There’s nothing better than a handful of Cheez-Its. The only problem? It’s hard to stop at just one handful and a healthier alternative would be so much better! With our Homemade Cheez It recipe, you never have to worry about running out of your favorite snack. Especially because they’re so easy to make and much healthier for you.
Part of what makes Cheez-Its so great is their simple flavor profile, which makes recreating these crackers a breeze. With a combination of sharp Cheddar, decadent parmesan, and a spice blend that adds just the right amount of zip, you may like Homemade Cheez-Its better than store bought.
Keep a batch of Homemade Cheez-Its on hand to combat those nostalgic snack cravings. With a shelf life of two weeks, you can prep the snack ahead of time for any road trips. This is also the perfect snack to give hungry kiddos raiding the pantry. Without further ado, let’s dive into the cheesy goodness.
The Cheez-It Snack Fun Facts
What’s the deal with Cheez-Its? Check out these fun facts!
- Green & Green Company created Cheez-Its in 1921, though they looked entirely different than what we have today.
- Cheez-Its may seem simple: flour, cheese, salt, right? Think again! Cheez-Its has developed over 30 flavors, including Smoked Cheddar, Asiago, White Cheddar, and Bacon.
- In 2017, Cheez-Its came up with a bunch of new flavors marketed to football enthusiasts, including Cheeseburger. The jury’s out on that one.
- Cheez-Its neon orange color is part of its appeal. This hue comes from a combination of paprika and natural food dyes.
- Cheez-Its has quite the celebrity following, with stars like Snookie and RuPaul landing their own collaborations.
- In 2024, Taco Bell partnered with Cheez-It to create the Big Cheez-It menu featuring, you guessed it, giant Cheez-Its. The menu includes a tostada and a twist on the Crunchwrap Supreme.
Cost of Making The Homemade Cheez It Recipe
If you were to grab a box of Cheez-Its at the store, you’d pay $4.78. In contrast, you can make double the amount of our Homemade Cheez-its for just $4.15. Remember that this may vary based on your locale and ingredient availability.
Here’s how that breaks down:
- Cheddar cheese: $2.50
- Parmesan cheese: $0.50
- Butter: $0.50
- Salt: $0.02
- Garlic powder: $0.10
- Smoked paprika: $0.20
- Cayenne pepper: $0.03
- Flour: $0.30
Grand total: $4.15! What a great cost for a wholesome alternative to a timeless favorite. Not to mention…the skills you learn in the kitchen are priceless.
How to Make Homemade Cheez-Its
Here’s how to make a batch of crispy, savory Cheez-Its.
Step One: Create the Cheez-Its Dough
In a large bowl or stand mixer, combine the Cheddar cheese, Parmesan, butter, salt, garlic powder, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, and flour until the mixture is coarse and resembles small pebbles.
Slowly add the water, one tablespoon at a time, until the mixture comes together into a dough. Form the dough into a ball and tightly cover it with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least one hour. This makes the Cheez-It dough easier to work with.
Step Two: Form the Cheez-Its
Preheat the oven to 375℉ and line two baking trays with parchment paper.
Divide the dough in half and roll each piece into a 10×12-inch rectangular shape. Use a pastry cutter or sharp knife to cut the rectangle into small squares. You can use a fluted pastry cutter to achieve ridged edges or lightly press a fork into the cracker’s edges. If you’re less picky about aesthetics, you can use a pizza cutter to cut the crackers.
Poke a hole in the top of each square with a toothpick to give the crackers an authentic Cheez-It appearance.
Step Three: Bake and Serve
Bake the crackers for 12-15 minutes until each cracker puffs up and is brown at the edges. Keep a close eye on your oven, as this can happen faster than expected, depending on your climate and appliance.
Remove the crackers from the oven and immediately transfer them to a cooling rack. Garnish with sea salt, if desired, and let cool before serving. The longer your crackers sit, the crispier they’ll get. Enjoy!
Homemade Cheez-It Recipe Customization Options
Cheez-Its come in various flavors, and you can easily recreate the same effect at home. For example, if you want white Cheez-Its, you can use white Cheddar or pepper Jack cheese. If you prefer smoky Cheez-Its, add a dash of liquid smoke.
Firebreathers can add a dash of Tabasco sauce..or two if you’re brave. You can also experiment with various seasoning blends, like your favorite BBQ seasoning. The sky’s the limit!
RELATED: Homemade Takis: The Perfect Crunch and Munch Snack
Storing Leftover Homemade Cheez-Its
Like any crispy snack, Homemade Cheez-Its are prone to going stale and require proper storage for best results. Store your leftover Cheez-Its in an airtight container or Ziploc bag. With proper storage, your crackers will last about 2 weeks…if you can resist them that long!
You can also vacuum seal them to make them last longer.
Homemade Cheez It Recipe: Budget-Friendly and Very Addictive
Equipment
- 1 Baking Sheets
- 1 Stand Mixer
- 1 Cooling Rack
- 1 Toothpick
Ingredients
- 1 count cheddar cheese block 8-ounce, shredded
- 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese grated / powdered
- 4 tablespoons butter diced
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne
- 1 cup flour
- 3 tablespoons water
Instructions
- In a large bowl or stand mixer, combine the Cheddar cheese, Parmesan, butter, salt, garlic powder, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, and flour until the mixture is coarse and resembles small pebbles.1 count cheddar cheese block, 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese, 4 tablespoons butter, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1/8 teaspoon cayenne, 1 cup flour, 1 teaspoon sea salt
- Slowly add the water, one tablespoon at a time, until the mixture comes together into a dough. Form the dough into a ball and tightly cover it with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least one hour.3 tablespoons water
- Preheat the oven to 375℉ and line two baking trays with parchment paper.
- Divide the dough in half and roll each piece into a 10×12-inch rectangular shape. Use a pastry cutter or sharp knife to cut the rectangle into small squares. You can use a fluted pastry cutter to achieve ridged edges or lightly press a fork into the cracker's edges.
- Poke a hole in the top of each square with a toothpick to give the crackers an authentic Cheez-It appearance.
- Bake the crackers for 12-15 minutes until each cracker puffs up and is brown at the edges. Keep a close eye on your oven, as this can happen faster than expected, depending on your climate and appliance.
- Remove from the oven and immediately transfer the crackers to a cooling rack. Garnish with sea salt, if desired, and let cool before serving. Enjoy!
