Kue Kaastengel (Indonesian cheese cookies)

Kaastengel is known as a savory cookie in Indonesia. I got the recipe from my mum and surprisingly it uses frozen Parmesan cheese as the trick to make kaastengels crunchy. I have been baking this many times. Only require a few ingredients and very easy to bake. Patience is needed to shape the cookie dough into nice long strips. But, the result is very rewarding.

Ingredients:

• 25 gram salt-reduced margarine
• 150 gram unsalted butter (softened at room temperature)
• 150 gram frozen parmesan shredded cheese
• 225 gram plain flour (sifted)
• 2 egg yolks

For finishing step:

• 1 egg yolk
• 50 gram frozen parmesan shredded cheese

Preparation:

1. Cream butter and margarine with egg yolks using a mixer until it is soft and fluffy.
2. Add sifted flour. Mix well with a spatula.
3. Add frozen parmesan cheese.
4. Shape the dough into long strips by rolling (see photos below).
5. Brush the strip with egg yolk and add more parmesan cheese on each strip (see photos below). 
6. Bake at 180 C degrees for 20 mins or until slightly golden.