Easy Homemade Cheese Crackers (Printer-Friendly Version)

# What You'll Need:

→ Main Ingredients

01 - 6 ounces sharp yellow cheddar cheese, shredded (1½ cups)
02 - 1 cup (125g) all-purpose flour
03 - 1½ teaspoons cornstarch
04 - ¼ teaspoon salt
05 - 6 tablespoons (85g) unsalted butter, cold and cut into 6 pieces
06 - 2 tablespoons cold water
07 - Sea salt for sprinkling (optional)

# Let's Cook!:

01 - Process cheddar cheese, flour, cornstarch, and salt together in a food processor until combined, about 30 seconds. Add butter and process until mixture resembles wet sand, about 20 seconds. Add water and pulse until dough forms large clumps, about 10 pulses.
02 - Transfer dough to a lightly floured work surface. Divide in half and pat each into a 6-inch square. (No need to use a rolling pin, just pat with hands.) If the dough feels dry, moisten your fingers with cold water. Carefully wrap each in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, about 45 minutes and up to 2 days.
03 - Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
04 - Unwrap each dough square. Place each on a lightly floured work surface and roll out into a 9-inch square. Doesn't need to be perfect! Using a fluted pastry wheel, pizza cutter, or small sharp knife, trim dough into a neat 8 inch square. Slice square into 8 strips, each 1 inch wide, then make 8 perpendicular slices, each 1 inch wide. Each 8-inch square will have 64 squares (crackers).
05 - Place squares on prepared baking sheet. Use a skewer or large toothpick to poke a hole through the center of each. Lightly sprinkle with sea salt, if desired.
06 - Bake until golden brown around the edges, about 16-18 minutes, rotating the baking sheets halfway through baking. For crunchier crackers, bake for 20 minutes.
07 - Remove from the oven and cool completely on the baking sheet before serving.

# Recipe Notes:

01 - Store leftover crackers at room temperature for up to 1 week. If tightly sealed, they'll lose their crunch. Keep the lid slightly ajar to maintain crunchiness.
02 - You can use white cheddar or any medium-hard cheese instead of yellow cheddar. Avoid soft cheeses.