Garlic Parmesan Cheez Its
Homemade Cheez Its can be customized hundreds of ways! Garlic and cheese make a great combination for these snack crackers.
Garlic is one of Hubby’s all-time-favorite ingredients. Most times when it comes up in a recipe, we will double the amount called for in said recipe. We’re those people. While neither of us have tried anything crazy like garlic ice cream (although I’m intrigued at the thought), we are those people who always get garlic fries if they’re on the menu.
So it’s no surprise that shortly after I made my first batch of homemade Cheez-Its a couple years ago, I decided to whip up a batch with some garlic in it. I didn’t want to just use garlic salt or anything like that, so I threw a couple cloves of raw minced garlic right in to the dough. The resulting cracker is a garlicy-cheesey-crunchy cracker that’s as addictive as you would imagine.
I tossed in a little bit of rosemary just for good measure. I’ve also made this recipe without the rosemary and we like it just as much, if not more. Feel free to adapt to your tastes.
Garlic Parmesan Cheez Its
Simple crackers you can customize and make at home that taste better than the store-bought ones
Yield: ~12 dozen crackers
Ingredients:
4 oz sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
4 oz parmesan cheese, shredded
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
3 Tbsp chopped rosemary (optional)
3 Tbsp butter, softened
1 Tbsp vegetable shortening
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup flour
2 Tbsp cold water
Course sea salt for sprinkling
Directions:
In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine cheeses, garlic, rosemary, butter, shortening and salt on medium-high speed. Reduce speed to medium, slowly add flour and water.
Continue mixing until dough is smooth.
Divide dough into two, creating discs and wrapping in plastic. Chill for at least 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Prepare two baking sheets with silicone baking mats or parchment paper.
Roll out dough to 1/8″ thickness. Dough will be approximately 10"x10". Using a ruler as a guide, cut long 1" horizontal strips. Rotate ruler to slice vertically, creating 1"x1" squares. Carefully transfer individual squares to prepared baking sheet. Repeat process with remaining dough.
Using a toothpick or cake tester (I used a straw), create holes in the center of each square.
Sprinkle with course salt. Sprinkle with pepper if using.
Bake for 10-15 minutes. I removed mine at 12 minutes. The time will depend on the thickness of your squares as well as the crispness you prefer. Watch your oven closely from 10 minutes on.
Best eaten the same day. Store remainder in an airtight container.
Recipe from ReadmyMade Magazine, as seen on Baked by Rachel
I am Jen the Beantown Baker. Engineer by day and baking maven by night. Hubby serves as my #1 fan and official taste tester. We got hitched back in 2006. Barefoot. In the sand. With the waves crashing behind us. It was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. 
Love these, I could eat the whole batch myself. So much healthier than the boxed crackers, that have all those ingredients I can’t pronounce!
beantownbaker — January 16th, 2013 @ 5:27 pm
I completely agree. We avoid processed foods as much as possible. I was glad to find a snack that Hubby loves so much and is *so* easy to make at home.
These cheez its are stunning looking! They must be very cheesy and crispy! I really need to make this for my husband soon!
beantownbaker — January 17th, 2013 @ 4:51 pm
They definitely are! Hubby convinced me to make more this weekend already 🙂
looks delicious – how do you think this would work with other cheeses? I’m thinkin’ pepper jack…
beantownbaker — January 18th, 2013 @ 2:29 pm
I would think other cheeses would work pretty well. I wouldn’t use anything too soft, but pepper jack should work. Let me know how it goes if you try it!
These look fantastic. Great photos. I’m going to make some this weekend. Please check out the food blog I have just started http://www.surreyKitchen.wordpress.com. Thanks!
beantownbaker — January 21st, 2013 @ 3:24 pm
Let me know what you think of them if you do make them!
I HATE pickles. They are awful, but I definitely love cheese crackers. I especially love white cheddar cheez-its 😉
beantownbaker — January 23rd, 2013 @ 2:27 pm
You should definitely make these then – they’re seriously so good!
beantownbaker — January 23rd, 2013 @ 8:34 pm
I don’t even eat my french fries that touched the pickle at restaurants. And I LOVE french fries!
I have always thought making your own crackers would be too much work. Your version looks straightforward and delightful. I’m sure the taste is worth all the effort!
beantownbaker — January 23rd, 2013 @ 10:27 pm
I agree, it was definitely much easier than I would have guessed. My sister, who never bakes, has already made these twice!
I don’t like fries that touched pickles either! Not only do they then taste like a pickle, but they get soggy and I prefer crunchy fries!
Um… Cheez-Its are one food I cannot have around. Once I open the box, I pretty much eat the whole thing. I love this homemade version!
Hello! I am more of a baker than a cook, so I was very nervous about what to make for my boyfriend’s Superbowl party! Found this recipe, and just made it! SUPER easy! I am really impressed by how much it tastes like a cheez-it… but better! I like this recipe and hope to try it with other cheeses! Thanks!
PS. I did use the silicon baking mat and that made it a lot easier. Good point to follow!
beantownbaker — February 3rd, 2013 @ 9:45 pm
So glad you enjoyed them!! I’ve already made them a handful of times with various cheeses and spices thrown in. They’ve all been delicious.
Oh my.Jen you done it.My little girl loves cheez it.I throwed the cheddar cheese(little bite size) once, don’t know what to make with it .I wish i had seen this earlier 🙁
Any was can we make these with bite size cheese sticks.?
MyKitchenOdyssey
beantownbaker — November 7th, 2013 @ 10:07 am
I’m sure you could use this dough to make any shape you’d like…
Thanks for your reply .I meant the cracker barrel cheese ,Can i use this cheese to bake cheez its.
MyKitchenOdyssey
beantownbaker — November 24th, 2013 @ 5:37 pm
I think any cheese that comes in a block would be fine for this recipe.
Many thanks jen.I will be doing it very soon.
MyKitchenOdyssey