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    Home » APPETIZERS + SNACKS

    Puff Pastry Cheese Straws

    Modified: May 4, 2025 by Susan Pridmore · This post may contain affiliate links · 22 Comments

    Four ingredients transform into long, crisp, cheesy puffed sticks. This hand-held appetizer is perfect for easy mingling at parties, and is always a hit.

    For a party, make these cheese straws up to the baking step, cover and chill. When you're ready to serve them, just heat up the oven and bake them off.

    Jump to Recipe
    Puff pastry cheese straws in a ceramic bowl.

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    Want to make this recipe perfectly the first time? I want to help with that. So, check out this Table of Contents to see which sections of this post will help you the most.

    Jump to:
    • ❤️ Why you'll love this cheese straws recipe
    • 🧅 Ingredients + Notes
    • 🔪 Recommended Equipment
    • 👩‍🍳 Preparation Tips
    • 📇 More Puff Pastry Appetizers
    • Puff Pastry Spicy Cheese Straws (Recipe)

    Hand-held party appetizers are always a great thing to have in your back pocket. I like to have roasted chickpeas, an assortment of olives, cheese and crackers laid out. When guests first arrive, they want to visit with others who've arrived, and no one wants to bother with an appetizer that needs a plate and a fork.

    These classic cheese straws made with easy puff pastry and cheese fit the bill. What makes this puff pastry easy? This recipe uses frozen puff pastry.

    ❤️ Why you'll love this cheese straws recipe

    • Everyone will LOVE them.
    • They're the perfect hand-held appetizer while everyone mingles with a cocktail.
    • Put them all together, arrange on a baking sheet, and bake off just before guests arrive.

    🧅 Ingredients + Notes

    • Frozen puff pastry - Dufours is the best IMO, but Pepperidge Farm is fine, and it's vegan.
    • Cheddar cheese
    • Parmesan cheese
    • Cayenne pepper

    Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links to products and foods I use in my kitchen. This means that at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. To view my entire storefront of recommended kitchen tools and equipment, check out my shop on Amazon.

    Cheese straws made of puff pastry ready to bake, with a pastry cutter in the background.
    Check out the pastry wheel in the background that I use. It makes cutting the puff pastry super quick.

    🔪 Recommended Equipment

    • Rolling pin
    • Baking sheet
    • Parchment paper
    • Pastry wheel or pizza cutter

    👩‍🍳 Preparation Tips

    • Chilling the dough before baking helps them to hold their shape.
    • When twisting the puff pastry, it's inevitable that the dough will stretch a bit, but try not to stretch it very much.
    Freshly baked cheese straws made with puff pastry, on a cooling rack.
    Puff pastry cheese straws fresh from the oven.

    📇 More Puff Pastry Appetizers

    Delicata Squash and Apple Galette

    5-Ingredient Onion Tart with Mushrooms

    Easy Summer Tomato Tart with Artichoke Spread

    Caramelized Onion and Feta Tartlets

    Fig, Ricotta and Honey Tart

    Want to Save This Recipe?

    Enter your email & I'll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!

    Save Recipe
    Puff pastry cheese straws in a ceramic bowl.
    4.50 from 4 votes

    Puff Pastry Spicy Cheese Straws (Recipe)

    Easy, delicious, cheesy cheese straws made with store-bought puff pastry. The prep time includes chilling the twists in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
    Print Recipe Save Saved! Pin Recipe Add to Recipe Collection Go to Collections Add to Shopping ListGo to Shopping List
    Prep Time30 minutes mins
    Cook Time15 minutes mins
    Chilling time30 minutes mins
    Total Time1 hour hr 15 minutes mins
    Course: Appetizer
    Cuisine: Any
    Keyword: cheese straws, spicy cheese straws
    Servings: 16 cheese straws
    Calories: 102kcal
    Author: Susan Pridmore
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    Equipment

    • rolling pin
    • a sturdy baking sheet
    • Parchment paper
    • Pastry wheel

