Food and Recipes Recipes Spicy Cheddar Cheese Straws 2.6 (5) 5 Reviews Looking for a new and delicious appetizer for this holiday season? You have to give these Spicy Cheddar Cheese Straws a try. With ingredients like fresh cheddar cheese and crushed red pepper, this recipe is bursting with delectable flavor. They're super easy to make, and oh-so tasty. Want to know the best part? These cheese straws are the perfect make-ahead dish for the holiday season. You can make the dough before any Christmas party and bake them just before your guests arrive, and they also make an excellent hostess gift. With only about 20 minutes of hands-on time, Spicy Cheddar Cheese Straws won't keep you in the kitchen for long. For a fun holiday gift, package them in festive bags and give them away to all your Christmas guests. We guarantee you'll make them again and again. By Southern Living Editors Southern Living Editors Since 1966, the editors of Southern Living have been carrying out the mission of the brand: to bring enjoyment, fulfillment, and inspiration to our readers by celebrating life in the South. We inspire creativity in their homes, their kitchens, their gardens, and their personal style. We are a friend they can trust, a guide to the seasons, a helping hand during the holidays, and a relentless champion of the Southern way of life. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Published on November 22, 2018 Print Share Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Lee Harrelson Hands On Time: 20 mins Cool Time: 30 mins Bake Time: 20 mins Start To Finish Time: 80 mins Yield: 3 dozen Ingredients 1 (10-oz.) block sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cut into 4 pieces and softened 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1/2 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper 2 tablespoons half-and-half Directions Pulse first 5 ingredients in a food processor at 5-second intervals until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add half-and-half, and process 10 seconds or until dough forms a ball. (Dough may be wrapped in plastic wrap, sealed in a ziplock plastic freezer bag, and chilled up to 3 days.) Preheat oven to 350°. Turn dough out onto a well-floured surface; divide in half. Roll each half into a 12- x 8-inch rectangle (about 1/8 inch thick). Cut dough into 3/4-inch-wide strips using a sharp knife or fluted pastry wheel, dipping knife in flour after each cut to ensure clean cuts. Place strips on parchment paper-lined baking sheets. Bake in preheated oven 18 to 20 minutes or until edges are well browned; cool on baking sheets on wire racks 30 minutes. Print