Homemade Cheez-Its are the perfect alternative to store-bought crackers.

These crackers are made with bright and tangy flavors of cheddar cheese, butter, and just a little bit of shortening! Kids and adults alike with love them.

bowls of Homemade Cheez-Its

These Homemade Cheez-Its Will Become a Favorite Because…

  • It’s a must-try homemade snack made with just a few simple ingredients.
  • These are crispy and crunchy on the outside and flaky on the inside.
  • These are the perfect afterschool snack or take-along lunchbox stuffable.
  • And we can’t forget the satisfying cheese flavor.
salt , water , flour , cheese , shortening , and butter with labels to make Homemade Cheez-Its

Ingredients

Cheese: Sharp cheddar cheese is the best option for these crackers because of its bold and tangy flavor.

Butter: Choose unsalted butter for the best results and mix with a shelf-stable shortening.

Make It Your Own!

Right before the baking process, feel free to sprinkle on whatever seasonings you might like:

How to Make Cheez-Its

  1. Combine ingredients until a dough forms (full recipe below).
  2. Cover the ball in plastic wrap and refrigerate.
  3. Roll out and cut into squares with a pastry wheel. Poke a hole in the center of each and place it on a baking sheet.
  4. Bake, cool, and serve.

Cutting the Crackers

A fluted pastry wheel is the best option for cutting. However, a pizza cutter will also work. Have neither? Use a sharp paring knife.

Storing Homemade Crackers

Just like any other cracker, homemade cheez-its need to be stored in an airtight container or zippered bag at room temperature. They will last up to a week.

More Snacks to Crave!

Did you enjoy these Homemade Cheez-Its? Leave a comment and rating below.

image of Everyday Comfort cookbook by Holly Nilsson of Spend With Pennies plus text
bowl full of Homemade cheez-its
4.86 from 7 votes↑ Click stars to rate now!
Or to leave a comment, click here!

Homemade Cheez-Its

Homemade Cheez-Its are a simple snack that is perfect for stuffing into lunchboxes.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 6
buy hollys book

Ingredients  

  • 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese shredded
  • 3 tablespoons cold butter cut into small pieces
  • 1 tablespoon shortening
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons ice cold water

Instructions 

  • In a food processor, add the cheese, flour, butter, shortening, and salt. Pulse several times to combine.
  • Gradually add cold water until the dough forms a ball, you may not need all of the water. The dough should not be sticky. Form the dough into a 4-inch disc, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate 30 minutes.
  • Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • On a well floured surface, roll out the dough to ⅛-inch thickness. With a pastry wheel or a sharp knife, cut the dough into 1-inch squares and use a skewer or toothpick to poke a hole in the center of each.
  • Bake for 19-23 minutes or until light brown at the edges. Transfer to a cooling rack and cool completely.

Notes

Cheez-Its will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week. 
8 oz of shredded cheddar cheese should measure about 2 cups.
4.86 from 7 votes

Nutrition Information

Serving: 12crackers | Calories: 299 | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 53mg | Sodium: 681mg | Potassium: 53mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.2g | Vitamin A: 554IU | Calcium: 272mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Snack
Cuisine American
tangy Homemade Cheez-Its in bowls with a title
bowl of Homemade Cheez-Its with a title
tasty and addictive Homemade Cheez-Its with writing
Homemade Cheez-Its on a sheet pan and in a bowl with a title

Categories:

,

Recipes you'll love

About the author

Holly Nilsson is the creator of Spend With Pennies, where she creates easy, comforting recipes made for real life. With a passion for nostalgic flavors and simplified techniques, Holly helps busy home cooks create delicious meals that always work. She is also the author of “Everyday Comfort,” which promises to inspire even more hearty, home-cooked meals.
See more posts by Holly

Follow Holly on social media:

pinterest facebook twitter instagram

Free eBook!

Subscribe to receive weekly recipes and get a FREE Bonus e-book: Quick & Easy Weeknight Meals!

You can unsubscribe anytime by clicking the “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of emails you receive.

4.86 from 7 votes (3 ratings without comment)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Comments

  1. Great lil snack. Made them as is and then decided to try a different cheeses. I used pepper jack and also tried cheddar with Monterey Jack all are great. So versatile. Thank you.5 stars

      1. These were so delicious! I also packed some for a school snack. I love being able to send a Homemade snack to school with my son. Thank you for sharing this recipe!!5 stars

  2. These are fantastic and I’m sure much better for you than store bought cheez-it’s! Will make often as our family likes to snack! (Will probably experiment with different cheeses as well just for fun)!5 stars

    1. Shortening is vegetable shortening, a white fat made from vegetables. You can see what it looks like here on Amazon. In the UK, you may find it known as “vegetable fat” branded as Trex. Hope that helps!

  3. It’s not fair as all our grandkids are big now & it’s no fun fixing special stuff for my husband & I