If you like recipes that are big on flavor but small on effort, these tasty parmesan, basil, and cheddar stars are just the thing for you. These stars are packed with flavor, can be made in under five minutes, and not only taste delicious but leave the house smelling fabulous too.

Whether you’re looking for small bites that look fabulous at a Christmas party or want something to crunch on while soaking up all of those Christmas movies, these cream cheese stuffed mushrooms make an ideal partner for our cheese basil stars.

Parmesan, Basil, and Cheddar Stars

Makes: 3 Dozen  |  Time to prepare and cook: 30 Minutes

Ingredients:

2 ½ cups of shredded Cheddar Cheese

½ cup of softened butter

Five tablespoons of half-and-half

One teaspoon of kosher salt

1 ½ cups of all-purpose flour

1 ½ cups of grated Parmesan cheese

Three tablespoons finely chopped, fresh basil. If you don’t have fresh basil available, you can use three teaspoons of dried basil instead.

Parmesan, Basil, and Cheddar Stars – Directions

Step One

Combine the Cheddar cheese, butter, half-and-half, and salt at medium speed with a mixer until blended.

Step Two

A white bowl with parmesan, cheddar, chopped basil, and other ingredients inside. There is a wooden spoon in the mixture, and a sprig a basil sits in the background.

Gradually add the flour, Parmesan cheese, and basil – stirring until just until combined.

Be careful at this point not to over-stir the mix. Too much string, or mixing too vigorously, will lead to a hard, tough, parmesan, basil, cheddar star rather than the light flakey bite you are looking for.

Step Three

Ball of parmesan, basil, and cheddar bite dough laying on a white surface. A sprig of basil and a marble rolling pin lay in the background.

Once it begins to come together, turn the dough out onto a well-floured surface.

Don’t worry if you have a few straggly bits in the bowl; simply drop them onto the top of your dough ball, and they’ll mix in as you are rolling out the mixture.

Step Four

Divide into three equal portions, and roll to flatten each to 1/8 inch thickness.

Step Five

12 uncooked parmesan, basil, and cheddar bites laying on a parchment paper lined baking tray.

Cut with a star-shaped cutter and place your stars, 1 inch apart, on parchment paper-lined baking sheets.

Step Six

Bake for roughly 11 to 14 minutes or until golden and allow to cool on wire racks for 30 minutes.

parmesan, basil, and cheddar stars laying in a line on a white plate.

9 COMMENTS

  1. Yum these are perfect for a dinner party appetizer, all you need is the right dipping sauce.

  2. You’re very welcome – they are also great with different cheeses & herb combinations.

  3. How perfect, an yummy– I can see doing this as a craft for Easter and the meal, we will just change the cookie cut to the season of Easter. Thank you again 🙂