No. Not with that processed “cheese food” crap. “Easy” as in “not difficult”.

Ingredients

• 1 cup flour. I prefer King Arthur White Whole Wheat
• 2 cups shredded firm cheese – sharp cheddar is a good choice
• 1 stick softened butter
• 2 tsp baking powder
• Dash salt
• 1/4 tsp cayenne
• 1/2 tsp mustard powder
• 1/4 tsp finely ground black pepper
• 1/2 tsp rosemary

Process

Preheat your oven to 375. Mix everything together in a mixing bowl. Knead together until dough is smooth. It’ll be similar to sugar cookie dough.

Form into bite-sized pieces and place on an ungreased cookie sheet – forming the dough by pressing an amount about the size of a cherry tomato between your palms works well. Optionally – make an X in the flattened balls with a pastry cutter.

Bake 12 to 15 minutes until just starting to brown at the edges. Transfer to a rack to cool. Makes 2 to 3 dozen.

Notes

If you get the timing right, these’ll be slightly chewy and crispy. Incredible.

Do whatever you want with the herbs – this is just a combo I happen to like. I think cayenne and mustard powder are an excellent complement to sharp cheeses. There’s no rule about the cheese, either. Any strong-flavored cheese that can be grated would work fine.

These crackers are an excellent way to use up the odds-and-ends that seem to collect in the cheese drawer.