Gluten-Free Cheese Straws

Southern cheese straws are the appetizer that vanishes first at every party — crisp, buttery batons packed with sharp cheddar and a whisper of cayenne. A gluten-free blend actually makes them extra short and snappy.

Yield: About 40 straws · Time: 45 min

Ingredients

• 8 oz (225 g) extra-sharp cheddar, finely grated, room temperature
• 1/2 cup (115 g) butter, softened
• 1 1/4 cups (175 g) gluten-free all-purpose flour blend with xanthan gum
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4–1/2 tsp cayenne
• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
• 1–2 tbsp cold water if needed

Directions

1. Beat the cheese and butter together until creamy.
2. Mix in the flour blend, salt, cayenne, and paprika until a stiff dough forms, adding water by the teaspoon only if it won’t come together.
3. Press through a cookie press with a star disk, or roll and cut into 1/2-inch strips.
4. Bake at 350°F (175°C) on lined sheets for 14–16 minutes until golden at the edges.
5. Cool completely — they crisp as they sit.

Pro tip: Grate the cheese yourself; pre-shredded bags are coated with starches that dull both flavor and snap.

Gluten-Free Notes

A quick label-reading reminder: scan ingredient lists for wheat, barley, rye, and malt, and look for a gluten-free claim on anything processed. When a label is unclear, the manufacturer’s website usually settles it.

This post contains an Amazon affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate, glutenfreefarina.com/ may earn from qualifying purchases.

Browse more in Appetizers & Snacks, or explore our gluten-free breakfast recipe database and hot cereal guide.