Cheese Straws
Cheese straws are crisp, buttery pastry sticks made with mature Cheddar, plain flour and a hint of mustard. Your TM7 grates the cheese finely, blends the dough evenly and kneads it to the ideal consistency. These golden twists are the classic savoury accompaniment for drinks, parties or a warming soup lunch.
About this recipe
Cheese straws Thermomix TM7 recipes bring back the golden age of British teatime baking with a modern, hands-off twist. These crisp, buttery sticks of cheesy pastry are made in minutes thanks to your all-in-one kitchen machine, which grates mature Cheddar to a fine crumb, rubs the cold butter evenly into the plain flour and kneads the dough gently until it is smooth enough to roll. Garlic powder and mustard powder deepen the savoury flavour, while a brush of egg and a scattering of nigella seeds give the finished straws a professional, bakery-style finish. Cheese straws are the ultimate quick party snack: serve them with an aperitif, pack them into a lunchbox, or rest them alongside a bowl of soup for an easy weekend lunch. Because the TM7 handles the grating, mixing and kneading in a single bowl, you get consistent, lacy, melt-in-the-mouth straws every single batch without sticky fingers or a floury worktop.
Preparation tips
- Tip 1: Use mature or extra-mature Cheddar for the deepest flavour; the TM7 grates it so finely that it melts seamlessly into the buttery dough, giving every straw an intense, savoury character.
- Tip 2: Chill the kneaded cheese dough for at least half an hour before rolling. Cold dough keeps the butter firm, so the straws bake into crisp, layered sticks rather than spreading flat on the tray.
- Tip 3: For a child-friendly version, simply omit the mustard powder and nigella seeds. Younger palates love the plain cheesy flavour, and children enjoy twisting the strips into fun spiral shapes before baking.
Recipe variations
- Variation 1: Make a lactose-free version by replacing the butter with a plant-based block butter and choosing a mature lactose-free Cheddar. The TM7 blends both into the flour just as evenly, and the straws stay crisp and golden.
- Variation 2: For a festive twist, add a pinch of smoked paprika to the dough and sprinkle the twisted straws with grated Parmesan and nigella seeds before baking, creating an elegant aperitif bite for Christmas drinks parties.
Thermomix TM7 Benefits
- Grating precision - The TM7 grates mature Cheddar into a fine, even crumb that melts quickly into the buttery dough. [Grating]. [Precision Control]
- Even blending - Mixing butter into the plain flour uniformly gives the cheese straw dough a consistent, flaky texture. [Mixing]. [Multi-Function]
- Gentle kneading - The Thermomix kneads the pastry briefly until smooth without overworking the gluten in the flour. [Kneading]. [Multi-Function]
- Built-in accuracy - Weigh the flour and grated Cheddar directly in the mixing bowl for perfectly balanced cheese straws. [Weighing]. [Built-in Scale]
- Fresh grinding - Grind whole mustard seeds with the TM7 for a fresher, sharper seasoning than pre-ground mustard powder. [Grinding]. [Multi-Function]
Ingredients
- Cheddar cheese
- plain flour
- unsalted butter
- garlic powder
- mustard powder
- fine sea salt
- medium egg
- nigella seeds (optional)