Description
Ina Garten’s Chipotle Cheddar Crackers are a deliciously crispy, spicy snack featuring sharp cheddar cheese, smoky chipotle powder, and a hint of jalapeño heat. These homemade crackers come together quickly with simple ingredients and bake to a perfect golden brown, making them ideal for entertaining or a flavorful treat any time.
Ingredients
Scale
Cheese Dough
- 1 stick unsalted butter
- 8 oz shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup all-purpose flour, plus extra for flouring
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground chipotle powder (or to taste)
- 1 small jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
Topping
- Flaked sea salt for topping (optional)
Instructions
- Mix Dough: Combine the unsalted butter, shredded cheddar cheese, all-purpose flour, and salt using an electric mixer. Blend these ingredients until a loose dough forms. Then, on low speed, add the ground chipotle powder, minced jalapeño, and black pepper, mixing only until just combined to avoid overworking the dough.
- Shape Dough Log: Turn the dough out onto a floured work surface. Roll the dough into a log about 1 1/2 inches wide, using plastic wrap to help shape and contain it. Wrap the log tightly in plastic wrap to maintain its form.
- Chill Dough: Refrigerate the wrapped dough log for at least 30 minutes. This chilling step is essential to firm up the dough for easy slicing and to enhance the cracker’s texture during baking.
- Preheat Oven and Slice Dough: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Once chilled, unwrap the dough and cut it into 1/2-inch thick slices, preparing them for baking.
- Prepare for Baking: Place the sliced dough pieces on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Lightly flatten each slice using a flat-bottomed measuring cup or mug. If desired, sprinkle the crackers with flaked sea salt for extra flavor and texture.
- Bake Crackers: Bake the crackers in the preheated oven for 15 to 17 minutes, or until the bottoms are just beginning to brown, indicating a perfect crispness.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the baked crackers from the oven and transfer them to a wire rack. Allow them to cool for at least 30 minutes to achieve optimal crispiness before serving.
Notes
- The crackers have a crispy texture with the perfect amount of smoky heat from the chipotle and jalapeño.
- Adjust the amount of chipotle powder to your preferred spice level.
- Flaked sea salt topping is optional but adds a nice finishing touch and additional flavor contrast.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container to maintain crispness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cracker
- Calories: 73
- Sugar: 0.3 g
- Sodium: 160 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 4 g
- Fiber: 0.2 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg
