Attend any wedding, any reception, any event at all of any magnitude in the South and you'll be sure to find a platter of crunchy cheese straws on the table. Their presence is a sure sign that you're welcome at the table. Do you have memories of this buffet staple?
Cheese straws are deceptive in their simplicity. Basically a mix of flour, butter, and cheese, they puff up in the oven and become crispy wands of cheese-scented goodness. Irresistible.
We love mixing up the cheese used in the recipe. Smoky gouda is perfect for an afternoon barbecue. Parmesan for a classy dinner party. Cheddar is always a winner for brunches and pot lucks.
Whether you're in the South or not, cheese straws make a fantastic party appetizer:
• Edna Lewis' Old-Fashioned Cheese Straws from The Kitchn
• Puff Pastry Cheese Straws from The Kitchn
• Parmesan Straws from Martha Stewart
• Classic Cheese Straws from The Splendid Table
• Cayenne-Spiced Cheese Straws from Epicurious
What's your favorite kind of cheese straw?
Related: Southern Tradition: Sip 'n' See
(Image: Martha Stewart)
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I can't wait to try a couple of these recipes!
I adore cheese straws and yes, every good southern mama has a recipe for them, but I don't recall ever seeing them at weddings or any party come to think of it. Never heard of that before. They should be though!
I'll second everything jmorri26 said...and add that I don't think the puffed pastry kind are anywhere near the same thing. Yummy? Yes. Cheese straws? No.
I've never seen cheese straws at gatherings anywhere. We did have cheese cookies though at a wedding I recently attended, but they didn't seem to go over well...unlike the pimento cheese stuffed cherry tomatoes which were gobbled up within minutes.
I remember these in my grandmother's house, but nowhere else. It may either be an old southern tradition or one not native to southwest Arkansas.
Not a tradition in Texas, either. Never even heard of them! But they look super tasty.
Definitely a HUGE thing in Kentucky. If you set up a bar for a party, there's always a cut glass container or a julep cup full of these to munch on while you're pouring yourself some bourbon or wine. However, in central KY, it's more common to have wafers or biscuits (same ingredients in recipe) instead of straws, which I've seen more in the Carolinas, Georgia, Mississippi....
I love those puff pastry ones - what my mom's Texas friends would make when I was growing up. Here in Alabama, though, they're more the chalky cookie/biscuit model...still cheesy though, and often with a pinch of chili powder...mmm!