Homemade crackers are surprisingly easy. When I saw this recipe from Sheknows.com I just had to try it. I added a pinch of smoked paprika, which made for a deeper flavor. I happened to have a goldfish cookie cutter, so I wanted to see how homemade goldfish crackers would live up to store bought.

What came out of the oven was flakey, crunchy and downright cheesy.

Homemade Goldfish Crackers

Adapted from a recipe by Sarah Crowder

Ingredients:

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

4 oz. cheddar cheese or mixture of cheddar and parmesan, grated on a micro plane or rasper

1/8th tsp smoked paprika

2 Tbs. butter, chilled and cut into small cubes

1/4 tsp. salt

2 Tbs. or so cold water

Directions:

Add the flour, salt and paprika to a food processor and pulse till combined. Add the cheese and butter and pulse till just combined (it will look like crumbly flour). Turn on the processor and slowly add the water. Let the machine turn the dough into a ball. It should take less than a minute. If it doesn’t turn into a ball add a tiny bit more water. Remove ball, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface till it’s pretty thin. Either cut into Cheez-it like squares, or use a decorative cookie cutter. Place on two parchment-lined cookie sheets, with a little space between each cracker. Bake about 15 minutes, till slightly puffy and beginning to brown.

Let cool completely and store in an airtight container.