Cheddar Cheese Pecan Crisps Food

CHEDDAR-PECAN CRISPS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and cheese until light and fluffy. In another bowl, whisk flour, salt, garlic powder and cayenne; gradually beat into creamed mixture. Stir in pecans., Shape into eight 10-in. long logs. Wrap in plastic. Refrigerate 2 hours or until firm., Preheat oven to 350°. Unwrap and cut dough crosswise into 1/4-in. slices. Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake until edges are crisp and lightly browned, 12-14 minutes. Cool on pans 1 minute. Remove to wire racks to cool. Refrigerate in airtight containers. Freeze option: Place wrapped logs in resealable plastic freezer bags; place in freezer. To use, unwrap frozen logs and cut into slices. If necessary, let dough stand 15 minutes at room temperature before cutting. Bake as directed, increasing time by 1-2 minutes.

CHEDDAR CHEESE & PECAN CRISPS

Steps:

• Put the flour, baking powder, salt, and cayenne in a food processor. Whiz for a second to blend. Dump in the butter and whiz again until the butter is in small (pea-size) pieces. Add the cheeses, whiz, and finally add the egg and pulse until the mixture just starts to come together.
• Dump out on a work surface. Sprinkle the nuts onto the pile of dough. Knead by lightly smearing the ingredients together by pushing them away from you with the heel of your hand (this is called fraisage). Shape the dough into a flat disk, wrap in plastic, and chill for an hour or two to let the butter firm up. You can keep the dough in the fridge for 2 days or freeze for a few months (if frozen, thaw in the refrigerator overnight before use).
• Heat the oven to 400°F. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough until it's about 1/4 inch thick. Stamp out shapes or cut shapes with a knife. Put the shapes on an ungreased baking sheet. Reroll the scraps and stamp again.
• Brush with the glaze and sprinkle with more salt. Bake in the hot oven until golden brown and thoroughly cooked inside, about 14 minutes. To test, break one in half and look; if the center is still light and doughy, bake for a few more minutes. Cool on a rack and store only when completely cool.

CHEDDAR PECAN CRISPS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Beat together butter and Cheddar in a bowl with an electric mixer until smooth, then beat in remaining ingredients.
• Roll rounded teaspoons of dough into balls and arrange 3 inches apart on buttered baking sheets. Flatten each ball into a 1 1/2-inch disk and bake in batches in middle of oven until golden, 15 to 18 minutes.

HOMEMADE CHEDDAR AND PECAN CRISPS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Coarsely grate the cheddar cheese, and transfer it to the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Cut the two sticks of butter into sixteen pieces, and scatter the pieces over the cheese. Let the cheese and butter soften. Place the pecans in one layer on a baking sheet, and toast them in the oven until they are a shade darker and fragrant, 7 to 8 minutes. While the nuts are still warm, transfer them to a medium bowl and toss with the remaining tablespoon of butter (the hot nuts will melt the butter) and salt to taste. Cool the nuts completely, then finely chop.
• Add the chopped pecans, flour, a pinch of salt, cayenne, and black pepper to the bowl of the mixer, and beat the ingredients at medium speed until the mixture pulls together into a dough, about 2 minutes.
• Divide the dough into eight pieces. On a sheet of waxed paper, roll each piece of the dough into a log 1 inch in diameter, and wrap the logs tightly in waxed paper and foil. Chill the logs for at least 8 hours and up to 1 week. The dough will keep frozen for 2 months.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Working with one log at a time, cut the log crosswise into 1/8-inch-thick slices, and arrange the slices 1/2 inch apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake the crisps in batches until they are golden and just firm to the touch, 10 to 12 minutes. Cool the wafers on the baking sheet. Stored in an airtight container at room temperature, the wafers will keep for up to 4 days.

CHEESE CRISPIES

Steps:

• Beat butter and cheese until blended. In another bowl, whisk flour, salt and cayenne; gradually beat into cheese mixture. Stir in Rice Krispies. If necessary, turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead 4-6 times, forming a stiff dough., Divide dough in half; shape each into a 7-in.-long roll. Wrap and refrigerate 1 hour or overnight., Preheat oven to 350°. Unwrap and cut dough crosswise into 1/4-in. slices. Place 1 in. apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. If desired, top each slice with a pecan half. Bake until edges are golden brown, 14-16 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool. To Make Ahead: Dough can be made 2 days in advance. Freeze option: Freeze wrapped logs in an airtight container. To use, unwrap frozen logs and cut into slices. Bake as directed.

CHEDDAR CHEESE CRISPS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 300ºF.
• Cut each slice of cheese into 12 (1-inch) pieces; place in single layer on 2 parchment-covered baking sheets.
• Bake 30 min. or until golden brown. Let stand on baking sheets 2 min. Remove to paper towels; drain. Meanwhile, combine remaining ingredients.
• Place crisps in large bowl. Add Parmesan mixture; mix lightly.

CHEDDAR PEPPER CRISPS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the first five ingredients. Cut in butter until crumbly. Stir in cheese. Sprinkle with water and vinegar. Toss with a fork until a ball forms. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap; refrigerate for 1 hour or until dough is firm., Divide into six portions. On a lightly floured surface, roll each portion of dough into an 8-in. circle. Cut into eight wedges and place on greased baking sheets. Sprinkle with pepper; lightly press into dough. Bake at 375° for 10-14 minutes or until golden brown and crisp. Cool on wire racks. Store in an airtight container.

CRISPY CHEDDAR COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Combine Flour and butter in a large bowl using a pastry cutter or 2 knives or your fingers until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
• Add the rest of the ingredients and mix until blended.
• Shape dough into 3/4 inch or 1 inch balls and place 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
• Flatten slightly with a fork.
• Bake for 15 to 17 minutes or until golden brown.
• Transfer to wire racks to cool immediately.
• Makes 48 small ro 30 large cookies.