Cheese Herb Crispy Crackers (Printer-friendly)

Crispy crackers bursting with sharp cheddar, Parmesan, and fresh herbs, ideal for snacks or dips.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
03 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Cheese

04 - 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, finely grated
05 - 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

→ Herbs

06 - 2 tablespoons fresh chives, finely chopped
07 - 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves

→ Wet Ingredients

08 - 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold and cubed
09 - 3 to 4 tablespoons cold water

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, salt, and black pepper. Add grated cheddar, Parmesan, chives, and thyme. Mix thoroughly to distribute flavors evenly.
03 - Add cold butter cubes to the mixture. Using a pastry cutter or fingertips, rub butter into dry ingredients until texture resembles coarse crumbs.
04 - Drizzle in cold water one tablespoon at a time, mixing gently until dough just comes together. Avoid overworking the dough.
05 - Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and roll to 1/8-inch thickness.
06 - Cut dough into 1-inch squares or desired shapes. Place crackers on prepared baking sheet with slight spacing between each piece.
07 - Use a fork to prick each cracker to prevent puffing during baking.
08 - Bake for 18 to 22 minutes, or until golden brown and crisp. Cool completely on a wire rack.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • They're gone in minutes because the sharp cheddar hits first, then the herbs remind your palate it's fancy.
  • Cold butter and a light hand mean you get that shatteringly crisp texture that store-bought crackers only dream about.
02 -
  • Overworking the dough is the enemy—it develops gluten and makes your crackers tough instead of tender, so mix with a gentle hand and stop as soon as everything comes together.
  • Room-temperature water will warm your butter and compromise the crumbly texture, so always use cold water straight from the tap.
03 -
  • Grate your own cheese from a block rather than using pre-shredded—the texture and melt quality are noticeably better and your crackers will be crisper.
  • Roll the dough between two sheets of parchment paper if it's sticky; this avoids extra flour, which can make crackers tough, and you can peel the paper off cleanly before cutting.
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