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Puff Pastry Cheese Straws
Crispy, buttery, and supremely cheesy, these Puff Pastry Cheese Straws are certain to be a hit with guests of all ages. Made with just 4 ingredients and ready to eat in 30 minutes, these delightful cheese twists may look and taste quite fancy but couldn’t be simpler to make!
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Making Southern cheese straws has never been so easy! Unlike some recipes that call for upwards of a dozen ingredients and require fancy equipment like a cookie press, my puff pastry cheese twists:
- Take only 4 ingredients. Using store-bought puff pastry not only yields deliciously flaky results, but also leaves more time for mingling with your guests.
- Require less than 10 minutes of active time. I clocked myself at just 8 minutes of prep time to make 20 (!!!) beautiful, flavorful cheese twists.
- Are completely customizable. I have a particular soft spot in my heart for the salty, sharp mix of asiago and parmesan, but you’re welcome to sub in your own favorite cheese blend to make the pastry twists of your dreams!
Whether you serve them as part of a buffet, as a complement to your favorite soup, or as a passed hors d’oeuvre, one thing is certain: my puff pastry cheese twists are about to become one of your favorite appetizer recipes of all time.
Ingredients for Cheese Straws
Your grocery list for my easy cheese twists is super short. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Frozen Puff Pastry – My love of frozen puff pastry is as vast as my love for refrigerated crescent rolls, and its uses are just as numerous. If you like to entertain often, always keep a box of it in your freezer — you won’t be sorry you did! My favorite brand is Dufour because it uses all butter (YUM!), but Pepperidge Farm is perfectly delicious as well.
- Eggs – In this cheese twist recipe, eggs act as both an adhesive for the cheese as well as an egg wash to make the pastry nice and shiny. If eggs are off the menu, try milk, cream, or melted butter instead.
- Asiago Cheese – If you can’t find it, pecorino romano, grana padano, manchego, or even more parmesan will do the trick. You can also swap in cheddar cheese if you like!
- Parmesan Cheese – Make sure you’re not trying to make this recipe with the shakable green bottle kind of parmesan. You’ll yield much better results if you grate your own parmesan from a wedge.
How To Make Puff Pastry Cheese Twists
Be sure to check the recipe card below for full ingredients & instructions.
This recipe for cheese straws is so simple, it almost makes itself! Here’s how it’s done:
- Prep. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup. Freshly grate your cheeses. In a small bowl, mix cheeses together.
- Get cheesy. Sprinkle the work surface with ¼ of the cheese mixture. Brush one side of a sheet of puff pastry with egg wash. Place the puff pastry sheet, egg-side down, on top of the cheese.
- Roll it out. Brush top of puff pastry with egg wash, then sprinkle another ¼ of cheese on top, and with a rolling pin, roll sheet to ¼ inch thick.
- Slice into roughly 10 x 1-inch-thick strips.
- Twist each strip and place it on a baking sheet.
- Repeat the process with the remaining puff pastry and cheese.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown.
FAQs
Do I need to refrigerate my cheese twists?
Nope! They’ll do great in an airtight container at room temperature.
Can I freeze cheese straws?
Baked cheese straws can be frozen for up to a month. Allow to defrost, then re-crisp in a 350°F oven for 3-5 minutes.
Why aren’t my cheese straws crispy?
Your cheese twists are going to be a little more pliable when they first come out of the oven because of the residual heat. They will crisp up as they cool.
Serving Suggestions
These gourmet cheese straws are particularly cute when served like Italian breadsticks. I like to line a wide-mouthed vase with a pretty napkin or tea towel, then place the baked twists vertically. They’re easy to grab, and you’ll see all of their gorgeous texture!
If you’re wondering what to pair with cheese twists, I’ve got you covered. They are:
- Great with soups of all kinds. Trust me, these crispy puff pastry delicacies are a huge step up from saltines or oyster crackers!
