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Cheddar Cheese Coins

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on October 25, 2012

Time

55 minutes, plus 1 hour chilling and 20 minutes cooling

Yield

Makes about 5 dozen coins

Cheddar Cheese Coins

Ingredients

8 ounces extra-sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (2 cups)1 ½ cups (7½ ounces/213 grams) all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon cornstarch ½ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper ¼ teaspoon paprika 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 8 pieces and chilled3 tablespoons water

Before You Begin

You can refrigerate the dough for up to three days or freeze it for up to one month. Thaw the frozen dough in the refrigerator before proceeding with step 2.

Instructions

  1. Process cheddar, flour, cornstarch, salt, cayenne, and paprika in food processor until combined, about 30 seconds. Add butter and process until mixture resembles wet sand, about 20 seconds. Add water and process until dough ball forms, about 10 seconds. Transfer dough to counter and divide in half. Roll each half into 10-inch log, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour.
  2. Adjust oven racks to upper-middle and lower-middle positions and heat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper. Unwrap logs and slice into ¼-inch-thick coins. Place coins on prepared sheets, ½ inch apart. Bake until light golden around edges, 22 to 28 minutes, switching and rotating sheets halfway through baking. Let coins cool completely on sheets before serving. (Coins can be stored in airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.)
Cheddar Cheese Coins

Cheddar Cheese Coins

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By America's Test Kitchen
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Time

55 minutes, plus 1 hour chilling and 20 minutes cooling

Yield

Makes about 5 dozen coins

Ingredients

8 ounces extra-sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (2 cups)
1 ½ cups (7½ ounces/213 grams) all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon cornstarch
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
¼ teaspoon paprika
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 8 pieces and chilled
3 tablespoons water

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

8 ounces extra-sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (2 cups)
1 ½ cups (7½ ounces/213 grams) all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon cornstarch
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
¼ teaspoon paprika
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 8 pieces and chilled
3 tablespoons water

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

8 ounces extra-sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (2 cups)
1 ½ cups (7½ ounces/213 grams) all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon cornstarch
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
¼ teaspoon paprika
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 8 pieces and chilled
3 tablespoons water

Test Kitchen Techniques

Why This Recipe Works

Everyone loves cheese and crackers, and we wanted to combine the two into a rich, cheesy, tender biscuit. Cutting the chilled butter into the dry ingredients creates a flaky texture, and using the food processor means it take seconds. Adding cornstarch tenderizes our crackers even more. A generous helping of pungent cheese flavors the dough, and just a few tablespoons of water help it come together. After chilling for an hour, the logs are ready to be sliced and baked.

Before You Begin

You can refrigerate the dough for up to three days or freeze it for up to one month. Thaw the frozen dough in the refrigerator before proceeding with step 2.

Instructions

  1. Process cheddar, flour, cornstarch, salt, cayenne, and paprika in food processor until combined, about 30 seconds. Add butter and process until mixture resembles wet sand, about 20 seconds. Add water and process until dough ball forms, about 10 seconds. Transfer dough to counter and divide in half. Roll each half into 10-inch log, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour.
  2. Adjust oven racks to upper-middle and lower-middle positions and heat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper. Unwrap logs and slice into ¼-inch-thick coins. Place coins on prepared sheets, ½ inch apart. Bake until light golden around edges, 22 to 28 minutes, switching and rotating sheets halfway through baking. Let coins cool completely on sheets before serving. (Coins can be stored in airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.)

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