Description
These Easy Homemade Baked Cheez-It Crackers are a delicious and simple snack that you can make from scratch using sharp cheddar cheese, butter, and a blend of spices. Crispy, cheesy, and perfectly seasoned, these crackers are baked to golden perfection and make a perfect savory treat or party appetizer.
Ingredients
Scale
Cracker Dough
- 4 oz unsalted butter, cold and cut into 16 pieces
- 4 oz sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/8 tsp white pepper
- Pinch cayenne pepper (add more for extra spice)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour (plus extra for flouring the work surface)
Instructions
- Process Ingredients: Place the cold butter, shredded cheddar cheese, kosher salt, white pepper, and cayenne pepper in a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Pulse until the butter is broken into uneven bits and the mixture forms small curds.
- Add Flour and Form Dough: Add the flour to the food processor and pulse again until the dough forms moist curds. This starts to come together as a dough.
- Knead Dough: Turn the dough onto a lightly floured work surface and knead gently until it just comes together into a cohesive dough.
- Shape and Chill Dough: Place the dough in a gallon-size Ziploc bag, place the bag on a flat surface, and roll the dough into an even rectangle that fills the bag. Turn the bag occasionally and lift the plastic to avoid creases in the dough. Seal the bag and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to 2 days to firm up.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets: When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper.
- Cut Crackers: Remove the dough from the bag onto lightly floured parchment paper. Using a ruler and a fluted pastry cutter, cut the dough into approximately 1-inch squares. Prick each square twice with a fork to prevent puffing during baking and transfer to the lined baking sheets.
- Bake: Bake the crackers at 350°F for 14 to 17 minutes, or until they are puffy and golden brown around the edges.
- Cool: Transfer the baked crackers to a wire rack and let them cool completely before serving.
Notes
- Make sure the butter is cold for a flakier texture.
- You can adjust the cayenne pepper quantity to make the crackers more or less spicy.
- Chilling the dough is crucial to prevent the crackers from spreading during baking.
- Pricking the crackers with a fork helps control puffing.
- Store cooled crackers in an airtight container to maintain crispiness.
