Homemade Cheez-Its

Author Notes

These tasty little cheese crackers are extra-delicious when made from scratch. Once you've gotten your fill of classic cheddar, feel free to switch them up. Try grated Parmigiano-Reggiano instead of cheddar or add a little cayenne for some kick. —Samantha Seneviratne

Test Kitchen Notes

You may not ever think about making something like Cheez-Its at home, but it's a lot easier than you think, and you know exactly what goes into them—not something you could probably say about the crackers that come in a bag at the store. They also taste better and are super-fun to put together. No fancy ingredients or chemicals you can't pronounce here. All you need for this recipe is flour, baking powder, salt, butter, cheddar cheese, and an egg white. That's it! You do, however, need a food processor and fluted pastry wheel to get that classic square shape. They're perfect to make for a party appetizer or fun game day snack. Or just keep a container in your pantry so you can reach for a Cheez-It or two whenever the craving strikes.

After pulsing the flour, baking powder, and salt in the food processor, simply add the cheese and butter and keep pulsing. Gradually adding water helps bind the dough together. It really is so simple, and you'll find a variety of uses for this foolproof dough. It has to first chill for a half an hour, then after cutting (and poking the hole in the center!), the dough continues to set in the freezer for about 10 minutes, though you could store the dough in the freezer for a few weeks if you want to plan ahead of time. After that, the crackers take just about 15 minutes to bake in in the oven, and your Cheez-Its are ready to go. —The Editors