Savory Snack Cheese Bites (Printable Version)
Golden cheese bites blended with fresh herbs and spices, perfect for a quick and flavorful snack.
# What You'll Need:
→ Dairy
01 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (4 oz)
02 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened (1 oz)
→ Dry Ingredients
03 - 1 cup all-purpose flour (4.25 oz)
04 - 1/2 tsp baking powder
→ Spices & Seasonings
05 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder
06 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
07 - 1/4 tsp salt
08 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
→ Herbs
09 - 2 tbsp fresh chives, finely chopped
→ Liquids
10 - 2 to 3 tbsp cold milk
# Directions:
01 - Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium bowl, blend shredded cheddar cheese with softened butter until smooth.
03 - Add all-purpose flour, baking powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, and chopped chives. Stir until mixture becomes crumbly.
04 - Gradually add cold milk, one tablespoon at a time, stirring until a soft, cohesive dough forms.
05 - Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and arrange them spaced apart on the prepared baking sheet.
06 - Gently press each dough ball flat using fingers or the bottom of a glass.
07 - Bake for 12 to 15 minutes until bites are golden and lightly crisp.
08 - Transfer baked bites to a wire rack to cool before serving.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- They bake in 15 minutes, making them perfect for last-minute entertaining or when hunger strikes hard.
- The cheese flavor hits immediately, followed by subtle garlic and smoke that keeps you reaching back for one more.
- This dough is so forgiving that even if your hands shake while rolling, they still turn out beautifully golden.
02 -
- If your dough feels too crumbly, resist adding liquid all at once; one teaspoon at a time is the way forward, and sometimes you need less than you think.
- These taste better after they've sat for 10 minutes—the flavors settle, the texture becomes more tender, and the cheese flavor deepens in a way that hot bites simply don't achieve.
- Don't overbake them chasing a deep brown color; pale golden is when they're perfect, because they continue to cook slightly on the cooling rack.
03 -
- Softening your butter in advance or leaving it on the counter for 15 minutes transforms how easily it blends with the cheese and saves you from rough, uneven texture.
- The coldness of the milk matters more than you'd think—warm milk can make your dough greasy and heavy, while cold milk keeps everything light and tender.