The Best Sourdough Cheddar Crackers (Like Cheez-Its!)
For the crispiest sourdough cheddar crackers, roll your dough super thin, as thin as possible. Don’t skip the salt sprinkle at the end; it’s what makes these taste just like store-bought cheez-its but WAY better. And let the crackers cool completely on the baking sheet (I know it’s hard to wait!) because they’ll continue crisping up as they cool. Oh, and for the BEST flavor, use the sharpest cheddar you can find.
Sourdough Cheddar Crackers
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup discard sourdough starter
- ¾ cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- Kosher salt for sprinkling
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Instructions
- Prep. Preheat oven to 375 with two racks in, spaced relatively equally apart.
- Make the dough. Combine the butter and flour in a medium mixing bowl. Using your hands, rub the butter into the flour until it looks like sand. Pour in the sourdough starter and gently mix. Add the cheddar cheese and combine. If necessary, use your hands to make sure the dough forms a ball.
- Roll out dough. Turn the dough out onto a piece of parchment paper and top with a second piece of parchment. Roll out as thin as you can using a rolling pin.
- Cut out into squares. Cut into squares using a pastry wheel and place the squares on two parchment-lined baking sheets. Sprinkle generously with kosher salt.
- Bake. Bake for 10-13 minutes, switching the baking sheets halfway. The crackers should be crisp with slightly browned edges. Allow to cool directly on the baking sheet. Serve immediately, or let fully cool and transfer to airtight container and store for up to 2 days.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Now, I know making crackers might seem a bit nuts, but I promise they come together very fast. The dough is easy to handle because you roll it out between sheets of parchment, and since you mix it by hand, there aren’t too many dishes to deal with.
If you’ve made pie crust, you can make these. And if you can’t make pie crust, you still make these because they’re actually easier. No weird tools, no piles of dishes.
Not only will you happy you aren’t wasting any sourdough starter, but you’re actually making your own crackers. That’s intense. You should be proud. You’re the frugal kitchen queen.
Tips for Success
Roll the dough between two sheets of parchment paper. That way you don’t have to add extra flour or scrub your counters. Amen.
Watch the edges carefully during baking – they should be just slightly browner than the centers. If they aren’t browning at all, give them an extra couple of minutes.
Let the crackers cool completely on the baking sheet; they’ll continue crisping up as they cool.
If your first batch isn’t crisp enough, your oven might run a little cool, so next time bump the temperature up by 25 degrees or add an extra minute to the bake time.
You can use a food processor to break up the butter, but honestly washing it is more trouble than it’s worth.
What You’ll Need For Sourdough Cheese Crackers
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Sharp Cheddar Cheese: The sharper the better: bland cheddar will make bland crackers!
Sourdough Discard: Use it straight from the fridge; room temperature isn’t necessary.
Parchment Paper: Pre-cut sheets are ideal for this recipe.
Pastry Wheel: Makes quick work of cutting even squares, but a pizza cutter works too.
I don’t recommend substituting olive oil or melted butter, you really want those bits of butter for a flaky texture.
Make It Your Own
This recipe is quite versatile, and many readers have added their own twists.
- Swap the cheddar for other hard cheeses like Parmesan or Gruyere
- Add dried herbs like rosemary, thyme, or a pinch of cayenne for heat (I like this version)
- Try whole wheat flour for a nuttier flavor (not my favorite but some like it)
- Make them extra fancy by topping with everything bagel seasoning
Common Questions
Yes, but active starter will give your crackers a bit more rise and they’ll be puffier. I don’t love them this way, but you might.
Don’t worry, it happens! A few things could cause this. Maybe your dough was a little too thick, or perhaps your oven runs a bit cool. Next time, try rolling the dough even thinner.
These crackers are proof that sometimes the best recipes turn something that would have gone to waste into something worth sharing.
By Katie Shaw
Katie shares simple, reliable recipes from her home in Virginia, where she lives with her husband, three daughters, a chocolate lab, and over thirty chickens.
Whoa! These are great! I made them today with my discard that was piling up. After the cheddar batch disappeared in 5 mins, I made another batch with parmesan (cheddar was waaaaaay better!). Anyway, I also have an odd sourdough starter that was given to me that feeds on sugar and mashed potato flakes. I like using it for sweeter recipes. Have you tried making a sweet cracker? If so, how much sugar would you add and would any of the other quantities change since it would omit the cheese? With some cinnamon, I’m thinking it’ll be like a churro or Cinnamon Toast Crunch cracker. Thanks for any help!
Hi, I want to make these with Rosemary Salt (rosemary, sage, garlic, lemon zest, salt – blitzed in food processor) instead of cheese. Since it’s a spice mix, not a solid, how much would I add? 1/2 c? 1/4 c?
Have you made these crackers with other mix-ins? I loved the texture when I made them with cheese so I want to branch out.
