Easy Peasy Smokin’ Cheezee Squares & Stars
Here’s my quick to prepare savoury snack – Easy Peasy Smokin’ Cheezee Squares! Not quite pastry, not quite a cracker, these cheesy snacks are great for entertaining, gifting or nibbling on movie night. Make squares, stars, circle shapes, anything you like!
Equipment
- Scales or measuring cups
- Measuring Spoons
- Grater
- Knife
- Small cookie or pastry cutter (2½ - 3¾cm or 1 - 1½" diameter Square, Round, Star cutter - optional)
- Food Processor
- Baking/parchment paper
- Spray Oil or bottled (optional)
- 2 Large baking trays/sheets
- Cooling rack
- Wooden Cocktail stick or BBQ Skewer x 2
- Timer or Phone Timer
Ingredients
- 226 grams Scottish Extra Mature Cheese (2¼ cup, 8 oz, Extra Sharp Cheddar or any mature/sharp hard cheese.)
- 58 grams Butter, unsalted (½ stick, 2 oz, cubed. If using salted, omit salt)
- 126 grams Plain Flour (4½ oz, or 1 cup All Purpose flour)
- ½ tsp Salt (omit if using Salted butter)
- 1 tsp Smoked Paprika, non spicy (or Mustard Powder)
- ½ tsp Garlic Powder (or Onion Powder/flakes)
- 3 tbsp Cold Water (45ml, 1½ fl oz, approx. You may need more)
Instructions
Prepare The Dough
- Cube the butter & leave out a little to take the cold edge off. It doesn’t need to be soft. Meanwhile gather the ingredients.
- Grate/shred the cheese & place all ingredients but the water into a food processor. Pulse until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.
- Add in the cold water & pulse again until all combined. You can watch this process in the video below. The mixture suddenly comes together in a ball, cleaning the sides of the bowl as it does. You might need a little more water to get to this stage, but add in very small drops.
- Tip the dough onto baking/parchment paper or cling film/plastic wrap & form into a disc or square/rectangular shape. Wrap in paper or cling film/plastic wrap & put in the fridge for 1 hour.
Shape The Cheese Squares
- Prepare your baking sheets/tray(s) by lightly greasing them & placing baking/parchment paper on top.
- Heat up the oven to 170°c/150°c Fan Oven/325°f/Gas Mark 3.
- Roll out the dough to a thickness all-around of about ¼" or 6mm on lightly floured baking/parchment paper. If you are able to roll out into a square or rectangular shape, this will make cutting into squares with a knife easier. (You can trim to a rectangular shape). Alternatively, if using a cookie or pastry cutter, roll any shape.
- For the squares cut by hand, cut vertical strips, leaving a 1"/2½cm gap in-between. Then turn the baking/parchment paper so you can cut lines in the opposite direction to make 1"/2½cm wide squares. Transfer the squares of dough on to the prepared baking tray/sheets(s) & leave a little space in-between them. Roll out the excess dough and cut more squares.
- If using a cookie or pastry cutter, dip in some flour & cut out as many shapes as you can. Then re-roll the excess dough & cut out till all the dough is used.
- Use a BBQ skewer to make 2 or 3 holes in the centre of each square, going down about half way. Place the prepared cheese squares/shapes in the fridge until the oven is ready.
Bake The Cheesy Squares & Stars
- Bake in the oven for about 8 – 10 minutes, turning sheets/trays during baking to ensure an even bake. They will be puffed up & when you are able to move them slightly, when gently pushed, take them out.
- They will still be a little soft, so leave on the baking sheet/tray for at least 5 minutes, before transferring to a cooling rack, paper and all.
Serving & Storage
- Eat when you can’t wait any longer. Great to nibble with your favourite savoury snacks, you don't even need dip! Store in a tin or airtight container, where they will last at least 4 days.
Video
Notes
Smoked Paprika - alternative is Mustard Powder
Butter - if using Salted butter, omit the added salt.
Sizes of the cutters - cookie & fondant cutters were used for the new pics. The stars were about 2½ cm/1″ wide, and thesquares and circles nearer to 3¾ cm/1½".
For the spicy version, make as above, but add the following to the dry ingredients:
Make Ahead - You can prepare the dough & place in fridge overnight. Or cut out the cheesy squares & chill up to 2 days before baking. Just be sure to remove from the fridge, 10 minutes before baking.
More details can be found before this Recipe Card.
Try some popular Easy Cheese Swirl Pastries
Other Christmas, New Year & Party Foods
For the spicy version, make as above, but add the following to the dry ingredients:
- Swap 1 tsp Smoked Paprika with 1 tsp Hot Smoked Paprika (spicy)
- 2 tsp Oregano (rounded/heaped)
- 1 tsp Cumin OR knead in 2 tsp dried Rosemary to final dough
Make Ahead - You can prepare the dough & place in fridge overnight. Or cut out the cheesy squares & chill up to 2 days before baking. Just be sure to remove from the fridge, 10 minutes before baking.
More details can be found before this Recipe Card.
Try some popular Easy Cheese Swirl Pastries
Other Christmas, New Year & Party Foods