Homemade Cheez-its

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE baked cheese crackers.  {think Goldfish, Whales, Cheddar Bunnies, Cheez-its...I've tried them all}  At this point, I'm practically a baked cheese crackers connoisseur...you know you're jealous.

So, when I found a recipe on another blog for homemade cheez-its, I couldn't wait to make it, and share the results with you guys.  The cheez-its turned out great, and while they taste a bit more like cheese straws than actual cheez-its, they are just as addictive.  And, preservative-free and not hard at all to make, might I add.

Homemade Cheez-its

1 cup flour

4 tbsp cold butter, cut into small pieces

8 oz. extra sharp grated cheddar cheese

3/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper

3-4 tsp cold water

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Prepare a large baking sheet with parchments paper cut to fit the size and shape of the pan.

In a food processor, combine the flour, cheese, butter, salt and cayenne pepper.  Pulse until crumbly.

Add cold water, one teaspoon at a time, to bring the dough together.

Place the dough on the parchment paper and use a rolling pin to roll the dough to about 1/8 in.-thick.  They thinner you go, the crunchier the finished product. {I'm going to make mine even thinner next time}

Use a pizza cutter to divide the dough into squares and sprinkle with extra salt.

Cook for 25 minutes, cool and serve.

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