Sharp Cheddar Chili Cheese Crackers Recipe 455

Steps:

• In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat together butter, cheese, salt, and pepper. It may seem strange to blend butter and cheese, but it will come together in a softball. With mixer on low-speed, slowly add flour. Mixture will become dry and crumbly. Add 2 tablespoons of water, 1 tablespoon at a time. Beat until mixture just comes together into a ball. The mixture may take an extra teaspoon of water, but don't add too much. The dough should be moist but not wet. Knead the spices into the dough. Leaving streaks of the seasoning is just fine. Wrap each disk of cracker dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, but an hour is better. The dough can also be frozen for future use. While dough chills, place a rack in the center and upper third of the oven and preheat oven to 375°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside. On a lightly floured work surface, roll the dough very thin, about an eighth of an inch thick. Use a round cookie cutter to cut out the crackers. If you like them square, you can just use a knife and cut the dough into squares. Dot center of cracker with a fork so that it cooks evenly. Place crackers on prepared baking sheets. The pieces can be close together as they won't expand much when baking. Bake for 13 to 15 minutes until fragrant, golden brown, and crisp. Allow to cool before serving. The crackers can be stored in an airtight container for 2 or 3 days.

Steps:

• Put the Cheddar, flour, butter, salt, seasoned salt and cayenne in a food processor and pulse until the mixture resembles sand. Add the ice water and pulse until the dough comes together. Form the dough into a ball, wrap in plastic and refrigerate for 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat.
• Roll out the dough to 1/4-inch thickness and cut into squares with a pizza cutter. Use a wooden skewer to poke a small hole in the center of each square. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet and bake until golden brown, 15 to 17 minutes. Allow to cool before packing up.

Steps:

• In a food processor, pulse together butter, cheese, egg, mustard, salt, and red-pepper flakes until smooth. Add flour and pulse until combined. Transfer dough to a work surface and form into a 2-inch-wide log. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate until firm, 4 hours (or up to 1 day).
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees, with racks in upper and lower thirds. Slice dough into 1/4-inch rounds and arrange, 1 inch apart, on 2 parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake until edges are golden, 15 to 20 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through. Let cool completely on racks before serving.