Kids Kitchen: Cheese Crackers
We’re interrupting our usual schedule of kids’ activities, parenting inspiration, and family-friendly food to bring you 31 days of Kids Kitchen Recipes and Activities.
Homemade cheese crackers are a revelation. If you’ve never made homemade crackers before, you’re probably picturing a labour-intensive process that produces a snack resembling crackers, but misses the mark in some way.
These homemade cheese crackers are so easy that the kids can make them, and I’d even go so far as to say they taste better than store-bought!
Of course, you can change the flavour combinations any way you’d like — we even have a cinnamon bun cracker that we’ll share soon!
Add different types of spreads, such as sun-dried tomatoes or pesto, or even cream cheese. You can add chopped up bits of vegetables or fruits, but keep in mind that those additions will make the crackers less shelf-stable. (And homemade crackers, like regular crackers, will get soft if stored in the refrigerator.)
Start by having your child grate cheese — either using a child-sized grater or after showing them how to safely use your adult-sized version.
(I let the children practice this kitchen skill by grating with soap, which is more shelf-stable, and then we use the grated soap to make homemade laundry detergent or clean mud.)
Next, have the kids spread Dijon mustard or another nice mustard (seeded, flavoured, etc) on a rolled out sheet of puff pastry. Be sure to leave about an inch around the edges bare so that the mustard doesn’t get everywhere when you roll the crackers later.
I like to buy a good quality, premade all-butter puff pastry with no nasty additives. (If premade puff pastry is good enough for Jamie Oliver, it’s good enough for me!) I buy mine in the frozen aisle, but you can also contact a local bakery directly and see if they sell their puff pastry.
Sprinkle the grated cheese all over the mustard-covered area of the puff pastry.
(Another great fine motor activity!)
Roll two sides of the puff pastry into the center of the puff pastry sheet, meeting in the middle and then rolling the whole “log” of cracker dough to make it smooth.
The French call this an “elephant ear” because of the shape of the two circles joining.
Slice the crackers into 1/4″ thickness. You can have the children help with this stage if you “pre-mark” where they should slice with a child-safe knife, but I like to use a sharp knife to do this so that the crackers can keep that awesome “elephant ears” shape.
Position the crackers on a lined baking sheet, and if so desired, add a sprinkle of spices or salt.
Bake at 350F for 8-12 minutes until the cheese is completely melted and the puff pastry dough is slightly golden and has visible pockets of air.
What kind of homemade crackers would you make with your kids?
Today, as part of our 31 days of Kids Kitchen series, the Creative Life of Varya is sharing a Simple Iranian Dessert, Zoolbia Bambieh.
Check out the rest of our 31 Days of Kids Kitchen Series here.
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Hey…now that’s the kind of pastry baking I can handle! Looks like a fun, kid-friendly activity. Pinning this one for a rainy day for sure, thanks for sharing!
These would make the perfect after school snack! Thank you for the recipe.
#TeamMM
Good Morning~
I came over on the #WomenwithIntention link up today, and I’m glad to find your site!
I also followed you on Pinterest and Twitter and pinned your post here: https://www.pinterest.com/melredd/blog-link-parties-and-blog-link-ups/
What a great post and a fun idea to do with your kids. I love the pictures of little hands doing the cooking. And, the crackers look great~
Thanks for sharing.
Hope you have a blessed day today~
Melanie
Now THIS is what I’m talking about! I don’t care what age, I want a plate to munch on now. Fabulous cooking project to do with the kiddos Jennifer, thank you for sharing this recipe with us and linking to the Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop. Carrie, A Mother’s Shadow
Sounds and looks delicious! Thanks you so much for sharing it with Thursday Favorite Things!