Gluten-Free Smoked Cheddar
Cheese Crackers (Cheez-its)
6 ingredients | Snack | copy cat
There are some snacks that instantly take you back to childhood.
For me, it’s those little cheesy crackers that somehow disappeared by the handful. You know the ones.
Salty. Crispy. Cheesy. Impossible to stop eating.
These Gluten-Free Smoked Cheddar Cheese Crackers are a great homemade snack — with one very important upgrade: smoked cheddar cheese. And wow does it make a difference.
The smoky, sharp cheese flavor paired with buttery, crispy crackers creates the kind of snack that disappears alarmingly fast.
These Gluten-Free Smoked Cheddar Cheese Crackers are crispy, cheesy, buttery, salty, and everything a good snack should be. They feel nostalgic. They taste better than the boxed version.
And they prove that gluten-free snacks don’t have to settle for “good enough.” Because crispy cheese always wins.
Why You'll Love These Crackers
- Gluten free
- Crispy and crunchy
- Perfectly salty
- Made with simple ingredients
- Great for lunchboxes and snack boards
- Way more flavorful than store-bought
Why Smoked Cheddar Makes Them Better
Regular cheddar would still be delicious. And you can replace it, if you prefer that. An equal swap.
But smoked cheddar takes these crackers from “good” to “where did the entire batch go?”
The slight smoky flavor adds depth without making them feel fancy or complicated.It simply makes them more interesting.
And if you’re already making homemade cheese crackers, you might as well make them memorable.
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Simple Ingredients, Big Flavor
You’ll only need:
- Gluten-free flour
- Smoked cheddar cheese
- Butter
- Garlic powder
- Salt
- Cold water
That’s it. No long ingredient list. No strange additives.
Just real ingredients doing what they’re supposed to do.
Perfect For
These crackers are great for:
- lunchboxes
- after-school snacks
- road trips
- charcuterie boards
- soup nights
- movie nights
- standing at the kitchen counter pretending you’re only having one
Chef Tip
Don’t overwork the dough. Mix it just until it comes together. You hands will naturally warm the cheese and help the dough come together but the more you handle it, the temperature of the dough will change too much – not giving them the crispy texture.
The colder the dough, the easier it is to work with and the crispier the crackers become.
And make sure you bake them until they’re lightly golden on the edges – don’t take them out od the oven
Disclaimer: Please note that some of the links in this blog post are affiliate links and I will earn a commission if you purchase through those links. I use all of the products that I link and reccommend them because they are high quality products that I trust.
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Gluten-Free Smoked Cheddar Cheese Crackers (Cheez-its)
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 8+ 1x
- Diet: Gluten-Free
Description
These gluten-free smoked cheddar cheese crackers are crispy, buttery, perfectly salty, and packed with smoky cheddar flavor. A homemade snack everyone will love.
Ingredients
- 1 cup gluten-free flour (I've used Pamela's and King Arthur)
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 8 oz. smoked cheddar cheese, grated
- 3 tablespoons cold salted butter, cubed
- 4-6 tablespoons cold water
Get Recipe Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees (I used convection bake). Line a baking sheet tray with parchment paper.
- Place the flour, salt, garlic powder and cheese in a food processor. Pulse 6 times or until everything is fully incorporated and the cheese is in tiny pieces.
- Add in the cold butter, pulse to combine until the butter is in baby pea sizes. Add in 2 tablespoons of cold water and pulse once. Add in 2 more tablespoons of cold water, pulse until the dough starts to come together. If you need more water, add it in, 1 tablespoon at a time (reference the above photos – the last one in the food processor bowl is what you are wanting it to look like).
- Lightly dust your countertop with flour. Dump the cracker mixture on top. Using your hands (I like to put gloves on for this step), press the dough into itself. Fold and press – repeat until the dough is smooth and stays together. Form it into a disk. Use a rolling pin to roll the dough out to over 12 inch x 12 inch – the dough should be 1/4 inch thick or a bit thinner.
- Use a pastry cutter or sharp knife to cut the crackers into squares. I used a ruler to make it easier to cut 1 inch x 1 inch squares. Place them on the sheet tray. Form the scraps of dough back into a disk and repeat the roll out process and cutting until all the dough is used and made into crackers.
- Arrange the crackers neatly on a sheet tray about 1/4 inch apart. Use the back of a chop stick to lightly press into the center of each of the crackers. You don’t need to go completely through just a little dot or dimple works great.
- Bake for 8-9 minutes. I baked mine for 9 minutes – or until the edges were crispy brown and the bottoms were browned as well. Remove from the oven and let cool on the baking sheet tray. If you are feeling zesty, sprinkle them with flake salt.
Notes
This recipe is made by mixing the ingredients in a food processor. It works great to make the best texture of the cheese, butter and overall cracker.
It’s best to reference the photos above for the consistency you are trying to achieve int he food processor and on your countertop.
For the cold water, I like to place 4-6 ice cubes in a measure cup or small bowl. Add about 1/2 cup of cold water to it. This keeps the water cold, while you measure it out.
To store them, wait until they are completely cooled. Either place them in a ziploc bag or glass container with a lid.
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 10
- Category: Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Hi, I'm Kat.
Thanks for being here.
Hi, I’m Kat — a Colorado-based Personal Chef and the heart behind White Sparrow Food Company. As a business owner, a soccer Mom to two daughters and always being asked “What’s for dinner?” – I get the challenges of everyday life.
Here, I share the same easy, wholesome, gluten free recipes I cook for my clients, made simple for real life at home. All recipes that YOU can make in your kitchen.
Take a look around, get inspired, and stay awhile — I’m so happy you’re here.
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