Description
These Southern Cheese Crackers are buttery, flaky, crispy, and packed with bold sharp cheddar flavor. A true Southern classic, these homemade cheese biscuits—also known as cheese pennies—are easy to make, incredibly addictive, and perfect for holidays, road trips, grazing boards, or everyday snacking. Made with simple pantry staples, they come together quickly, store wonderfully, and can be customized with herbs, spices, or different cheeses for endless variations.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients:
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (freshly grated preferred)
- 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, chilled and cubed
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
- ½ tsp salt
- 1–2 tbsp cold water, as needed
Optional Add-Ins:
- 1 tbsp finely chopped chives or rosemary
- A dash of smoked paprika
Variations:
- Cheese Pennies: Add ¼ tsp dry mustard.
- Spicy: Use pepper jack or extra cayenne.
- Herb Crackers: Mix in thyme, rosemary, or fresh herbs.
- Smoky: Try smoked gouda or white cheddar.
Instructions
- Pulse Dry Ingredients: In a food processor, combine flour, salt, garlic powder, and cayenne. Add the cubed butter and pulse until coarse crumbs form.
- Add Cheese: Add the shredded cheddar and pulse. Gradually add cold water until the dough just comes together.
- Chill: Form dough into a disk, wrap, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Roll & Cut: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Roll dough ¼-inch thick and cut into small squares, circles, or shapes.
- Bake: Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake 12–15 minutes until golden and crisp.
- Cool & Serve: Cool on a wire rack and store in an airtight container.
Notes
- Freshly shredded cheese melts better than pre-shredded.
- Keep the butter and dough cold for flaky crackers.
- Do not skip chilling—prevents spreading.
- Add smoked paprika for extra depth and color.
- Almond flour can be used with cornstarch for gluten-free version.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Appetizers
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5 crackers
- Calories: 160
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 10g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
Keywords: Southern Cheese Crackers, Cheese Crackers Recipe, Cheese Pennies, Southern Snacks, Cheddar Crackers, Homemade Crackers