Description
These Chili Cheese Savory Shortbread Bites are buttery, crumbly, and packed with a blend of strong cheddar, Parmesan, and Gruyere cheeses, accented with chili flakes and fresh rosemary. Perfectly golden and slightly spicy, they make an elegant appetizer or snack ideal for holiday entertaining or gifting.
Ingredients
Scale
Cheeses
- 100g strong cheddar (1 cup)
- 50g Parmesan (1/2 cup)
- 50g Gruyere (1/2 cup)
Dough
- 210g unsalted butter, cold and sliced into cubes
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon za’atar (or dried thyme)
- 1 teaspoon chili flakes
- 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, chopped
- 220g all-purpose flour (1 1/4 cups)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch (cornflour)
Instructions
- Shred the Cheese: Slice the cheeses into smaller pieces and add to a food processor. Blitz until shredded.
- Make the Dough: Add the flour, cornstarch, chili flakes, za’atar, salt, cold cubed butter, and fresh rosemary to the food processor bowl. Pulse until the mixture starts to form a soft, slightly lumpy dough. If too dry, add 1-2 teaspoons cold water; if too greasy, add 1 tablespoon flour.
- Roll Out Dough: Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface, sprinkle a little flour on top, and roll out into a rough rectangle about 1/2 inch thick.
- Cut Shapes: Use a star cookie cutter or preferred shape to cut out the dough. Re-roll scraps and continue cutting until all dough is used. Place shapes on a lined baking tray. If dough is sticky, wrap in plastic wrap and chill in fridge for 15 minutes to firm up.
- Chill the Cookies: Chill the cookie shapes on the tray for at least 30 minutes in the fridge or 15 minutes in the freezer. This helps them maintain shape during baking.
- Preheat Oven: While cookies chill, preheat oven to 350°F (180°C fan).
- Bake: Bake the chilled cookies on their tray for 12 to 15 minutes until edges are golden but tops remain slightly pale.
- Cool: Remove cookies from oven and let cool for 5 minutes on the tray to firm up, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. They will crisp up as they cool.
Notes
- Weigh ingredients using a digital scale for accuracy and best results.
- If the dough becomes sticky when cutting, chilling will help it become more manageable.
- These bites are perfect for holiday gatherings or for gifting as a savory treat.
- You can substitute za’atar with dried thyme if unavailable.
- If you don't have a food processor, the dough can be made by hand by cutting cold butter into the flour and cheese mixture until crumbly then forming the dough.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3 cookies
- Calories: 177 calories
- Sugar: 0.1 g
- Sodium: 103 mg
- Fat: 12.7 g
- Saturated Fat: 7.8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4.9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10.8 g
- Fiber: 0.4 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg
