Smoked Cheddar Crackers
These little delicious bursts of Cheese are not exactly what I would classify as healthy, except they are low in sugar, packed with protein (ok it is from cheese) but….you only need one or two because they are so amazingly packed with flavor and filling you really can just eat one or two. They are so good with wine I can nibble a few with a glass and call it a meal. OK, I can say that about a lot of things that go with wine, but these are my favorites.These are very high in calories so do limit yourself. I bundle up a half dozen or so in a pretty bag and give them with a bottle of wine for hostess gifts. These Smoked Cheddar Crackers are easy to make, freeze really well and taste way worse for you than they actually are. They are not processed, did not come out of a bag and if you use organic ingredients they are pretty whole foodish. Make a huge batch over the holidays and freeze them. Roll a few in seeds and a few in herbs for variety. They thaw really fast so you can pull them out the minute your doorbell rings and have something really sophisticated to serve on the spur of the moment. Add some Marinated Olives and you will rock the appetizer drink thing.
Smoked Cheddar Crackers
Prep
Cook
Total
Yield 40 crackers
These freeze wonderfully. You can also freeze the logs, then thaw, slice and bake. They are great as wine biscuits
Ingredients
- 1 cup Organic Smoked Cheddar Cheese, grated
- 1/2 cup Organic Sharp Cheddar Cheese, grated
- 3 Tablespoons Organic Unsalted Butter
- 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
- splash of Hot Pepper Sauce, Optional (I like smoked Chipotle)
- 1/2 teaspoon Dried Mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon Garlic and Herb Salt
- 1-1/2 cup Organic Flour (you can substitute Oat Flour or Gluten Free Bread Flour)
- Sesame Seeds
- Mixed Herbs, chopped fine or 1/2 cup Frozen Italian Herb Mix, thawed
Instructions
- Grate the cheese in the food processor
- Switch the blade and whirl in the Butter until it becomes coarse meal
- Add the Olive Oil , Pepper Sauce, Mustard and Salt and 1 cup flour
- Pulse a few times adding more Flour if it is sticky or a splash of Olive Oil if it is too dry
- You want it to form a soft ball
- Remove and shape into logs about 1 inch in diameter
- You can do 2 long or 4 shorter logs
- Wrap in foil or plastic and refrigerate until firm (or stick in the freezer about 15 min)
- Heat oven to 375f or 180c
- Roll the logs in Sesame Seeds or Herbs
- Slice into 1/8 inch thick slices
- Place on a Paper Lined cookie sheet
- Bake 10-12 minutes until golden and firm, cool completely before serving
Notes
Putting the cheeses in the freezer for about 20 minutes make grating easy and the logs are easier to roll
Marinated Olives with Smoked Cheddar Crackers
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