Pantry Revamp: Simple, Homemade, Whole-Wheat, Cheese Crackers

The Pantry Revamp is a series here on Five Little Homesteaders.  To read more about it, check out the first post here. To read all the posts in the series, click the “pantry revamp” label to the right.

I did a post early on in this series about replacing the goldfish crackers in my pantry with something more wholesome. I’ve made the recipe from that post a few times but to be honest, they haven’t become a favorite. I think part of it is that I don’t have a stand mixer and I’m trying to do it all by hand – thus the dough never becomes the consistency that the recipe intends.

Either way, when I saw a picture on Pinterest after a friend pinned it and that started a whirlwind in my mind. I had to try it out. With the goldfish cracker recipe not turning out as good as I had hoped, there was a chance that I could redeem myself. I was determined to make killer crackers all by hand. 

This recipe is adapted from the one I pinned, which can be found here on the site Pretty Prudent.

Homemade, Whole-Wheat, Cheese Crackers

Ingredients

Parmesan on a dark background. Cheese pieces on close-up

To make these homemade whole wheat cheese crackers you will need the following ingredients:

  • 4 oz grated cheese (I used Colby-Jack because that is what I had)
  • 1/2 c whole wheat flour
  • 3 tbsp room temperature butter
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp paprika
  • 1/4 tsp ground mustard

 Directions

  1. Put all your ingredients into the food processor.  (No stand mixer needed!) Pulse until you get a crumbly mixture.
  2. Add water a 1/2 tablespoon at a time until the dough comes together.
  3. Wrap in plastic wrap and put in the fridge for 20 minutes
  4. Roll out between two pieces of plastic wrap.
  5. Cut into (sorta) even squares and poke each with a toothpick in the middle to get that “cheez-it” look after they bake.
  6. Bake at 375 degrees for 11 minutes.  Watch them closely so that they don’t burn.  Depending on how thin or thick you rolled out your dough, cooking time might vary.

Cookbooks for making more snacks at home

Just whole-wheat crackers cannot satisfy the many snacking urges we have. Since it has been ingrained in our heads that processed food is bad, you may want to try to make your snacks by yourself at home. If that is something you are interested in then having a good recipe might make the taste successful and even enjoyable. Check out this list of some great cookbooks that detail how to make a variety of snacks at home.

  • The Homemade Pantry: 101 Foods You Can Stop Buying and Start Making: A Cookbook
  • Classic Snacks Made from Scratch: 70 Homemade Versions of Your Favorite Brand-Name Treats
  • Pretzel Making at Home
  • Crunch! Whole Grain Artisan Chips and Crackers: Low-fat, Low-Sugar, Low-Salt Snack, Garnish or Croutons New, Easy, No-roll method, 2nd Edition

FAQs: Pantry Revamp: Simple, Homemade, Whole-Wheat, Cheese Crackers

Pumpkin seed and cheese crackers

1. Are whole-wheat cheese crackers healthy?

Whole-Wheat cheese crackers contain wheat and cheese within them that can be a source of healthy carbohydrates and even protein. Because of whole wheat, these crackers are also a source of dietary fiber. Dietary fiber is an indigestible carbohydrate that is an essential part of the diet. It also helps fight constipation. Hence, yes. Whole-wheat cheese crackers are healthy.

2. What kind of cheeses can you add with wheat crackers?

Whole wheat crackers pair very well with cheeses. This combination is so popular that people make charcuterie boards with crackers and cheese as the predominant combination. If you are making whole-wheat crackers, aged cheeses go particularly well with them. You can try a combination of crackers and Parmigiano Reggiano, Gouda and Manchego.

3. Are whole-wheat cheese crackers a good snack if you are trying to lose weight?

Yes, it is a good snack because this snack pairs fat with carbohydrates. Fats from the cheese and carbohydrates from the crackers allow a person to feel full for longer than a snack that just has fat or just carbohydrates. Thus, one can feel full from this snack and hold off on the calories at the same time. 

4. Is it bad to eat whole-wheat cheese crackers every day?

Whole wheat cheese crackers can be considered a healthy snack if you choose the right ingredients to make it with. Whole-wheat products generally have a lot of beneficial fiber in them and hence are quite healthy. Additionally, the cheese in cheese crackers can help you fulfill your daily requirement of fats, calcium, and phosphorus. 

Obviously, anything in excess is not good for the body so consume with caution. 

Conclusion

Whole wheat cheese crackers are a delicious snack that is both delicious and satisfying. Add in the fact that they are homemade makes this snack the very best in my books. Snacks are definitely a staple in every household but many people shy away from them because most of the snacks available on the market are highly processed. However, if you have an amazing recipe, like the one I have included in this article, then snacks will be something everyone will look forward to. 

You don’t have to be limited to one snack either. The included cookbooks offer a variety of different snack and treat recipes that you can try at home. Including a range of salty and sweet snacks, these cookbooks really cover everything that anyone ranging from toddlers to adults would want to munch on. 

Either a snack or a once in a blue moon yummy treat. It has it all

Happy cooking and happy snacking!