EASY CHEDDAR CHEESE STRAWS AND WAFERS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Beat the butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer until it is light and fluffy.  Add the cheese to the bowl and beat again until it is fully blended, about 1 minute.

Add the flour, salt, paprika, and cayenne pepper to the bowl and mix with a rubber spatula or spoon until it begins to come together.  Then, get in there with your hands and squeeze the dough together with your fingers until you can form a ball.

If you are making wafers, take a heaping teaspoon of the dough and roll it into a ball.  Repeat with the remaining dough and place the balls on an ungreased rimmed baking sheet.  Using the bottom of a glass or a measuring cup, firmly press each ball into a thin disc.  Place the pan(s) in the oven and bake for 15-17 minutes until the wafers are golden brown.  Let cool completely on the baking sheet.  Makes about 30-40 cheese wafers.

If you are making cheese straws, lightly flour your countertop and form the dough into a flat rectangular shape and dust the top with flour.  Using a rolling pin, roll the dough into a rectangle about ½” thick.  Cut the dough into ½ – 1” wide strips and place them on an ungreased baking sheet.  I like to twist them into an s-curve type shape, but this is optional.  Bake for 15-18 minutes until golden brown.  Let cool completely on the baking sheet.  Makes about 25-30 cheese straws.

When the wafers/straws are cooled, chow down and store any leftovers in a ziplock bag.