• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Recipe Index
  • FAQ
  • About
  • Cookbooks

All Day I Dream About Food

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipe Index
  • FAQ
  • About
  • Cookbooks
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipe Index
    • FAQ
    • About
    • Cookbooks
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Low Carb Appetizers & Snacks » Keto Cheese Straws

    Published: Dec 17, 2019 by Carolyn

    Keto Cheese Straws

    This post may contain Amazon or other affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    9.7K shares
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    The famous southern cheese straws recipe gets a keto makeover! Cheesy almond flour cheddar crisps in beautiful fun shapes make a delicious low carb appetizer. This post is sponsored by Cabot Creamery.  

    Keto cheese straws in a small white bowl on a brown table

    Hey there, hungry people! Looking for a delicious and savory low appetizer to serve at your holiday party? One that even the non-keto people will love? Mission accomplished.

    Look no further than these keto cheese straws. Tender and crisp at the same time, they are going to disappear faster than pizza in a college dorm room.  Trust me, they are a wee bit addictive, all that cheesy salty flavor. And boy, do they go perfectly with a cocktail or a glass of wine. Don’t ask me how I know that, I just do. 

    Low carb cheese straws in front of bricks of sharp cheddar cheese.

    Really good sharp cheddar makes the best cheese straws

    I have a long-standing affection for Cabot cheese and really do think it is the best cheddar on the planet. It’s less prevalent here on the West Coast than it is back in New England, but I still tell everyone about it any time the subject comes up. 

    And with me, the subject of cheese comes up with surprising frequency. I’m known to wax poetic on all the attributes of good cheddar. I’ve turned many a Portlander onto Cabot, even gifting some to my cheese-loving CrossFit coach. He was impressed!

    Cabot Creamery Cooperative is so named for a reason. They truly are a cooperative, and 100% go back to the over 1000 family farms that make up this fabulous corporation. 

    And good news for the lactose- or gluten-intolerant, since Cabot cheddars are 100% free of both allergens. 

    This naturally aged cheddar is so good, so flavorful, it’s the perfect ingredient for these keto cheese straws. 

    Top down photo of almond flour cheddar cheese straws.

    How to make Keto Cheese Straws

    This was not my first attempt at keto cheese straws. I had a failed attempt a few years ago, but when Cabot and I agreed to a holiday recipe post, I knew I wanted to try them again. They really are a classic holiday appetizer. 

    It took me a few tries to get this recipe right, but once I did, it was quite simple to make the straws. The trick is achieving dough that’s relatively stable, so it doesn’t spread or lose its shape in the oven, but that’s also soft enough to push through a piping bag or a cookie press. This is no small feat, working with alternative flours like almond flour and coconut flour. 

    Piping cheese straw dough onto a baking sheet.

    So a few tips to make your keto cheese straw experience a successful one:

    Room temperature ingredients are critical for softer dough. Cold ingredients will firm up the dough too much, making it harder to squeeze through the decorating tip. 

    But you actually want to grate the cheese and cube the butter when it’s cold, so that it’s firm enough to cut easily. Do this step when you first take them out of the fridge, then let them sit for an hour or so.

    Use a good food processor to combine your ingredients. This helps to combine them very well, and break up the cheese even further for a more cohesive dough. 

    When piping the straws, be sure to use an open star-shaped tip. If it’s too closed, it will be very difficult to pipe the cheese straws properly.

    • I used the 1M tip from Wilton but the Ateco #824 would work well too. Whatever you choose, make sure the prongs of the tip are not too close together, as the cheese can clog it up. 

    Keep the straws on the small side, about 3 inches long. They become too fragile when they are longer. 

    If you want to use a cookie press, that works well too. Some of them have star tips and you can make the regular straws. My press does not so I simply used it to make spritz-cookie style shapes. Just as tasty!

    Silicone baking mats are best because they don’t pull up as easily when you’re piping. If you use parchment paper, you may want to grease the pan with a little oil to make the parchment stick so it doesn’t constantly come away from the pan as it sticks to the dough. 

    Sharp cheddar will give you the most flavor. I used the Cabot Seriously Sharp Cheddar to get a true burst of cheddar in my straws. You could vary it up, if you wish. Cabot has a great Pepper Jack as well. If you want a more orange color, try the Cabot Colby Jack instead. They have such an extensive line of wonderful cheeses, there’s something for everyone!

