Recently, a lot of advice has been urging us to steer clear of highly processed foods, prompting me to cut down on our processed snack intake gradually. In addition to trimming our snack choices, I baked some Homemade Goldfish Crackers. Not only did this decision help curb our snack consumption, but the outcome was also quite surprising. These crackers have a deliciously cheesy and wholesome flavor. My husband claims our homemade healthy goldfish crackers outshine Pepperidge Farm’s.
I’m so excited about these delicious homemade cheese crackers. And I’m super happy they are easy to make, wholesome, and healthy!
Why You’ll Love These Cheese Crackers
- Irresistible Cheesy Flavor: People will mainly love these crackers because of their irresistibly cheesy taste that satisfies cravings perfectly.
- Homemade Goodness: There’s something special about homemade snacks that adds an extra layer of enjoyment to the experience.
- Healthier Alternative: Making them at home allows you to control the ingredients, ensuring a healthier snack option.
- Customizable Seasonings: You can play around with different seasonings to tailor the flavor, adding a personalized touch.
- Fun to Make: Making these crackers can be fun, especially if you involve family or friends in the process.
- Fresher Taste: Nothing beats the taste of freshly baked crackers straight from the oven.
- Cost-Effective: Making your crackers can be more cost-effective than buying them from the store, especially in the long run.
- Great for Sharing: These crackers are perfect for sharing at parties, gatherings, or as a homemade gift, spreading joy with every bite.
Goldfish Cookie Cutter
Purchase this cute cookie cutter before you start making these adorable goldfish crackers. Once I spotted it, I couldn’t resist making these crackers, especially since its five-fish design cuts out multiple fish at once.
If you decide to use this fun cutter for cookies, avoid placing it in the dishwasher, as it may melt and distort its shape.
The size of the cutter is 5 inches in length x 1.25 inches in width x 0.75 inches in height.
How to Make Homemade Goldfish Crackers
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Cheddar Cheese: The sharp cheddar cheese adds a rich and savory flavor to the crackers, making them irresistibly cheesy.
- Butter: The butter contributes to the crackers’ tender texture and enhances their flavor with its creamy richness.
- Salt: Salt is essential for balancing the flavors and bringing out the cheesy taste in the crackers.
- Paprika: Paprika adds a subtle hint of smokiness and depth to the flavor profile of the crackers, complementing the cheese.
- Garlic Powder: Garlic powder lends a gentle kick of savory garlic flavor to the crackers, enhancing their overall taste.
- All-purpose Flour: All-purpose flour serves as the base ingredient, providing structure and helping to bind the dough together.
- Cornstarch: Cornstarch helps create a delicate, melt-in-your-mouth texture in the crackers while contributing to their crispiness.
- Cold Water: Cold water is used sparingly to adjust the dough consistency as needed, ensuring it comes together smoothly without becoming too dry or crumbly.
Step-by-Step Directions
Step 1 – Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
Step 2 – Mix Ingredients: In a mixing bowl or food processor, combine the shredded cheddar cheese, softened butter, salt, paprika, and garlic powder. Mix well until all ingredients are fully incorporated.
Step 3 – Add Flour: In a medium-sized bowl, mix the flour and cornstarch together. Gradually add this flour mixture to the cheese mixture. Mix until a dough forms. If the dough is too dry and crumbly, add 1-2 tablespoons of cold water, one tablespoon at a time, until the dough comes together.
Step 4 – Roll Out Dough: Place the dough on a lightly floured surface and roll it to about 1/8 inch thick. If the dough is sticky, place it between two sheets of parchment paper and roll it out.
A little note: try not to work over the dough too much since it does start to form layers of butter. This in turn will make your cracker puffy and tough.
Step 5 – Cut Out Shapes: Cut out the crackers with a small fish-shaped cookie cutter. Place the cut-out crackers onto the prepared baking sheet, leaving a small space between each cracker.
Step 6 – Bake: Bake the crackers in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes or until they are golden brown around the edges.
Step 7 – Cool: Allow the crackers to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. The crackers will continue to crisp up as they cool.
Step 8 – Serve: Once cooled, store the cheese goldfish crackers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. Enjoy them as a tasty snack!
Frequently Asked Questions
Cornstarch in these crackers serves three key purposes: it contributes to their crispy texture, helps bind the ingredients together, and imparts a delicate tenderness to the final product, resulting in crackers that are both light and crunchy bite.
The water adjusts the dough consistency as needed, ensuring it comes together smoothly without becoming too dry or crumbly.
These crackers will last up to one week when stored in an airtight container at room temperature.
No, refrigerating the dough is not necessary for this recipe.
This goldfish cookie cutter should not be placed in the dishwasher because the heat from the drying cycle could melt it.
Yes, I ended up making round crackers with my scalloped biscuit cutters. The one thing you want to do is poke tiny holes in the top of the cracker using a fork. This prevents the puffy cracker syndrome!
Recipe Substitutions and Additions
- Whole Wheat Flour: To add fiber and a nutty flavor, substitute part or all of the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour.
- Gluten-Free Flour Blend: Use a gluten-free flour blend instead of all-purpose flour to make the recipe gluten-free.
- Vegan Cheese: Replace the cheddar cheese with a vegan cheese alternative to make the crackers dairy-free and vegan-friendly.
- Olive Oil: Substitute the butter with olive oil for a healthier fat alternative and a subtle olive flavor.
- Smoked Salt: Use smoked salt instead of regular salt to add a smoky depth of flavor to the crackers.
- Fresh Herbs: To give the dough a fresh, herbaceous taste, add finely chopped fresh herbs like parsley, basil, or chives.
- Sprinkle with Salt: Sprinkle with salt after baking for an extra flavor and crunch.
- Toss in Parmesan Cheese: After baking, toss the crackers in grated Parmesan cheese for an additional layer of cheesy goodness.
- Add Parmesan Cheese to the Dough: Incorporate grated Parmesan cheese into the dough for added flavor and richness.
Homemade Goldfish Crackers Recipe
Ingredients
- 1½ cup sharp cheddar cheese shredded
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter softened
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp paprika optional
- ⅛ tsp garlic powder I used Costco Granulated California Garlic
- ½ cup flour
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- 1-2 tbsp cold water If your dough is dry, add a tablespoon of water at a time.
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- Mix Ingredients: In a mixing bowl or food processor, combine the shredded cheddar cheese, softened butter, salt, paprika, and garlic powder. Mix well until all ingredients are fully incorporated.
- Add Flour: In a medium-sized bowl, mix the flour and cornstarch together. Gradually add this flour mixture to the cheese mixture. Mix until a dough forms. If the dough is too dry and crumbly, add 1-2 tablespoons of cold water, one tablespoon at a time, until the dough comes together.
- Roll Out Dough: Place the dough on a lightly floured surface and roll it to about 1/8 inch thick. If the dough is sticky, place it between two sheets of parchment paper and roll it out.
- Cut Out Shapes: Cut out the crackers with a small fish-shaped cookie cutter. Place the cut-out crackers onto the prepared baking sheet, leaving a small space between each cracker.
- Bake: Bake the crackers in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes or until they are golden brown around the edges.
- Cool: Allow the crackers to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. The crackers will continue to crisp up as they cool.
- Serve: Once cooled, store the cheese goldfish crackers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. Enjoy them as a tasty snack!
Nutrition
Other Snacks You May Enjoy!
What I’ve noticed about these crackers is they vanish in no time because my husband is absolutely hooked on them! So, be sure to whip up a big batch to satisfy him!
Enjoy this homemade goldfish crackers recipe!
Happy Baking!
Photo Credits: MyPhotography.com
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