There’s something about Cheez-Its that’s just nostalgic. That sharp cheddar flavor, the satisfying crunch, and the way they disappear by the handful. These homemade Cheez-Its capture everything you love about the original but taste fresher and cheesier (because they are).
With just a few simple ingredients, you can make a batch of real deal cheese crackers right at home. Plus, you can adjust the texture to your liking: softer and flakier, or crisp and crunchy like the store bought version.
Make-Ahead Tip
You can make the dough ahead of time and refrigerate it for up to 2 days. When you’re ready to bake, just roll, cut, and pop them in the oven. The chilled dough actually makes rolling easier!
Tips
- For extra sharp flavor, use aged cheddar or a mix of cheddar and Parmesan.
- To make them extra crispy, turn the oven off after baking and leave them inside (door cracked) for 5–10 minutes.
- Store cooled crackers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.
Classic Homemade Cheez-Its
Prep Time:
15 minutes
Cook Time:
15 minutes
Additional Time:
30 minutes
Total Time:
1 hour
Ingredients
- 8 oz (about 2 cups) sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 4 tbsp (½ stick) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- 1 tsp kosher salt, plus more for sprinkling
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- ¾ cup to 1 cup all-purpose flour (¾ cup for softer Cheez-Its, 1 cup for crunchier, classic-style Cheez-Its)
Instructions
- Add the shredded cheddar, butter, salt, garlic powder, and flour to a food processor. Pulse until the mixture looks crumbly and starts to clump together into a dough. If it seems dry, you can add ½–1 teaspoon of water, but usually the butter and cheese provide enough moisture.
- Shape the dough into a disk, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes (or up to 2 days). Chilling helps the crackers hold their shape and bake up crisp.
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Roll out half the dough on a lightly floured surface or between parchment sheets until it’s about ⅛ inch thick.
- Use a pizza cutter or pastry wheel to cut into 1-inch squares. Use a skewer or straw to poke a hole in the center of each cracker (optional, but helps with baking evenly).
- Place the squares on the prepared baking sheets and sprinkle lightly with salt (optional). Bake for 12–15 minutes, until golden around the edges. Watch closely at the end, they go from perfect to overbaked quickly!
- Let cool completely on a baking sheet or wire rack. They’ll crisp up more as they cool. Enjoy!
