Cheddar Wafers are a Southern Tradition, usually served during the holidays or at wedding and baby showers.
Cheddar wafers are a bit like a shortbread, in that they do not contain eggs. They’re relatively easy to make but the dough can be tricky.
Once you’ve combined all the ingredients, the dough will be grainy and that’s okay. You’ll want to form a cylinder or ball with the dough and leave it wrapped in plastic at room temperature for about 30 minutes. This is the secret to the wafer dough.
If you have a cookie press, you can make pretty designs by using a star-shaped pastry tip, or make cheese “straws”–elongated, twisty sticks of the cheese wafer. No matter how you design them, your guests will thank you for making this savory treat!
Cheddar wafers are also delicious with a cup of Southern Tomato (non-alcoholic) Aperitif, especially on a cold day!
Delicately flavorful cheese wafers with a pinch of heat.
- 1½ cups flour
- 1 stick butter unsalted, room temperature
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon paprika smoked
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 lb. sharp cheddar cheese grated
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Preheat oven to 375ºF
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Take butter out of fridge, cut into smaller pieces, and allow to come to room temperature
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Shred cheese either by hand or in food processor
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In the food processor, add flour, cayenne, salt and paprika
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Add butter to flour mixture and pulse
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Add shredded cheddar to flour mixture; a few handfuls at a time
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Roll dough out onto wax paper; cover and allow to sit for 30 minutes
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Once dough is at room temperature, pull off some dough, form a ball and flatten ball (these can be as big or small as you like)
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Place formed wafers onto parchment paper
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Bake 13-15 minutes until browned
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Allow to rest a bit prior to serving
- The dough will be grainy after you've combined everything; don't worry, just form a cylinder or ball with the dough, wrap it in plastic wrap and allow it to warm up a bit on the counter--about 30 minutes
- Once the dough has warmed, you can either pipe it through a cookie press (to make "straws") or just form balls and flatten them for wavers
