Pepper Jack Crackers

Dark colored oval dish full of small square crackers sitting on a wooden surface.

These homemade pepper jack crackers are rich, cheesy, and full of flavor with just the right amount of buttery bite. They’re easy to make from scratch, perfect for snacking, and pair beautifully with soups, salads, or your favorite dip.

Course Snacks

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 20

Chill Time 30

Total Time 1

Servings servings

Calories 170kcal

Author Diane Gail

Ingredients

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups shredded pepper jack cheese
1 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons unsalted butter cold
2 tablespoons ice water
coarse salt for sprinkling optional

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Pulse dry ingredients: Add the pepper jack cheese, flour, cornstarch, and salt to a food processor. Pulse until everything is evenly combined.
Cut in butter: Drop in the cold butter pieces and process until the mixture looks like coarse sand.
Form the dough: Add water and pulse until the mixture comes together in large clumps. Gather and press into a ball.
Shape: Place the dough on a floured surface, divide it in half, and shape each half into a 6-inch square.
Chill: Sandwich the squares between parchment paper and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Roll and cut: Roll each chilled square into a 9-inch square on a floured surface. Trim the edges and cut into 1-inch squares with a sharp knife, pastry cutter, or pizza cutter.
Dock the crackers: Prick the center of each square with a skewer (or similar tool) to prevent puffing as they bake.
Salt the tops (optional): Arrange the squares on a lined baking sheet, sprinkle with coarse salt, and press the salt in lightly with your fingertips so it sticks.
Bake and cool: Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 10 minutes, rotate the tray, and bake another 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and let the crackers cool on the tray before serving.

Notes

Use unsalted butter: Salted butter will make the crackers taste overly salty, especially if you sprinkle salt on top.
Grate cheese fresh: Pre-shredded cheese contains anti-caking agents that can change the texture of the dough.
Rotate the tray: Turning the pan midway through baking helps avoid uneven color and browning.
Flip for even color: For a balanced golden finish, flip the crackers partway through baking.
Store properly: Keep in an airtight container to preserve texture and prevent staleness.

Nutrition