There are amazing recipes all over the internets—impressive cakes and cookies, pies galore, delicious pasta dishes, fantastic dinner ideas, and so much more. But what has had me a little stumped were homemade crackers. Homemade crackers? Who in the world has time to make homemade crackers? They looked like they’d be difficult and totally something I wouldn’t be able to pull off. But when these Homemade Goldfish Crackers from Erin popped up here on Tasty Kitchen, I decided to try my hand at them.
Let me tell ya, they were pretty darn easy. And cheesy, too. The recipe was adapted from ReadyMade magazine and it’s totally a fun little cooking project to do with kids. My children are older now, but when they were younger this would have been a great rainy day project to have them join in on. There are only five ingredients with very little prep. The cutting takes a little more time but that’s where the fun for the kids comes in. Use itty bitty cookie cutters, icing tips or make your own cookie cutter shapes out of an aluminum can (see below). The crackers puff up to a chewy, cheesy bite.
Wanna see how?
Before getting started, decide on what shapes you’ll be cutting out. Using an aluminum can and tape, I cut a thin strip and formed my fishy, then taped the edges together with clear packing tape.
I had so much fun I couldn’t stop, and made a Pac-Man and a football. The ideas for shapes you could create are endless! Large icing tips and small cookie cutters work well, too.
You’ll need just a few simple ingredients: shredded cheese, butter, flour, salt and cold water. That’s it!
Begin combining everything, except the water, in a food processor until the dough looks like sand.
Next, pulse in the water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until combined.
Remove the dough from the processor and form into a small, tidy package. Wrap in plastic and chill for 20 minutes.
Once chilled, roll out the dough. I found the thinner the dough, the crispier the cracker.
Now, the cutting fun begins!
Place crackers on a lined cookie sheet and bake at 350°F for about 15 minutes. I began with little fishies.
Then moved on to the footballs and then the Pac-Man (or Mrs. Pac-Man).
Aren’t they cute? They puff up a tad, resulting in a chewy, cheesy cracker.
Look! Pac-Man is after a fish.
Have fun with this one y’all! I enjoyed making these and I think you will too. Get creative and let the kids join in!
Thanks Erin for submitting this darling recipe. I felt like a kid again! Be sure to check out Erin’s blog, Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts, for more of her recipes.
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Description
Your favorite fish cracker made at home – and it is SUPER easy.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces, weight Sharp Cheddar Cheese, Shredded
- 4 Tablespoons Butter, Cut Into Cubes
- 1 cup Flour
- ¾ teaspoons Salt
- 2 Tablespoons Cold Water
Preparation Instructions
Pulse everything (except water) together in the food processor until the dough resembles coarse sand.
Pulse in water, 1 tablespoon at a time.
Remove dough from the processor, wrap in plastic, and chill for 20 minutes.
Roll out the dough and cut into desired shapes. You can use a toothpick to make the eyes and smile if desired. Place on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet.
Bake at 350 degrees F for about 15 minutes, or until crispy.
Makes approximately 7 dozen crackers.
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Amy Johnson is a blogger who writes about food, travel, the home (both inside and out), and various observations and random musings about anything and everything. Visit her blog She Wears Many Hats for a dose of deliciousness, practicality, hilarity, or just plain fun. She lives in South Carolina with her husband and two children.
86 Comments
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Becky on 9.6.2011
So, I am NOT looking for a reason to get a food processor. I have a Kitchen Aid mixer, a Vitamix, and a small food chopper and a stick blender. What combination of things could I use to make the dough? Could I put the cheese through the food chopper and then everything in the mixer? Ideas welcome.
mnheather on 9.6.2011
They look like fun! My sister makes a great homemade wheat thin.
carlyklock on 9.6.2011
These look so scrumptious!
kelli on 9.6.2011
LOVE the pacman!!!! I think I will try hearts and stars! My daughter loves goldfish and cheese its!! This looks like a family fun project! Can’t wait!
Robin on 9.6.2011
these look like so much fun!!! and it would so easy to make different varieties using different cheeses or sprinkling on different spices or seasonings before baking! i’m getting waaay too excited!!!
The Church Cook (Kay Heritage) on 9.6.2011
Oh, my goodness! How fun is that?! Just printed the recipe to give it a try with my son! Thank you, Amy & Erin!
A. on 9.6.2011
Anna – SmittenKitchen has a recipe where she subs whole wheat flour, I believe. I haven’t made them yet, though, so I can’t vouch for them. Here’s the link: http://smittenkitchen.com/2011/03/whole-wheat-
I love the way these here puff up!
