a bag of flour

 

Sometimes a recipe comes into your life that is so simple and tasty that you will make it over and over and over again. This is one of those stories.

It all started with a recipe for a swoon-worthy asparagus quiche that friends introduced me to. Now, I am always game for a good quiche, but this one really took it to the next level by adding freshly grated parmesan cheese to the crust.

I loved it so much that I decided to make it for my mom a couple of weeks later. Being the resourceful baker that she is, she suggested we double the amount of parmesan in the dough and bake it into little crackers. The results were simply amazing.

Whether served at parties, as pre-dinner nibbles with drinks, as a snack on roadtrips, or given as gifts, these crackers are always a huge hit. And they are so easy to make that you will never want to go back to the boxed kind again, especially the suspicious puffed up glow-in-the-dark orange varieties.

Not only can you make them a couple of days in advance (I personally think that they get even better after two or three days), but you can freeze the raw dough for several months. Simply pre-cut the dough rolls and wrap them tightly in parchment paper or plastic wrap before placing them in freezer bags. Then just pop them in the oven for 15-20 minutes whenever you have a hankering for a cheesy snack.

The plain version is already insanely good, but you can change it up with all kinds of additions. Whether it’s dried herbs and spices, red pepper flakes, paprika, dried fruit, or nuts, the possibilities are endless. They also make a perfect addition to any cheese or charcuterie platter, and can be served with dips or even crumbled into soups.

Trust me, everyone needs these in their live.

Here’s what you’ll need:

For the plain crackers:

• 4.5 ounces (about 1+1/4 cup) freshly grated parmesan
• 7 ounces (about 1+2/3 cup) all-purpose flour
• 4 ounces (1 stick) butter
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon salt
• pepper to taste

Herb variety:

• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
• pinch rosemary

Spicy chili variety:

• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1. In a large bowl, combine parmesan, flour, butter, egg, and salt. Knead until dough is smooth.
   
   
2. If making different flavors, divide dough into portions and mix in pepper, herbs, red pepper flakes, etc.
   
   
3. Roll dough into sausage shapes, about 1 inch in diameter. Wrap in plastic wrap and transfer to fridge to firm up for at least 30 minutes.
   
4. Preheat oven to 350°F.
5. Cut dough rolls into slices, about 1/8 inch thick, transfer to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Top with kosher salt and freshly ground pepper and bake at 350°F until golden brown, 12-15 minutes.
   
   
   
6. If you want, you can add extra parmesan cheese on top after 10 minutes of baking. Continue to bake until the cheese has melted, about 2-3 minutes.
   

Enjoy!

 

Follow my blog with Bloglovin