Spicy Cheddar Cheese Straws — Sharp Cheddar & Cayenne (4 oz Bag)

Sharp cheddar, cayenne, and a Louisiana kick.

Real Tillamook cheddar, cayenne, and a good pour of Tabasco, rolled thin and baked until they snap. Rich and buttery first, then a slow heat that builds. This is the original recipe — the one that started it all, and the one people come back for.

The 4 oz bag is the everyday size. Small enough for a desk drawer, a tote, or a car console. Big enough to put in a bowl when someone stops by.

What they taste like

Sharp and buttery up front from the cheddar, finishing with a slow cayenne warmth that builds across a handful. Medium heat — noticeable, not punishing. The texture is a clean crisp snap, closer to a shortbread cracker than a puffed snack.

How to eat them

• Desk snack — savory instead of sweet
• With a glass of wine — dry rosé, a crisp lager, or a Sazerac if you're going full New Orleans
• Dumped in a bowl when people come over and you had no plan
• Crumbled over soup or salad — a crouton with more personality
• Travel — they hold up in a bag better than crackers do

Buying for a host, a holiday, or someone who deserves a real present? The 12 oz gift tin comes in a keepsake tin that ships without needing wrapping paper.

Why cheese straws are a New Orleans thing

In New Orleans heat and humidity, cheese didn't keep. Local cooks baked it into thin, crisp straws with a hint of cayenne — pailles de fromage — and they became a fixture at gatherings, holidays, and family tables across the South. Joanie's has been making them the same way ever since.

Ingredients

Tillamook cheddar cheese, flour, margarine, Tabasco sauce, baking powder, salt, cayenne pepper.

Contains: Milk, Wheat.

Net weight

4 oz (113 g). Roughly 3–4 servings.

Storage

Keep cool, dry, and sealed once opened. Best within 2–3 weeks. They freeze well for up to 6 months.