Puff Pastry Cheese Sticks

Looking for more holiday appetizers to serve to family and guests for Christmas Day dinner? Try these clever and tasty Puff Pastry Cheese Sticks.

Puff Pastry Cheese Sticks Recipe
Makes 36 Cheese Sticks

Ingredients:

• 1 17-1/4 oz. package of store-bought frozen puff pastry dough, thawed in the refrigerator
• 1 egg white, lightly beaten
• Paprika
• Cayenne pepper (optional)
• 1 1/2 cups finely grated sharp cheddar cheese

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Open one sheet of the puff pastry onto a cutting board. Brush the surface of the pastry lightly with the beaten egg white. Sprinkle the surface lightly with paprika (and, if desired, a pinch of cayenne pepper for added spice). Sprinkle the surface of the pastry with 3/4 cup of cheese, and spread the cheese so that it evenly covers the surface of the dough. Lightly roll a floured rolling pin over the puff pastry to gently press the cheese into the dough.
2. Cut the puff pastry into long 12-inch-wide strips with a pastry cutter. Holding the strip with one hand at either end, gently twist the strip several times to produce a corkscrew-shaped pastry twist. Place the strips 1 inch apart on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Repeat the above procedure with the remaining sheet of puff pastry dough.
3. Bake the strips in the preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the cheese sticks are golden in color. Remove the cheese sticks from the baking sheet, and cool on a wire rack. These cheese sticks are best when served the same day, but they can be made in advance and stored overnight in an airtight container.