Description
Easy Crispy Southern Cheese Crackers are a quick and simple snack that delivers a rich, sharp cheddar flavor with a satisfying crunch. Perfectly golden and flaky, these crackers bring a touch of Southern charm to your snack time or party platter, made with minimal pantry staples and ready in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, finely grated
- 1 cup all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour blend for gluten-free version)
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, cold and cut into pieces
- 2–3 tablespoons cold water
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Optional Seasonings
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika or cayenne pepper (for a spicy Southern twist)
- 1/2 teaspoon dried herbs such as thyme, rosemary, or chives (for herb infusion)
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough: Start by grating your sharp cheddar cheese finely. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. Cut in cold unsalted butter pieces until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add the grated cheese and mix evenly. Slowly add cold water a tablespoon at a time while stirring until the dough comes together but isn’t too sticky.
- Roll and Chill: Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead briefly to combine. Roll it out evenly into a thin rectangle about 1/8 inch thick. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill it in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to firm up and make it easier to cut.
- Cut and Arrange: Remove the dough from the fridge and slice it into small squares or use a cookie cutter to create fun shapes. Place the crackers on a parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving space between them to ensure even baking.
- Bake to Perfection: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Bake the crackers for 12-15 minutes or until they turn golden brown and crispy on the edges. Keep an eye toward the end to avoid burning.
- Cool and Enjoy: Once baked, allow the crackers to cool completely on a wire rack. This step lets them crisp up perfectly before you dive into that first delicious bite.
Notes
- Use cold ingredients: Keeping butter and water cold ensures a flaky texture and easy dough handling.
- Thin is key: Roll the dough thinly to about 1/8 inch thick for maximum crispiness and perfect bite-sized crackers.
- Don’t overcrowd the baking sheet: Allow space for air circulation so crackers bake evenly and stay crispy.
- Watch the bake time carefully: Check after 10 minutes as crackers can go from golden to burnt quickly.
- Store crackers in an airtight container once cooled to maintain their crunch.
- To re-crisp crackers that have lost their crunch, bake in a preheated 300°F oven for 5 minutes.
- You can freeze the unbaked dough wrapped tightly in plastic wrap for up to one month before baking fresh crackers.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5 crackers
- Calories: 110
- Sugar: 0.3g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 6g
- Fiber: 0.3g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
Keywords: cheese crackers, Southern snack, crispy crackers, cheddar crackers, easy snack, gluten-free crackers