Description
These homemade cheese crackers are a quick, pantry-friendly snack that takes just 5 minutes of prep and 15 minutes to bake. They are crispy, sharp, and perfect for lunchboxes or after-school snacking.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (100g) finely grated sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup (120g) all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup (115g) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1–2 tablespoons ice water
- 2 tablespoons extra shredded cheese (for topping)
- Coarse sea salt (for sprinkling)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, combine flour, garlic powder, paprika, and salt.
- Add the cold, cubed butter to the flour mixture. Use a fork or pastry cutter to press the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with pea-sized bits of butter remaining.
- Stir in the finely grated cheddar cheese until evenly distributed.
- If the mixture is too dry to hold together, add ice water one tablespoon at a time until the dough comes together into a ball.
- Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and roll it out to about 1/8 inch thickness.
- Transfer the rolled dough (on parchment paper) to a baking sheet.
- Cut the dough into squares or desired shapes using a knife or cookie cutter. Optionally, score the dough without cutting all the way through for easier breaking later.
- Brush tops lightly with milk or cream (optional) and sprinkle with extra shredded cheese and coarse sea salt.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes until edges are golden brown.
- Let crackers cool on the baking sheet for at least 10 minutes to become fully crispy before serving.
Notes
Keep all ingredients cold, especially the butter, to ensure flaky crackers. Grate your own cheese from a block rather than using pre-grated cheese to avoid anti-caking agents that can make the dough gritty. Cool crackers completely before storing to maintain crispness. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 2
- Calories: 90
- Sodium: 120
- Fat: 6
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 6
- Protein: 3
Keywords: homemade cheese crackers, back to school snack, 5 minute snack, easy crackers, lunchbox ideas, kid friendly snacks, gluten free option