Homemade Cheez Its Recipe

Introduction

Homemade Cheez Its are a crunchy, cheesy snack that’s perfect for anytime munching. With sharp cheddar and a touch of salt, these little crackers are easy to make and far superior to store-bought versions.

Ingredients

• 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

1. Step 1: Place the butter and sharp cheddar cheese into a mixing bowl. Using a standing mixer or an electric mixer, mix on medium/high speed for 4-5 minutes until smooth, combined, and fluffy.
2. Step 2: Whisk 1 teaspoon of kosher salt into the flour. Slowly add the flour and salt mixture to the bowl, mixing on low speed until it forms a dry crumble.
3. Step 3: Add cold water one teaspoon at a time, mixing slowly, until a dough begins to form.
4. Step 4: Shape the dough into a ball, then flatten it into a disk. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
5. Step 5: Preheat the oven to 375ºF and remove the dough from the fridge.
6. Step 6: On a piece of parchment paper, roll the dough into a large rectangle less than ⅛ inch thick.
7. Step 7: Using a ruler, mark 1-inch intervals vertically and horizontally to create a cutting grid.
8. Step 8: Carefully cut along the marks with a pizza cutter or pastry cutter, avoiding cutting the parchment paper.
9. Step 9: Use the flat end of a wooden skewer to prick a small hole in the center of each square.
10. Step 10: Transfer the parchment paper with the cut squares onto a large baking sheet, keeping squares from touching.
11. Step 11: Brush each square with olive oil and sprinkle with kosher salt.
12. Step 12: Bake for 15-17 minutes until the crackers start to brown.
13. Step 13: Remove from oven, carefully transfer the crackers (still on parchment) to a cooling rack, and allow to cool completely.

Tips & Variations

• Grate your own sharp cheddar cheese for better flavor and texture compared to pre-shredded.
• For extra cheesiness, sprinkle a little grated Parmesan on top before baking.
• Experiment with spices like smoked paprika or garlic powder added to the dough for a flavor twist.
• Use a fork instead of a skewer to poke holes if you prefer a different pattern.

Storage

Store homemade Cheez Its in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week to maintain their crunch. If they lose crispness, reheat briefly in a 300ºF oven for a few minutes to refresh.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use a different type of cheese?

Yes, but sharp cheddar gives the best classic flavor and texture. Softer cheeses or milder options may alter the taste and crispness.

What if my dough is too dry or too wet?

If the dough is crumbly and won’t come together, add a little more cold water, a teaspoon at a time. If it’s sticky, add a bit more flour until it’s manageable.

Homemade Cheez Its Recipe

---

★★★★★

4.8 from 81 reviews

• Author: Harry
• Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
• Yield: Approximately 48 crackers 1x
• Diet: Vegetarian

Pin Recipe

Print Recipe

Description

This Homemade Cheez-Its recipe produces the perfect crispy, cheesy crackers with just the right amount of salt and sharp cheddar flavor. Made from scratch with simple ingredients like butter, sharp cheddar cheese, flour, and olive oil, these homemade snacks are baked to golden perfection and are great for snacking or serving at parties.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Cheese Dough

• ¼ cup unsalted butter (room temperature)
• 8 oz. sharp cheddar cheese (shredded)
• 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt + more for topping
• 2–3 tablespoons cold water

Topping

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Kosher salt for sprinkling

---

Instructions

1. Mix Butter and Cheese: Place the room temperature unsalted butter and shredded sharp cheddar cheese into a mixing bowl. Using a standing mixer or electric mixer, mix on medium/high speed for 4-5 minutes until the mixture is smooth, combined, and fluffy.
2. Combine Flour and Salt: Add 1 teaspoon kosher salt to the all-purpose flour and whisk to combine. Slowly add the flour and salt mixture to the butter-cheese mixture while mixing on low speed. The dough will begin to resemble a dry crumble.
3. Add Water to Form Dough: Gradually add cold water one teaspoon at a time to the bowl, mixing continuously until the dough starts to form.
4. Chill Dough: Shape the dough into a ball, then flatten it into a disk. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to firm up.
5. Preheat Oven: Remove the dough from the refrigerator and preheat your oven to 375ºF (190ºC).
6. Roll Out Dough: Place a piece of parchment paper on the countertop and roll out the chilled dough into a large rectangle less than ⅛ inch thick.
7. Mark Grid: Use a ruler to measure 1-inch intervals both vertically and horizontally to create a cutting grid on the dough.
8. Cut Squares: Carefully slice along the markings with a pizza cutter or pastry cutter to create 1-inch squares, taking care not to cut through the parchment paper.
9. Make Holes: Use the flat end of a wooden skewer to poke small holes in the center of each square to help the crackers bake evenly and crisp.
10. Transfer to Baking Sheet: Move the parchment paper with the cut squares onto a large baking sheet, spacing the crackers so they do not touch.
11. Brush with Oil and Salt: Lightly brush each cracker with olive oil and sprinkle with additional kosher salt to taste.
12. Bake: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake the crackers for 15-17 minutes or until they are golden brown and crisp.
13. Cool: Remove from the oven and immediately transfer the parchment paper with crackers to a cooling rack. Allow the crackers to cool completely before serving or storing.

Notes

• Ensure the butter is at room temperature for easier mixing and better texture.
• Use sharp cheddar cheese for the best flavor and a nice cheesy bite.
• Do not roll the dough thicker than ⅛ inch to ensure the crackers come out crisp.
• Adjust the amount of salt sprinkled on top according to your taste preference.
• Store completely cooled crackers in an airtight container to maintain freshness.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 15-17 minutes
• Category: Snack
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Keywords: homemade cheez its, cheddar crackers, cheesy snacks, homemade crackers, baked cheese crackers