Cheddar-Parmesan Crackers

Yield: 3 dozen crackers, serves 8 to 10

Ingredients

4 ounces cheddar, coarsely grated

2 ounces Parmesan, finely grated

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon dry mustard

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, softened and cut into small pieces

2 tablespoons water, plus more if needed

Directions

In the bowl of a food processor, place all ingredients except the butter and water. Pulse 5 times. Add the butter and pulse again until the butter pieces are the size of BBs. Add the water, 1 tablespoon at a time, and pulse just until the dough holds together. If the dough is still crumbly, add more water, 1 teaspoon at a time, until it reaches the right consistency.

Turn the dough out onto a large piece of waxed paper. Roll the dough into a log, 9 to 10 inches long, and square off the ends. Refrigerate, well wrapped, for at least 2 hours and up to 2 days. Or freeze it for up to 1 month. (You may want to cut the log in half or in thirds to freeze if you think you will want to defrost a smaller amount at a time.)

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

To make the crackers, cut the log into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Arrange the slices on a baking sheet 1-inch apart. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the crackers are a light golden color. Turn the crackers and bake for 3 to 5 more minutes, or until they are golden around the edges. Cool on a rack. Serve at room temperature.

Recipe courtesy Laura Werlin, via Sara's Secrets

Comments from the Counter: These are the best cheddar crackers ever and I have made them since 2006.

Still having issues with temperature and time – not sure what to do, but the old oven may be part of the problem – it burned at 375 degrees in the old oven, but this one is better, I think.

I use more cayenne - it gives a nice heat at the end of the cracker taste - very good. Heaping 1/4 tsp of both mustard and cayenne.

Not this time, but previously I have made these after freezing them - just as good and nice to have on hand. 

These are truly the best cheese cracker in my extensive repertoire -- I mean if you have a section 2" thick in your recipe binder just for cheese crackers ... probably not stable mentally, but you have some damn good crackers.