Description
Crunchy, cheesy, and addictive homemade Cheez-Its made from scratch using simple ingredients. These crispy crackers deliver rich cheddar flavor and a perfect crunch, baked fresh in under an hour. Easily customizable and free of preservatives, they’re the ideal snack for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 cup freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour blend for gluten-free option)
- 6 tbsp cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp onion powder (optional)
- 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper or paprika (optional)
- 2–3 tbsp cold water
Instructions
- Prepare Your Ingredients: Grate your sharp cheddar cheese finely and measure the flour and other dry ingredients. Ensure the butter is cold and cut into small cubes for better incorporation.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, onion powder, and optional spices like paprika or cayenne to distribute seasoning evenly.
- Cut in the Butter: Add cold butter cubes to the dry mixture and use a pastry cutter or fingers to mix until the texture resembles coarse crumbs, creating a flaky dough.
- Add Cheese and Water: Fold in the grated cheddar cheese, then gradually add cold water one tablespoon at a time until the dough comes together, remaining slightly stiff.
- Roll Out the Dough: Place dough between two sheets of parchment paper and roll evenly to about 1/8 inch thickness for optimal crispness.
- Cut into Squares: Slice the dough into 1-inch squares using a sharp knife or pizza cutter, then prick each square lightly in the center with a toothpick to prevent puffing.
- Bake Until Golden: Arrange squares on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake in a preheated 350°F (175°C) oven for 12-15 minutes until golden orange. Let cool completely to maximize crunch.
Notes
- Use cold butter and water to keep the dough from becoming greasy or tough.
- Grate cheese fresh for better flavor and texture compared to pre-shredded cheese.
- Roll dough evenly thin to ensure uniform baking and crispiness.
- Prick crackers before baking to prevent unwanted puffing.
- Watch oven closely; baking times can vary, check early to avoid burning.
- Store baked crackers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
- You can freeze the dough tightly wrapped for up to one month; thaw before rolling and baking.
- Reheat crackers at 300°F (150°C) for 3-5 minutes to restore crispness if needed.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 10 crackers
- Calories: 140
- Sugar: 0.2g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 9g
- Fiber: 0.3g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
Keywords: homemade cheez-its, cheddar crackers, crunchy snack, baked crackers, cheesy snack, gluten-free crackers, easy snack recipe