Thanks!
i’d try a 1/4 cup to start! I’ve only tried adding crushed red pepper.
Ohhh so disappointed And I was so excited about trying these cheese crackers. I had to use cheddar and Monterey Jack because I didn’t have enough cheddar. I don’t know if that made the difference…it should not have. These had no flavor and certainly not worth the hype.
Hi Brenda, sorry you were disappointed. And yes the type of cheese will make a big difference since that is where basically all the flavor comes from.
1000% the type of cheese matters with these!
I like these, I am a cheese cracker fan. I have a question about flour though. Which flour is better, all purpose or bread flour?
all purpose is fine for these!
Hi Katie,
Thanks for this super easy and fast recipe! I’m proud I could make crackers. My family loves it so much! The taste is also heavenly even though I didn’t sprinkle salt. I mixed cheddar and parmesan.
You’re right , I also thought making crackers might seem a bit nuts at first! 😄
These are sooo good. I used a Mexican cheese blend and added taco seasoning and they taste amazing
How do you store them? I want to make a double batch but last time I made them I tried storing them and they became VERY SOFT and my grandson loves the crisp.
kathy, i agree. what’s worked best for me is freezing them and then reheating them in the toaster oven.
Omgosh! Thank you!! Mmmmmm!!
YUM YUM YUM. Just made these and they are fabulous!!!! I too added a sprinkle of red peper flakes. These are dangerous. I can’t stop eating them!!!!
Carrie I’m so happy you like them! I can’t wait to try the crackers with red pepper too.
Wow – these look delicicous! I’m new at sourdough – just on Day 5 with my starter! I’m doing gluten-free and would like to try this recipe with brown rice flour. Have you, or do you know anyone who has tried that?
🙂
Kathryn I have not tried it, I’m sorry! but if it works with pie crusts it should work with this, it’s a similar process. 🙂
Just made these and unfortunately didn’t work for me. I modified it by putting the cooked crackers in a big ziplock bag, added melted butter and a tablespoon of dry ranch dressing for flavor, then baked again for 12 minutes. Thanks for sharing your recipe. I am grateful.
oh no thelma I’m sorry to hear that! thanks for letting me know 🙂
Hello! I make some discard crackers but with olive oil. Have you tried these with olive oil? How much would you use for 1 cup of flour? I can’t imagine how good these will be with cheese! Thanks!!!
Stephanie I have never tried them with oil, I’m sorry! 🙁 the butter gives them sort of a flaky texture and I don’t know if it would work with olive oil. if you do try it, let me know! or try adding cheese to the recipe you’ve been using, I bet it will be great 🙂
Hello Katie, Made the cheese crackers they are yummy I wish I had found your recipe sooner instead of giving the discard to the hens, couldn’t find kosher salt here so used the salt that goes in a salt grinder worked perfectly, cheers, Claudine
Could you use a food processor to make the dough?
Yes! First pulse the flour and butter. When you add the starter it will just take a few pulses. the only reason I don’t is because I don’t want to deal with washing it!
I made this recipe after an oily fail with another discard cracker recipe. This dough is a pleasure to work with. I found that after much rolling, the middle was still too thick and the edges too thin. Since the dough is the exact consistency of a one egg pasta dough, I ran it through the pasta attachment on the Kitchen Aid to get the consistency and thinness I wanted! Success!
I used a whole cup of cheddar and also threw in about a quarter cup of grated Parmesan. (Not the pizza kind) I used about a teaspoon of garlic salt and added red pepper flakes when it was almost done kneading. I also turned the oven off and left them in while it cools, to further crisp them. This was to imitate a commercial cracker my family loves. So far, my son keeps stealing them from the oven, so I guess it’s a hit! Thanks!
Jennifer what a great idea with the pasta attachment! I’ve found that I have trouble rolling them as thin as I want a drop or two of water sometimes does the trick too. I’m so glad you liked them! 🙂
I made these, and they turned out super yummy and addictive! Definitely a recipe to keep! Thanks!
wonderful! glad you liked them!
Perfect crackers, naughty but nice! At the whole lot over the day ! I like the way some are crispy while others are crunchy and some soft. I thought this would make a great pastry base for any savoury pie/ tart.
I loved making these and they are so easy, will definitely make again !
I love naughty but nice! Yes! we nibble on them and they just vanish! glad you enjoyed them too 🙂
I made this recipe without the cheese and it was incredibly delicious. I stretched mine out in a pizza pan, ver thin. I baked it for 15 mins and turned the pan and added 15 more minutes. 30 mins total.
I love this recipe!!!! Just tried it for the first time and it is straight forward and easy. Crackers turned out absolutely fantastic.
I am so glad to hear that heather! They remind us so much of cheez it’s!
When you say place the crackers on two pieces of parchment paper, is this so you can flip them over have way through the baking process?
No, just so they won’t stick to the rolling pin 🙂
These look delicious and so amazing! My boys would gobble these up!!