I have never bought good cheese straws from the store, so for many years I have been making them at home. This recipe has passed through my kitchen many times. It’s not complicated, the ingredients are simple, and the dough turns out tender and slightly crispy every time. It’s the kind of snack that disappears quickly, especially when we have guests or on a long journey.
Quick Info
Total time: 2 hours (including rising and baking)
Servings: about 2 large trays (approx. 80-100 cheese straws, depending on size)
Difficulty: medium, mainly during the kneading process
Ingredients
200 g cheese (grated finely)
200 g butter at room temperature
200 g lard (preferably pork, for tenderness)
1 whole egg
1 yolk
200 g sour cream (fatty, 20-30%)
100 ml lukewarm milk
1 cube fresh yeast (25 g)
2-3 teaspoons salt (to taste)
approx. 1 kg white flour (as needed for the dough)
For decoration:
1 egg white
1 pinch of salt
caraway seeds (or sesame, according to preference)
Preparation method
1. Grate the cheese finely and place it in a large bowl.
2. Add the whole egg, yolk, sour cream, and salt. Mix quickly with a spoon to distribute the wet ingredients well.
3. Dissolve the yeast in the lukewarm milk. Pour the mixture into the bowl.
4. Add the lard, cut into larger spoonfuls.
5. If you have a bread machine with a kneading function, transfer the mixture to its bowl. If not, work everything directly in the bowl.
6. Add the soft butter in several places over the mixture.
7. Start adding the flour: first, add half of the amount and start kneading (by hand or machine). After a few minutes, gradually add the remaining flour until the dough reaches the right consistency: elastic, non-sticky, but not too hard. Do not add all the flour at once – you may not need the full 1 kg.
8. If using a bread machine, let it knead twice for 15 minutes each. If kneading by hand, take your time to work it well, about 20 minutes, until the dough is uniform and shiny.
9. Place the dough in a large bowl, cover with a clean towel, and let it rise for 30-40 minutes in a warm place (do not rush the rising by placing it at too high a temperature, otherwise it won’t turn out tender).
10. Remove the dough onto a work surface. You don’t need flour for rolling, as the dough is greasy and doesn’t stick.
11. Divide it into 4 equal parts.
12. Take each piece in turn, roll it out with a rolling pin until you get a sheet about 5 mm thick.
13. Cut with a knife or pizza cutter into strips about the width of a finger. If you want jagged edges, use a special wheel.
14. Place the strips in a tray lined with baking paper.
15. Whip the egg white with a pinch of salt and brush each cheese straw.
16. Sprinkle caraway seeds (or sesame) on top.
17. Place the tray in the preheated oven at 200°C, on the middle rack. Bake for 10-15 minutes, until they turn slightly golden.
18. Remove the cheese straws onto a rack or paper, so they don’t get soggy at the bottom.
19. Repeat with the remaining dough.
Why I make this recipe often
The dough with lard and cheese stays tender for a long time. The cheese straws do not harden overnight and last for several good days. They are useful for parties, picnics, or packed lunches. They can also be made in advance, and the ingredients are simple; I almost always have them at home.
Tips
The dough does not need flour on the table – it is greasy enough.
For a crispier result, roll the sheet thinner and bake at a high temperature.
If you want to keep them more tender, do not bake them too hard, just until they turn golden.
Do not let the dough rise too quickly or at very high temperatures, so it doesn’t lose its tender texture.
Substitutions
Lard can be replaced with butter, but the texture will be slightly different (less tender).
You can use grated parmesan or another hard cheese if you don’t have regular cheese.
For decoration, you can sprinkle sesame or poppy seeds if you don’t like caraway.
Sour cream can be replaced with Greek yogurt, but the taste will be slightly tangier.
Variations
You can add a pinch of sweet or hot paprika to the dough for color.
If you like a saltier taste, sprinkle a little coarse salt on top before baking.
For a cheesy version, replace part of the cheese with crumbled feta (not soft or watery).
They can also be cut into round or rectangular shapes if you want a different look.
Serving ideas
They are good on their own as a snack for a movie or with coffee.
You can place them on appetizer platters alongside salami, cheese, olives, and deviled eggs.
They make a great snack for travel or picnics, they don’t crumble easily and don’t dry out quickly.
Frequently asked questions
Can the dough be frozen?
Yes, the raw dough can be well wrapped and frozen for up to 2-3 weeks. When thawing, let it come to room temperature before rolling it out.
Can I use dry yeast?
Dry yeast works too – use 7-8 g, mixed directly into the flour. However, I’ve noticed that fresh yeast gives a finer texture for this type of dough.
Can the cheese straws be baked in advance?
Yes, they stay good for 3-4 days at room temperature in a closed container. If you want to make them a few days before an event, do not bake them too hard.
Is it necessary to use lard?
Lard provides tenderness. If you use only butter, they will be a bit harder, but still good. I wouldn’t recommend margarine, as it changes the flavor and doesn’t provide the same texture.
Why doesn’t the dough rise much while proofing?
It’s normal – being greasy, with a lot of butter and lard, the dough will not rise like bread. It just needs to become a little more aerated; it won’t puff up spectacularly.
Nutritional values (estimated, for 1 cheese straw from 100 g baked dough)
Calories: 80-90 kcal
Proteins: 2 g
Carbohydrates: 7 g
Fats: 6 g
The cheese and lard increase the fat content, but you don’t eat many at once. They are a dense snack, not dietetic.
