Spiral cheese sticks: Simple holiday treats with a twist

Wondering how to prepare cheese sticks twisted into fancy spirals? It's quite simple. All you need are two sheets of puff pastry and a portion of yellow cheese. These popular French treats can be enhanced with various additional ingredients. They taste great whether warm, cold, or even the next day.

The method is very straightforward. Cut the puff pastry sheet into strips. Hold the ends with your fingers and twist like a screw. For the best results, 3-4 twists are enough. Twisting too tightly may cause the dough to break or become too thick, making it difficult to bake properly in the oven.

The name for this snack comes from the French word diablotin, which can be translated as "imp" or "little devil". This might refer to its shape. As a result of twisting, the cheese sticks have slightly extended ends. Or perhaps they resemble devil tails?

Some people suggest that the name diablotki is related to the spicy taste of the sticks. The French often add spicy seasonings to them, such as chili pepper.

To make 24 cheese sticks, you will need:

• 2 sheets of puff pastry (each 13 oz),
• 1 egg,
• 9 oz of yellow cheese, e.g., cheddar,
• optional ground hot pepper,
• 1 teaspoon of salt.

Instructions:

1. Roll out a sheet on baking paper and brush it with beaten egg.
2. Sprinkle with ground pepper and grated yellow cheese.
3. Cover with the second sheet of dough, press lightly, and then cut along the shorter side into 24 strips about 0.5 inches wide.
4. Carefully grab each strip by the ends and twist into a spiral by turning it 4 times.
5. Brush the prepared sticks with the remaining egg and sprinkle with salt.
6. Bake in an oven preheated to 390 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes.