Cheese Pennies

 A wonderfully easy appetizer for parties or a light snack with drinks. 

Ingredients:

2 cups grated sharp cheddar (227g) (or other cheese such as pepper jack for added "BAM")

1 stick of unsalted butter, room temperature

1½ cups (180mg) of all-purpose flour

¾ tsp salt

½ tsp dry mustard

¼ tsp cayenne pepper

water as needed a little at a time

Directions:

1. In a medium-size mixing bowl or electric mixer, combine all ingredients to make a cohesive dough. Sprinkle in water as needed to make it all bind together. Once it comes together divide it into two balls.

2. Transfer to a lightly floured surface and roll each into a log about 1 inch in diameter.

3. Wrap each in wax paper and/or plastic wrap and place in the freezer for thirty minutes.

4. Preheat the oven to 4ooF.

5. Removing one log at a time from the freezer, cut into ⅛ inch rounds. Arrange rounds on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. They don't spread much so half an inch spacing will be enough.

6. Bake pennies for 11-12 minutes until they start to brown. Remove from oven and allow to cool on pan for several minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely. Store in an airtight container for up to a week - if they last that long....

**Recipe adapted from King Arthur Baking

Enjoy!