Storage and reheating
After they have cooled completely, place the cheese straws in an airtight container or a paper bag. They last well for 3-4 days at room temperature. If you want to reheat them, put them in the preheated oven at 160°C for 3-4 minutes – they become crispy again. I do not recommend the microwave, as they will get soft.
Quick Info
Total time: 2 hours (including rising and baking)
Servings: about 2 large trays (approx. 80-100 cheese straws, depending on size)
Difficulty: medium, mainly during the kneading process
Ingredients
200 g cheese (grated finely)
200 g butter at room temperature
200 g lard (preferably pork, for tenderness)
1 whole egg
1 yolk
200 g sour cream (fatty, 20-30%)
100 ml lukewarm milk
1 cube fresh yeast (25 g)
2-3 teaspoons salt (to taste)
approx. 1 kg white flour (as needed for the dough)
For decoration:
1 egg white
1 pinch of salt
caraway seeds (or sesame, according to preference)
Preparation method
1. Grate the cheese finely and place it in a large bowl.
2. Add the whole egg, yolk, sour cream, and salt. Mix quickly with a spoon to distribute the wet ingredients well.
3. Dissolve the yeast in the lukewarm milk. Pour the mixture into the bowl.
4. Add the lard, cut into larger spoonfuls.
5. If you have a bread machine with a kneading function, transfer the mixture to its bowl. If not, work everything directly in the bowl.
6. Add the soft butter in several places over the mixture.
7. Start adding the flour: first, add half of the amount and start kneading (by hand or machine). After a few minutes, gradually add the remaining flour until the dough reaches the right consistency: elastic, non-sticky, but not too hard. Do not add all the flour at once – you may not need the full 1 kg.
8. If using a bread machine, let it knead twice for 15 minutes each. If kneading by hand, take your time to work it well, about 20 minutes, until the dough is uniform and shiny.
9. Place the dough in a large bowl, cover with a clean towel, and let it rise for 30-40 minutes in a warm place (do not rush the rising by placing it at too high a temperature, otherwise it won’t turn out tender).
10. Remove the dough onto a work surface. You don’t need flour for rolling, as the dough is greasy and doesn’t stick.
11. Divide it into 4 equal parts.
12. Take each piece in turn, roll it out with a rolling pin until you get a sheet about 5 mm thick.
13. Cut with a knife or pizza cutter into strips about the width of a finger. If you want jagged edges, use a special wheel.
14. Place the strips in a tray lined with baking paper.
15. Whip the egg white with a pinch of salt and brush each cheese straw.
16. Sprinkle caraway seeds (or sesame) on top.
17. Place the tray in the preheated oven at 200°C, on the middle rack. Bake for 10-15 minutes, until they turn slightly golden.
18. Remove the cheese straws onto a rack or paper, so they don’t get soggy at the bottom.
19. Repeat with the remaining dough.
Why I make this recipe often
The dough with lard and cheese stays tender for a long time. The cheese straws do not harden overnight and last for several good days. They are useful for parties, picnics, or packed lunches. They can also be made in advance, and the ingredients are simple; I almost always have them at home.
Tips
The dough does not need flour on the table – it is greasy enough.
For a crispier result, roll the sheet thinner and bake at a high temperature.
If you want to keep them more tender, do not bake them too hard, just until they turn golden.
Do not let the dough rise too quickly or at very high temperatures, so it doesn’t lose its tender texture.
Substitutions
Lard can be replaced with butter, but the texture will be slightly different (less tender).
You can use grated parmesan or another hard cheese if you don’t have regular cheese.
For decoration, you can sprinkle sesame or poppy seeds if you don’t like caraway.
Sour cream can be replaced with Greek yogurt, but the taste will be slightly tangier.
Variations
You can add a pinch of sweet or hot paprika to the dough for color.
If you like a saltier taste, sprinkle a little coarse salt on top before baking.
For a cheesy version, replace part of the cheese with crumbled feta (not soft or watery).
They can also be cut into round or rectangular shapes if you want a different look.
Serving ideas
They are good on their own as a snack for a movie or with coffee.
You can place them on appetizer platters alongside salami, cheese, olives, and deviled eggs.
They make a great snack for travel or picnics, they don’t crumble easily and don’t dry out quickly.
Frequently asked questions
Can the dough be frozen?
Yes, the raw dough can be well wrapped and frozen for up to 2-3 weeks. When thawing, let it come to room temperature before rolling it out.
Can I use dry yeast?
Dry yeast works too – use 7-8 g, mixed directly into the flour. However, I’ve noticed that fresh yeast gives a finer texture for this type of dough.
Can the cheese straws be baked in advance?
Yes, they stay good for 3-4 days at room temperature in a closed container. If you want to make them a few days before an event, do not bake them too hard.
Is it necessary to use lard?
Lard provides tenderness. If you use only butter, they will be a bit harder, but still good. I wouldn’t recommend margarine, as it changes the flavor and doesn’t provide the same texture.
Why doesn’t the dough rise much while proofing?
It’s normal – being greasy, with a lot of butter and lard, the dough will not rise like bread. It just needs to become a little more aerated; it won’t puff up spectacularly.
Nutritional values (estimated, for 1 cheese straw from 100 g baked dough)
Calories: 80-90 kcal
Proteins: 2 g
Carbohydrates: 7 g
Fats: 6 g
The cheese and lard increase the fat content, but you don’t eat many at once. They are a dense snack, not dietetic.
Storage and reheating
After they have cooled completely, place the cheese straws in an airtight container or a paper bag. They last well for 3-4 days at room temperature. If you want to reheat them, put them in the preheated oven at 160°C for 3-4 minutes – they become crispy again. I do not recommend the microwave, as they will get soft.