Cheddar Witches’ Fingers (Spooky Cheese Straws)

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These cheddar witches’ fingers are savory sharp cheddar cheese straws made spooky thanks to clever shaping and the addition of black (food coloring-painted) almonds. Halloween just got tastier.

halloween cheese straws | cooklikeachampion.com

I’ve seen several recipes floating around for sweet witch fingers. While I love cookies, I’m always in need of more savory treats. That’s one reason I especially love these cheese straws. If you’re looking for a quick and tasty Halloween treat, then you definitely need to make these cheddar witches’ fingers!

Halloween is one of  my favorite holidays. I would make Halloween treats all month if I could, but there’s no way Eric and I could eat all those goodies. I couldn’t let Halloween pass without making these, though, because they’re so much fun to make. Plus, they taste absolutely delicious and add spooky flair to any party.

The extra sharp cheddar makes these cheddar witches’ fingers intensely cheesy, and they bake up nice and crispy. The coarse salt adds a nice crunch on top. I like my cheese straws a little spicy, so I adapted the recipe to include cayenne pepper. If you don’t want the heat, simply leave it out. They’ll still taste fabulous without it. I also adapted the recipe to include wetting the dough before pressing the almonds on. Many of them fell off after baking without this step. I painted the almonds with food coloring to give them a spookier appearance, and I love the way the black nails look against the orange fingers.

Looking for more spooky treats? These candy apples are made for Halloween.

cheddar witches' fingers | cooklikeachampion.com

  • COOK TIME:
  • YIELD: about 30 "fingers"
Ingredients
  • 5 tablespoons unsalted butter

  • 4 ounces (1 cup packed) shredded, extra sharp cheddar cheese

  • ¾ cup all-purpose flour

  • 2 tablespoons cornmeal

  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional

  • 1 large egg

  • Coarse salt

  • 30 sliced almonds

  • Black food coloring gel, optional

Directions
  • 1

    Combine butter, cheese, flour, cornmeal and cayenne (if using) in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until mixture has the texture of wet sand. Transfer to a bowl. Using a fork, mix in egg until dough holds together. Turn out onto a sheet of parchment paper about 12 inches long. Top with another sheet of parchment and press dough into a ½-inch thick circle.

    Freeze for 15 minutes or refrigerate up to 3 days. Remove dough from freezer and roll into a rectangle about 8 inches wide and 10 inches long. Return to freezer for an additional 15 minutes.

  • 2

    Meanwhile, if desired, paint almonds. Mix a tiny amount of food coloring with a tiny bit of water. Using a small paintbrush, paint color onto almonds and set aside. Remove dough from freezer and preheat oven to 350º. Peel off top sheet of parchment. Using a sharp knife or pizza cutter, cut the dough into two 8×5-inch sections. Then cut into about 30 ½-inch wide strips. Place strips on an ungreased cookie sheet.  Sprinkle with coarse salt, to taste.

  • 3

    Use your fingers to shape each strip, rounding the ends and bending in various directions to create a knobby shape. Using a sharp knife, score “knuckles” onto each “finger.” Lightly dab one edge of each finger with water, then gently press the almonds into the dough. Bake for about 15 minutes, until the fingers are golden and crisp. Transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.

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COMMENTS: ( 11 )

11 responses to “Cheddar Witches’ Fingers (Spooky Cheese Straws)”

  1. Star says:

    I love those fingers! I like the black nails.

  2. coolblogger says:

    U r truly a champion. Love the cheese fingers. My kids would love this.

  3. The Cooking Photographer says:

    Super cute!

  4. lostpastremembered says:

    Lovely fingers! I had to laugh when I read about repost. It's amazing how much better we can get at shooting in a year or so… the pics are great!

  5. briarrose says:

    These look wonderful. Great job.

  6. Hanadi says:

    I’d love to make these this Halloween for a party. Do you know if I can freeze the dough a few days beforehand and defrost them the day I mold and bake them?

    • Courtney says:

      I haven’t tried it, but it seems like it would freeze well. Good luck, and please let me know how it turns out if you try!

  7. Pam Lawrence says:

    Hi, the directions say the strips should be 1/2 inches but I’m thinking it should read 1/3. Is that right? My daughter has a huge Halloween party every year and these would be perfect for the buffet table. I like it because they are not sweet. How far in advance can I make them and how do I store them? Thanks 🙂

    • Courtney says:

      No, 1/2 inch is correct. I’ve made these several times and always cut them about that width. I’ve only ever kept mine for a few days in an airtight container (once totally cooled). You could always make the dough a few days in advance, then freeze or refrigerate it until ready to cut and bake. I frequently do that with pie dough.

  8. Pam Lawrence says:

    Thanks, Courtney. They look so good that I’m anxious to give them a try.

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