    Keto cheese straws on a plate with a martini.

    Keto Cheese Straws

    The famous southern cheese straws recipe gets a keto makeover! Cheesy almond flour cheddar crisps in beautiful fun shapes make a delicious low carb appetizer.
    5 from 12 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Appetizer
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: cheese straws recipe, keto cheese straws
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 50 minutes
    Servings: 48 straws or crisps (approximately)
    Calories: 209kcal

    Ingredients

    • 1 ¾ cup almond flour
    • 2 tablespoon coconut flour
    • ¾ teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon xanthan gum
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ¼ to ½ teaspoon cayenne optional, adds a nice kick
    • ½ cup butter cut into pieces and softened
    • 4 ounces sharp Cheddar grated, room temperature
    • 1 egg yolk room temperature

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 300F and line two baking sheets with silicone mats or parchment paper.
    • Place the almond flour, coconut flour, salt, xanthan gum, garlic powder, and cayenne in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse a few times to combine.
    • Scatter the pieces of butter and grated cheese overtop of the dry ingredients and then add the egg yolk. Pulse until well combined and the dough gathers itself into a ball.
    • Transfer the dough to a piping bag fitted with an open star tip, and pipe the dough into 3 inch lines. They can be quite close together, as they don’t really spread. (You can also place the dough in a cookie press and create fun shapes).
    • Bake 20 to 25 minutes, until just golden brown, then turn of the oven and let the straws sit inside 5 more minutes. Keep a close eye on them so they don’t brown too much.
    • Remove and let cool completely on the pan.
    Nutrition Facts
    Keto Cheese Straws
    Amount Per Serving (4 straws)
    Calories 209 Calories from Fat 167
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 18.6g29%
    Carbohydrates 4.5g2%
    Fiber 2.2g9%
    Protein 6.3g13%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    9.7K shares

    free email series

    Secrets to Keto Baking

    Tips and tricks to delicious and healthy recipes!


    Nutritional Disclaimer

    Please note that I am not a medical or nutritional professional. I am simply recounting and sharing my own experiences on this blog. Nothing I express here should be taken as medical advice and you should consult with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. I provide nutritional information for my recipes simply as a courtesy to my readers. It is calculated using MacGourmet software and I remove erythritol from the final carb count and net carb count, as it does not affect my own blood glucose levels. I do my best to be as accurate as possible but you should independently calculate nutritional information on your own before relying on them. I expressly disclaim any and all liability of any kind with respect to any act or omission wholly or in part in reliance on anything contained in this website.

    Reader Interactions

    We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. Nicole M. says

      January 26, 2023 at 9:18 pm

      5 stars
      Made these for the first time and they taste amazing. I used my cookie press with a piping tip on it but they came out flat after baking them. I followed the recipe to a T. I don’t what happened.

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        January 26, 2023 at 9:57 pm

        Hmmm, rather sounds like not enough flour to help them hold their shape. What brand of almond flour did you use?

        Reply
    2. Tami S. says

      February 01, 2022 at 11:42 pm

      5 stars
      Made them again and used my cookie press. I previously commented on how delicious these were and thought they be good with a sprinkling of Kosher salt, so I tried it. After pressing them all out on my cookie sheets lined with parchment paper, I lightly sprinkled the tops of them with some coarse Kosher salt, then baked them. OMG, these were even more amazing if that were even possible. Like Cheez-It’s only much better tasting and healthy.

      Reply
    « Older Comments

    Primary Sidebar

    FREE Secrets to Keto Baking

    Tips and tricks to delicious and healthy recipes!

    NEW E-COOKBOOK!
    The cover of Easy Dairy-Free Keto Desserts ebook.

    Carolyn Portrait

    Looking for the best low carb recipes? You’ve come to the right place! I’m Carolyn, a major carnivore and an unrepentant sweet tooth. Here you will find all you need to enjoy the low carb keto lifestyle to the fullest! Read more

    COPYRIGHT © 2023 · ALL DAY I DREAM ABOUT FOOD · DISCLOSURE POLICY · PRIVACY POLICY

    Copyright© 2023