Lisa @ www.bakedinmaine.com on 9.6.2011
I LOVE those cute little cheesy crackers! I’ll bet they’re better than “Pepperidge Farm”
My Grandson will have sooo much fun making these
Lydia on 9.6.2011
These look great. What would you use if you didn’t have a food processor (or a blender, for that matter…the kids broke the last one :-s), though? A pastry cutter or something?
Farmer's Wyfe on 9.6.2011
This is great!! I think we’ll incorporate this into a home-school project…somehow. Thanks!!!
Lee on 9.6.2011
Love this recipe!!!!!!
TiffH on 9.6.2011
I have never thought of making homemade crackers, but these looks yummy. I too and thinking whole wheat flour, at least part of it. I buy goldfish all the time for my son. I wonder how long they keep, any idea?
Wenderly on 9.6.2011
Could those be any CUTER? I think not. I’m just a smilin’ looking at these little darlings! Can’t wait to give them a whirl! Gorgeous photos as always Amy!!!!!
CareyPence on 9.6.2011
Oh YUM!!
I love that I can name all the ingredients too.
Chrissy on 9.6.2011
Thanks for sharing! I’m going to try the recipe with my gluten-free all purpose flour mix. Goldfish is the one thing my kids really miss!!
Heather D. on 9.6.2011
These are adorable! I think I know what I’ll be doing in the next few days. I’ll add it to my list of fun homemade things I make; candy corn, graham crackers and granola.
Erin @ Dinners, Dishes and Desserts on 9.6.2011
So glad that you made these! Yours look amazing! I love your pac man eating the fish!
Mealr on 9.6.2011
This is amazing! My little guy cannot have goldfish because of his soy allergy and this is truly so CUTE! I actually might undertake this one day in the near future!
Kris on 9.6.2011
Oh, i now have an excuse to use the food processor! I need to make these! I love that it is just a few simple ingredients, and not a box cracker full of chemicals. With kids going back to school, these would make a great snack to take or for after school!
Jessica on 9.6.2011
Goldfish are my daughter’s absolute favorite snack. I have to make these!!!
Thanks so much for the idea.
Miss Anthropist's Kitchen on 9.6.2011
This was actually posted on my blog, Miss Anthropist’s Kitchen, a few months ago…I guess I should have posted it here! I’m glad people are enjoying the homemade cookie cutter idea though
Here’s my link: http://www.missanthropistskitchen.com/2011/06/22/homemade-goldfish-crackers-with-a-homemade-goldfish-cookie-cutter/
Anna on 9.6.2011
My granddaughter is addicted to goldfish crackers. This would be a great treat to send to her. I wonder how they’d do with whole wheat flour? Has anyone tried it?
Lisa @ Life in Green on 9.6.2011
Those are so darn cute. I’m not a fan of the typical cheesy cracker…but I would definitely eat these.
Did such a great job with your little cutters.
Kristi on 9.6.2011
I LOVE THIS! My son eats these like they are going out of style and they aren’t exactly cheap to buy and not as good as these homemade fishies. Very cool!
Katie D. on 9.6.2011
I HAVE to try these!! Thanks
gaitha on 9.6.2011
do they need to be kept refrigerated? My kids go through goldfish like crazy so I guess I shouldn’t have to worry, they will probably be gone in the first day
Lana @ Never Enough Thyme on 9.6.2011
How creative are you, Amy!! Making your own cookie/cracker cutters. Wow. And the crackers look just beautiful.
KariAnnM on 9.6.2011
Oh how fun! My kids LOVE goldfish. I never thought they would be that easy to make. Now I have a project for tomorrow…after I find all my mini cutters in the play-dough box! Thanks for sharing!
missinthekitchen on 9.6.2011
Too cute! Homemade crackers are so yummy.
Kim on 9.6.2011
one of the snacks I miss most from the USA is Goldfish. I can’t wait to make my own! I found a wee bunny cookie cutter at the baking store, so I guess it’ll be gold-bunny crackers!
Tasha on 9.6.2011
How creative and fun!
Andilynn on 9.6.2011
I used to make cheese crackers a long time ago, but haven’t made them in a long time. I have some really cute mini cutters….now you gave me something to use them for! I was thinking….this recipe is basically a pie crust with cheese, I think it would be great to use for a savory meat pie or a vegetable tart!
Sheri on 9.6.2011
These are so incredibly awesome. My kids will flip!
Amber on 9.6.2011
Who would have thought those were so easy? Although I guarantee mine will not be lined up in such unbelievably perfect little rows on the cookie sheet…
strandjss on 9.6.2011
This is a great project to do with my grandchildren.
The Mrs @ Success Along the Weigh on 9.6.2011
You sold me with Pac-Man! Now I have an excuse to get a food processor.