Clearly, it was a cheesy kind of weekend in the How Sweet house.
Even down to the part where Mr. How Sweet cut the sleeves off three Dale Earnhardt t-shirts.
It really happened.
And then he ate all my cheese straws. He was batting 1000.
This was my first time making cheese straws, and I’m so glad I tried them. You honestly can’t tell these use whole wheat pastry flour — they taste like Cheez-It snacks in stick form.
They’re not only delicious but very simple to prepare. I accidentally used a wire rack for baking, which gave the straws a lovely, crisp finish.
It happened by accident.
But it totally worked. Just be sure to spray the rack or baking sheet with non-stick spray or you’ll end up with a messy situation.
Which isn’t so bad, since that mess will probably end up in your belly.
Expect plenty of breakage and crumbs — that’s part of the fun. You get lots of little pieces to nibble on while you assemble the bowl, and somehow those crumbs never seem to count.
Who knew cheese straws could be so easy? Make a batch for lunch or for snacking throughout the day.
Easy Whole Wheat Cheese Straws
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
- 1 1/4 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese
- 3/4 stick cold butter, cut into chunks
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 1/2 tablespoons milk
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
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In a food processor, combine the flour, grated cheddar, sea salt, and smoked paprika. Pulse to mix. Add the cold butter and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
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With the processor running, stream in the milk until the dough comes together into a ball. Remove the dough and place it on a floured surface. Flour your rolling pin and roll the dough to about 1/4–1/2 inch thickness, depending on how thick you want the straws.
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Use a pizza cutter to slice straight strips. Spray a baking sheet or wire rack with non-stick spray and arrange the strips on it. Strips may tear—simply pinch them back together.
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Bake 12–15 minutes, until crisp and golden. Let cool completely on the sheet or rack before removing. Some pieces will stay intact while others crumble—collect them all in a bowl and enjoy.
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
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I’ll keep you posted on the state of Mr. How Sweet and his sleeve situation. Maybe I’ll even share photos — it’s delightful.