- Excellent as part of a game day spread. I’m a firm believer that cheesy carbs are at home on any appetizer table. Pair with stuffed mushrooms, fried artichoke hearts, and hot spinach dip for an upscale Mediterranean feel. Then again, they’d also taste delicious dipped in my nacho cheese sauce, so feel free to mix and match at will.
- Pairs beautifully with happy hour. Cheese and wine are a match made in heaven! Their salty, crispy goodness is also a great accompaniment for your post-work cocktails.
- Add them to a Cheese Board or Charcuterie Board.
Variations
My Parmesan-Asiago Cheese Twists are pretty perfect as written, but there’s always room for customization here at Easy Appetizers. Here are a few ideas to get your wheels turning:
- Try Using Different Cheeses – I doubled up on my cheese selection for this twists recipe, but fear not: you can use any single type of melty cheese, or mix and match to your heart’s content.
- Egg-Free – So long as your puff pastry is made without eggs, you can replace the egg wash with milk, cream, or melted butter for an egg-free cheese twist.
- Spicy – Many Southern cheese twist recipes call for the addition of cayenne pepper. Try adding ¼ – 1 teaspoon of cayenne to the egg wash mixture for a little extra kick.
- Use A Spread – Add some extra flavor by replacing your egg wash with pesto, harissa, or zhoug sauce.
- Make Them Sweet – Not much of a cheese person? I can’t say I understand you, but I’m here for you all the same. Swap out the cheese for cinnamon sugar for a fun, quasi-churro treat!
Storing and Reheating
These puff pastry cheese twists are delicious when served warm from the oven, and are just as delightful at room temperature.
Keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
If they’ve gone a little stale, crisp them up in an oven or air fryer at 350°F for 3-4 minutes.
Expert Tips
- Grate your own cheese. Pre-grated cheese is coated with anti-caking agents that both prevent it from melting as well and also prevent good adherence to the egg wash. If your arms are getting tired, bust out the food processor and use the grating attachment!
- Defrost puff pastry in the fridge overnight. Most puff pastry sheets are sold either rolled or folded up. If you try to defrost at room temperature, the insides will remain frozen while the outsides get too sticky and warm. Do yourself a favor and let the whole box chill in the fridge overnight; when you wake up, it will be the perfect consistency to work with!
- Broken pastry dough can be fixed. Did you rush your defrosting and now the dough has split at the seams? Not to worry! Use your hands to help warm the cracked places enough to stick them back together. Press and prod until your pastry is in one piece. Voila!
- Puff pastry is seasonal at some stores. Puff pastry is a real boon to any regular entertainer, but it might not always be available. Some stores (like Trader Joe’s) will only offer it around the holiday season, so stock up when you can.
More Delicious Cheesy Bites
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Cheese Straws
Crispy, buttery, and so cheesy, these Puff Pastry Cheese Straws are made with just 4 ingredients and take only 30 minutes to make.
Prep Time 8 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 28 minutes
Ingredients
- 17 ounce package puff pastry 2 sheets, thawed
- 2 eggs beaten
- 1 ½ cups asiago cheese freshly shredded
- 1 ½ cups parmesan cheese freshly shredded
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a small bowl, mix cheeses together.
- Sprinkle work surface with ¼ of the cheese mixture.
- Brush one side of puff pastry with egg wash.
- Place one puff pastry sheet, egg-side down, on top of cheese.
- Brush top of puff pastry with egg wash, then sprinkle another ¼ of cheese on top and with a rolling pin, roll sheet to ¼ inch thick.
- Slice into about 10 1-inch-thick strips.
- Twist each strip and place on baking sheet – repeat process with remaining puff pastry and cheese.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown.
Notes
- These puff pastry cheese twists are delicious when served warm from the oven, and are just as delightful at room temperature.
- Keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- If they’ve gone a little stale, crisp them up in an oven or air fryer at 350°F for 3-4 minutes.
