Picnic Snack Box Sourdough Cheez-Its (Printer-friendly)

Tangy sourdough cheddar squares paired with juicy grapes create an ideal portable snack box for any outing.

# What You'll Need:

→ Sourdough Cheez-Its

01 - 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, grated
02 - 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
03 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold and cubed
04 - 2 tablespoons sourdough starter
05 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
06 - 1/4 teaspoon paprika
07 - 1-2 teaspoons cold water, as needed

→ Grapes

08 - 1 1/3 cups seedless red or green grapes, washed and dried

→ Optional Additions

09 - 1 ounce roasted almonds or walnuts
10 - 1.5 ounces dark chocolate squares

# Directions:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a food processor, combine the cheddar cheese, flour, cold cubed butter, salt, and paprika. Pulse until the mixture becomes crumbly.
03 - Add the sourdough starter and pulse until a dough begins to form. Add cold water one teaspoon at a time if needed to bring the dough together.
04 - Roll out the dough between two sheets of parchment paper to approximately 1/8 inch thickness.
05 - Cut the dough into 3/4 inch squares using a sharp knife or pizza cutter. Use a skewer or fork to poke a hole in the center of each square for authentic appearance.
06 - Transfer the squares to the prepared baking sheet, spacing them slightly apart.
07 - Bake for 16-18 minutes, or until golden and crisp. Allow to cool completely.
08 - Divide the baked Cheez-Its and grapes among four airtight containers. Add optional nuts or chocolate if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • You get that addictive Cheez-It crunch without the mystery ingredients or artificial coloring.
  • Your sourdough discard finally has a purpose that tastes way better than guilt.
  • The whole thing comes together in under 40 minutes, making it perfect for last-minute gatherings.
  • Watching people's faces when you tell them these are homemade never gets old.
02 -
  • Underestimating cracker crispness is the most common mistake—they need to cool completely, and you'll know they're done when they snap rather than bend.
  • The sourdough starter is essential because it's what gives these their distinctive tang; regular dough is just okay, but starter-based dough is memorable.
03 -
  • If your dough is sticky, chill it for 10 minutes before rolling—cold dough is dramatically easier to work with and more forgiving.
  • Try swapping cheddar for Gruyère or a crumbly manchego if you want to experiment; aged hard cheeses all work beautifully in this formula.
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