Cheese Straws are a Southern Staple at any event of formality.  As soon as you see cheese straws on the main table, you know Southern Woman have put the sophisticated celebration together.  These delicious cheese cookies are not a traditional recipe, but they rival any cheese straw recipe in existence.  These are a family favorite here, from my In-laws, and my kids adore them.  These get made in my house right around Thanksgiving, sort of the top 3 cookies that we kick off the holiday season with.  They are salty, cheesy, with a hint of hot sauce at the end of the bite, and that makes them, so very addictive!

The aroma flowing in your house, when these quick bake cookies hit the hot oven will make your mouth water!  They are actually a little biscuit because they don’t have any egg in them. These would be great after a nice gravy wrapped stew!

Cheese Straw Cookies

Makes: 3 Dozen
Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Bake Time: 8-10 Minutes

Ingredients:

2 Sticks salted butter or margarine- softened
2 Cups all purpose flour
2 cups sharp cheddar cheese – shredded
2 cups crisp rice cereal
1/2 tsp salt
optional hot sauce or cayenne pepper

To make Cheese Straws:

1. Cream butter with a paddle attachment until smooth.
2. Add flour and cheese and mix just until incorporated, do not overmix.
3. Add 1 teaspoon – 2 Tablespoons hot sauce  or 1/4 teaspoon -1 teaspoon cayenne (cookies will be hotter after baked so don’t judge by the batter- just make a note and add more next time of with next batches!) Mix until incorporated
4. Add cereal and mix briefly
5. Roll cookies into a ball or log, about a teaspoon size, mash slightly with fork and place on ungreased cookie sheet
6. Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes.  Tops will be slightly browned, bottoms will be fully browned- DO NOT OVER BAKE – as they cool, they crisp up, so play with the timing and remember, your oven and pans get hotter with every batch, so keep an eye on them!

I hope you love the cookies as much as we do!

These Southern traditions should be on your table this Christmas Season! They are so easy and freeze perfectly. Keep them on hand for surprise guests, pop them in the oven real quick to unthaw and warm (4 minutes maybe), instant offerings and your house smells divine!