Crispy Cheddar Goldfish Crackers
What Makes These Irresistible?
Who doesn’t love the salty, cheesy crunch of goldfish crackers? Now, you can recreate that nostalgic snack at home with this easy recipe! Made with sharp cheddar cheese, butter, and a few simple pantry ingredients, these crackers are packed with real cheese flavor and none of the preservatives. Perfect for kids' lunchboxes, game-day spreads, or snacking straight from the jar, they’re as fun to make as they are to eat.
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Ingredients
block or bag (8 oz) sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (make sure it’s good quality cheese!)
4 cup (4 tablespoons) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubed
1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
2 tablespoons cold water
Flaky sea salt, for topping (optional)
Instructions
Prepare the Dough: In the bowl of a food processor, pulse together cheese, butter, flour, salt, garlic powder and onion powder until mixture resembles coarse sand.
Drizzle in water while pulsing the food processor just until a dough comes together.
Remove dough from food processor; press and roll into a disk shape, then cover tightly with plastic wrap. Chill dough for at least 20 minutes (up to 1 day).
Roll out the Dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Using a goldfish cracker cookie cutter or other small cookie cutter, cut dough into shapes. Poke each cracker once with a toothpick to form the “eye” and also keep crackers from puffing too much in the oven. Reroll scraps once, if needed, to make more crackers.
Preheat oven to 350F. Place crackers at least 1/2-inch apart on prepared baking sheet (you may need to bake in batches). Sprinkle with flaky sea salt, if desired.
Bake for 11 to 13 minutes or until crackers are puffed and golden. Cool completely on baking sheet.
Notes:
Chill Time is Crucial: Chilling the dough helps the butter solidify, which is essential for achieving a flaky, crisp texture. If you skip this step, your crackers might spread too much while baking.
Cheese Matters: For the best flavor, use a high-quality sharp cheddar cheese. Pre-shredded cheese often contains anti-caking agents that can affect the dough’s texture and flavor, so shredding your own is worth the effort.
Keep an Eye on Baking: These crackers bake quickly, so keep an eye on them in the last few minutes. Aim for a golden color, as overbaking can result in a bitter taste from the cheese.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 13 minutes
Total Time: 28 minutes
Yield: a whole bunch of goldfish!
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