Pepper Jack Cornbread Crackers

Simple, healthy crackers with a hearty crunch and the sweetness of corn – and the kickin’ spice of Pepper Jack cheese. ~ by Serena Ball, MS,RD

{Disclosure: As co-owners of The Recipe ReDux, we were compensated to manage the Cabot Healthier Snack recipe contest. We are not eligible to win prizes associated with the contest. Thoughts and opinions are my own.}

There are a lot of homemade foods that are better than the boxed variety; these homemade Cornbread Crackers are now at the very tippy top of my list.

And that’s saying a lot since my kids (and I sheepishly) adore those new Club-brand Cornbread Crackers in the dark green box.

My Pepper Jack Cornbread Crackers have an awesome thick texture, sweet corn taste and the grainy crunch of cornmeal – just like the boxed crackers. But, this healthy version also has the bonus of protein-packed Pepper Jack cheese.

I’ve been wanting to make homemade crackers for a while. Deanna’s already done it: Peanut Butter Sandwich Graham Crackers and Cumin & Chickpea Flatbread. And I was inspired by Lindsay @Lean Green Bean’s Spicy Garlic Flatbread Crackers and Gwen @Simply Healthy Family’s Homemade Goldfish Crackers.

But cornmeal crackers are my ultimate fave. (And the little green box is very small for my family of six.)

So, when the farmers at Cabot Creamery challenged The Recipe ReDux members to create balanced and healthier snacks using at least two food groups for the Cabot Healthier Snack recipe contest, I started mixing up a healthier cornbread cracker.

To make the crackers taste a bit sweet and extra-corny (pun intended!), I added pureed frozen corn. And by using cheese, I was able to slightly reduce the amount of butter that was needed to still give the crackers a nice buttery crunch.

The recipe is quicker than mixing up a batch of cookies, it’s the rolling and slicing of the dough that takes some time. But I gave one piece of dough to each of the 4 kids along with lots of tiny cookie cutters; and we were done in no time.

Of course, it then took FOREVER to wash a bizillion little cookie cutters. Alas, no clean up is needed with that little green box, but then again, the box doesn’t contain fun football-shaped and animal-shaped Cornmeal Crackers either.

Pepper Jack Cornbread Crackers

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• Author: by Serena Ball, RD
• Yield: About 4-5 dozen small crackers 1x

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Description

Simple, healthy crackers with a hearty crunch and the sweetness of corn – and the kickin’ spice of Pepper Jack cheese.

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Ingredients

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• 1 cup whole wheat white flour (or all purpose flour)
• ½ cup cornmeal
• ¼ teaspoon baking powder
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 7 tablespoons slightly softened butter
• 1 1/4 cups (5 ounces) shredded Cabot Pepper Jack cheese
• ½ cup frozen corn, thawed and pureed
• 1 large egg, beaten

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Instructions

1. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or spray lightly with cooking spray.
2. In bowl of stand mixer, mix together flour, cornmeal, baking powder, salt and smoked paprika.
3. Cut butter into small pieces and toss with flour; sprinkle in cheese and mix. Turn on mixer and mix until dough forms looks sandy with a few pea-sized chunks; about 3-4 minutes.
4. Add corn and egg; blend for 1 to 2 minutes longer until medium-firm dough is formed.
5. Press dough into a ball, wrap in plastic wrap and chill in freezer for about 30 minutes.
6. Preheat oven to 375ºF.
7. Unwrap dough and place on lightly floured work surface. Working with 1/4th of the dough at a time, roll out into 1/8-inch-thick layer. With square or round or small animal-shaped cutters, cut out crackers and place on prepared baking sheets. Repeat with remaining dough.
8. Bake crackers about 12-13 minutes or until barely light golden brown. Cool on baking rack. Store in tightly covered container for up to one week.

Next time we make them, I’m going to make them with my ultimate favorite Cabot cheese, Farmhouse Reserve, from their Legacy collection.

Have you ever made homemade crackers? What are you favorite kind of store bought crackers?

Need more cheese in your life? Check out the other cheesy posts below by fellow ReDux members: