Cheese Coins

 

These tender and flavorful appetizers are easy to make, convenient to serve, and they can be refrigerated or frozen.

 

INGREDIENTS

 

8 ounces Cheddar cheese, cut in 1-inch pieces

4 ounces unsalted butter, at room temperature, cut in pieces

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon Tabasco sauce or pinch of cayenne pepper

1 cup flour

 

100 cheese coins

 

Use metal blade to chop cheese until it resembles coarse meal, about 30 seconds. Add butter, salt and pepper. Process until smooth, about 60 seconds. Scrape down bowl, add flour and process until flour is just mixed in. Chill dough until firm enough to shape into logs, about 1 hour.

 

Divide dough into 3 equal parts and roll each into a cylinder about 1-1/2 inches in diameter. Chill until firm, about 2 hours.

 

Preheat oven to 400°F. Cut dough into 1/8-inch slices and place slices 1-1/2 inches apart on lightly greased baking sheet. Bake until lightly colored, about 10 minutes, being careful not to brown them. Transfer to wire rack to cool.

 

Unbaked, plastic-wrapped cylinders keep for about a week in the refrigerator. Cooked cheese coins can be frozen and reheated for 6 to 8 minutes in a 300°F oven.