Description
Crunchy, homemade Cheez-Its made with sharp cheddar cheese and a perfect blend of butter, flour, and seasoning. These savory cheese crackers are easy to prepare at home and baked to golden perfection for a delicious snack.
Ingredients
Cheese Dough
- ¼ cup unsalted butter (room temperature)
- 8 oz. sharp cheddar cheese (shredded)
- 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt (plus more for topping)
- 2-3 tablespoons cold water
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- Mix Butter and Cheese: Place the unsalted butter and shredded sharp cheddar cheese into a mixing bowl. Using a standing mixer or an electric mixer, beat on medium-high speed for 4-5 minutes until the mixture is smooth, combined, and fluffy.
- Add Flour and Salt: Whisk 1 teaspoon kosher salt with the all-purpose flour. Slowly incorporate the flour mixture into the butter and cheese mixture using low speed. The mixture will become a dry crumble.
- Form Dough: Gradually add cold water, one teaspoon at a time, mixing until a dough starts to form.
- Chill Dough: Shape the dough into a ball and flatten into a disk. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
- Preheat Oven: Remove the dough from the fridge and preheat the oven to 375ºF (190ºC).
- Roll Out Dough: On a piece of parchment paper, roll the dough into a large rectangle less than ⅛ inch thick.
- Mark Grid: Use a ruler to measure and mark 1-inch intervals vertically and horizontally to create a cutting grid.
- Cut Squares: Carefully cut along the grid lines with a pizza or pastry cutter, avoiding cutting the parchment paper underneath.
- Dock Cracker Centers: Use the flat end of a wooden skewer to poke small holes in the center of each 1-inch square.
- Prepare for Baking: Transfer the parchment paper with cut squares onto a large baking sheet, ensuring the crackers do not touch.
- Brush and Season: Lightly brush each cracker with olive oil and sprinkle with kosher salt.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 15-17 minutes or until the crackers begin to brown.
- Cool: Remove the crackers from the oven, lift the parchment paper off the baking sheet, and transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Notes
- For even crispier crackers, roll dough thinner than ⅛ inch if desired.
- Use sharp cheddar cheese for the best flavor punch.
- Make sure crackers are spaced apart on the baking sheet to prevent sticking.
- Store cooled crackers in an airtight container for up to a week.
- If dough is too crumbly, add an extra teaspoon of cold water to help it come together.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 17 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
