I’m so thankful a viewer recommended I make these since it has been a while since I’ve had a savory “cookie.” I think it tastes like a cheesy biscuit or puff pastry. If you look at the ingredients, it is only missing sugar or other sweet morsels. Even the process is the same as my other cookie recipes where you chill the dough and bake straight from the freezer.
VIDEO: Watch me make Kastengel for Day 2 of Cookiemas
I do recommend using the best quality butter since that will really make a difference in the taste of these kastengel. Also feel free to play around with the types of cheeses. If you choose a saltier cheese in the dough itself, you can omit the added salt. I also used a saltier gouda cheese for the topping.
Where Does Kastengel Originate?
I’m no historian but I do know that the Dutch colonized Indonesia way back in the 1600s. According to Wikipedia, kastengel or kaastengel cookies are of Dutch origin but so popular in Indonesia during the holidays that they have become a part of Indonesian cultural cuisine.
I find it so fascinating how foods travel around the globe and get adopted in (seemingly) unlikely places!
What Cheese Can I Use?
From my searching online, the most traditional cheese to use is Dutch Edam cheese. I was able to find some at my local supermarket and to me it tastes like an even milder Dutch Gouda.
Based on this milder taste, we decided to use a saltier gouda for the topping and we also added a bit of salt to the recipe. I think you should trust your taste and use whichever cheese you think you would enjoy!
Maybe a little pepper if you want to change it up from the traditional recipes?
How Do You Make Kastengel Cookies?
Kastengel cookies follow the basic steps to make any cookie, even the sweet ones. Mix the wet ingredients then mix the dry. Shape into sticks, and bake!
Full ingredients list and detailed steps are at the bottom of this page.
Mix together the wet ingredients first. That’s butter and egg yolk
Then you’ll want to shred and mix in the cheese with the dry ingredients
Mix into a nice dough. Wrap it up and chill in the refrigerator.
Take out of the refrigerator and being shaping. Flatten the dough and cut into 3 inch by 3/4 inch pieces
Then top with egg wash and then a salty cheese!
Put the cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and put in the freezer. Then bake!
Recipe
Savory Cheese Cookies (Kastengel)
Ingredients
Method
- Be sure to soften your butter to room temperature. Combine the butter and egg yolk by mixing or whipping. Be sure not to overmix.
- If needed, prepare your cheese. The Edam cheese came in a small wheel. Grating it before mixing is probably necessary.
- Add all purpose flour, cornstarch, salt, and Edam cheese. Mix until it comes together into a dough. It may seem like it won't form a dough at first but keep going!
- Shape the dough into a flat disc, wrap in plastic wrap, and put it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
- Begin shaping your dough. Roll the dough into a rectangle that is ¼ inch thick. Then cut the dough into small rectangles. I cut mine ¾ inch wide and 3 inches long. Place these pieces on a parchment lined baking pan. You may need two baking pans.
- Make an egg wash by beating a whole egg. Brush this on top each piece and then and top with gouda cheese or whichever salty cheese you have chosen.
- Put the cookies in the freezer for 15 minutes. Preheat the oven to 300℉ (150℃)
- Once the cookies are done with their time in the freezer, take the baking pan out and immediately put it in the preheated oven. Bake for 35 minutes or until fully cooked.
- Let it cool before enjoying!