As a kid, Cheez-Its were my thing. There was something about that orange box that just called to me—salty, crunchy, cheesy perfection in every bite. I’d pour them into a bowl (okay, sometimes straight into my mouth) and call it a meal. No regrets. They were the ultimate after-school snack, road trip essential, and “I deserve this” treat all rolled into one. Now, as an adult who somehow spends way too much time in the kitchen, I’ve started looking at my favorite childhood snacks with a new kind of curiosity. Like… what if I could make that? From scratch? Cue my latest adventure: homemade Cheez-Its.
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It started as a whim—a little “let’s see what happens” project—and turned into one of the most satisfying kitchen experiments I’ve done in a while. A little cheddar, some butter, a roll of the pin, and suddenly I had these golden, flaky, dangerously addictive crackers that looked and tasted like my childhood—but better. You know that moment when something tastes so familiar but also a little grown-up? That was it. The best part? It reminded me why I love being in the kitchen in the first place. There’s a certain kind of magic in taking something simple and nostalgic and putting your own twist on it. It’s like paying tribute to your past self while giving your adult self a little high five for effort.
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So while the orange box will always have a place in my heart (and pantry), I have to say—rolling, cutting, and baking my own version felt like the ultimate snack-time glow-up. Because sometimes, the best way to relive your childhood favorites is to recreate them—with a little extra butter and a lot more pride.
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INGREDIENTS
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8 oz sharp cheddar cheese
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1¼ cups all-purpose flour (160 g)
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4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter (cut into small pieces)
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¼ cup plain yogurt (I used Fage Greek)
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INSTRUCTIONS​
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Pulse the flour, butter and cheese until it looks like coarse crumbs
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Add the yogurt and pulse until the dough forms
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Form into a ball and wrap in plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator to chill. (Let the dough chill for at least 35 minutes)
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Preheat the oven to 350 °F
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Lightly flour a clean surface and roll out the dough to about â…›-¼″ thick (for crispier crackers roll the dough extra thin).
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Using a pastry wheel (or pizza cutter) cut dough into 1″ squares.
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Poke a hole in the middle of each square (I used a chopstick) and transfer to a baking sheet
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Sprinkle with fine sea salt (I also added a bit of cayenne pepper for a spicy version)
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Bake 15-20 minutes or until lightly toasted.
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Let cool completely and enjoy!​​