    Ingredients

    • 1 sheet frozen puff pastry thawed
    • All-purpose flour for dusting
    • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
    • ¼ cup finely grated sharp cheddar cheese
    • 2 tablespoon finely grated Parmesan cheese
    • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
    • ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 375˚F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Thaw the frozen puff pastry.
    • On a lightly floured work surface, roll the thawed pastry dough sheet into a 12-inch square. Using a pastry brush, brush half of the oil over its top surface.
    • Sprinkle half of both cheeses, and half of both the salt and cayenne over half of the pastry sheet. Fold the other half of the pastry sheet over the part covered in cheese.
      Roll the dough again 10 – 12 times, keeping a neat rectangular shape.
    • Brush the pastry sheet with the remaining oil, and sprinkle the remaining cheese, salt and cayenne evenly over the surface. Lightly flour your fingers, and firmly press the cheese into the dough.
    • Using either a pastry wheel or pizza cutter, slice the dough into ½-inch strips. Carefully twist into spirals, being careful not to stretch the dough, and arrange on the prepared baking sheet. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
    • Bake for 15 minutes, rotating the baking sheet halfway through, or until they turn a golden brown.
    • Carefully move the twists to a wire rack to cool. Serve warm or at room temperature. These are best eaten the day you make them, as they lose their crispness overnight.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 102kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 1.7g | Fat: 7.5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.9g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4.1g | Cholesterol: 2.3mg | Sodium: 78.8mg | Potassium: 12.2mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 0.1g | Vitamin A: 29.8IU | Vitamin C: 0.01mg | Calcium: 19.6mg | Iron: 0.4mg
    « Jalapeño Mac 'n Cheese Bites
    Instant Pot Curried Lentil Soup »

    About Susan Pridmore

    Susan Pridmore is an award-winning cookbook author and the owner of The Wimpy Vegetarian. She has been featured in Huffington Post, Healthline, BuzzFeed, and has written for and developed recipes for The Food Network and Parade Magazine. She is professionally trained and focuses on easy vegetarian recipes for busy lives, bread-baking, and tips for new vegetarians. Susan lives in the mountains in Lake Tahoe with her husband and mini-labradoodle.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Renee

      June 07, 2015 at 3:04 am

      That jar of cheese twists would call out to me and I'd be grabbing one every time I walked by. Yum!

      Reply
      • The Wimpy Vegetarian

        June 07, 2015 at 3:40 pm

        They were disappearing too fast before a party a couple of weeks ago, and I ended up having to hide them (including from myself)!

        Reply
    2. Shelby

      June 07, 2015 at 4:01 am

      These would be a perfect addition to the table making your meal even more special! They look delicious.

      Reply
      • The Wimpy Vegetarian

        June 07, 2015 at 3:41 pm

        Thanks so much Shelby!

        Reply
    3. Amy Kim (@kimchi_mom)

      June 07, 2015 at 7:51 am

      5 stars
      This would pair nicely with a charcuterie board! Love it!

      Reply
      • The Wimpy Vegetarian

        June 07, 2015 at 3:41 pm

        It would be perfect with a charcuterie board, Amy !!!

        Reply
    4. Dorothy ShockinglyDelicious

      June 07, 2015 at 8:08 am

      I am nibbling one of my cheese crispies AND yet I still want YOUR cheese twists! Is it possible to overdose on cheese? I think not.

      Reply
      • The Wimpy Vegetarian

        June 07, 2015 at 3:42 pm

        It is a known fact that one cannot overdose on cheese! And this is why I'm making your cheese crispies next 🙂

        Reply
    5. Jennifer @ Peanut Butter and Peppers

      June 07, 2015 at 9:34 am

      Your bread sticks look out of this world! I love them and your presentation is beautiful!

      Reply
      • The Wimpy Vegetarian

        June 07, 2015 at 3:43 pm

        Thanks so much Jennifer!!

        Reply
    6. Liz

      June 07, 2015 at 11:40 am

      A MUST make for my next gathering! I know these would disappear in a flash---so irresistible!

      Reply
      • The Wimpy Vegetarian

        June 07, 2015 at 3:43 pm

        Be careful - they have a habit of disappearing before the party starts 🙂

        Reply
    7. Alida

      June 07, 2015 at 3:21 pm

      These cheese twists are so fun! I see them making a regular appearance at our dinner table.

      Reply
      • The Wimpy Vegetarian

        June 07, 2015 at 3:44 pm

        Thanks so much Alida!!

        Reply
    8. Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips

      June 07, 2015 at 6:57 pm

      So perfect for munching at a party!

      Reply
    9. Constance Smith

      June 07, 2015 at 7:42 pm

      5 stars
      I absolutely love these!

      Reply
    10. Marion@LifeTastesGood

      June 08, 2015 at 7:38 am

      So fun! I know my hubs would absolutely devour these 🙂

      Reply
    11. Serena | Serena Bakes Simply From Scratch

      June 08, 2015 at 10:26 am

      These will be a family favorite!

      Reply
    12. Katie

      June 09, 2015 at 7:44 am

      Twisty, crunchy goodness! I really could gobble up an entire batch of these...

      Reply
    13. Liz @ The Lemon Bowl

      June 10, 2015 at 6:15 pm

      I would love to nibble on these right now!!

      Reply
    14. Jennie @onesweetmess

      June 11, 2015 at 5:42 am

      I seriously want to snack on these all the live-long day.

      Reply
    15. Bobbi from Bobbi's Kozy Kitchen

      June 12, 2015 at 6:31 am

      Ohhhh I would soooo crunch and munch my way through the entire batch!!

      Reply
    4.50 from 4 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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