep the butter cold. Using a food processor helps avoid warming it with your hands.
3 ✓

Stir in the sour cream and half of the cheese. Quickly bring the dough together into a ball.

Tip: Don't knead it smooth; a shaggy dough means flaky layers.
4 ✓

Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

Tip: Chilling relaxes the gluten and re-solidifies the butter, making rolling easier.
5 ✓

Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Roll dough out on a floured surface to 1/3 inch thickness. Brush with beaten egg and sprinkle with the remaining cheese.

Tip: The egg wash acts as glue for the cheese topping.
6 ✓

Cut into strips, place on a baking sheet, and bake for 15-20 minutes until golden brown.

Tip: They are best when the cheese on top gets crispy.

Recipe FAQ

Why is the pastry tough?
You overworked the dough. Kneading develops gluten, which makes it rubbery instead of flaky.
Why did the butter leak out?
You didn't chill the dough enough, or your oven wasn't hot enough.

Ingredients

  • 4 cups All-Purpose Flour
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) Cold Butter, cubed
  • 2 cups Sharp Cheddar Cheese, shredded
  • 0.66 cup Sour Cream
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 1 large Egg (for wash)
  • 1 tsp Baking Powder