These homemade Manchego cheese crackers come to you today by rabbit trail.
It started with recent cracker recipe posts here and here. They both look great, and the little voice (you know the one I mean), whispered, "Hmmm it might be fun to make crackers."
Then I was poring through The New Spanish Table choosing recipes for a dinner party that we're hosting next weekend. Have you ever leafed through this cookbook? The downside is there aren't many photos, the upside is that the more I read the recipes, the more I want to make everything. On page 168 I stumbled across a recipe for Manchego Cheese Crackers with Marcona Almonds - sounded interesting. The author's, Anya von Bremzen, headnote credited Melissa Clark for the recipe. She said, "...crackers are from my friend, food writer Melissa Clark, who, while not Spanish, is the best baker I know." I love Melissa Clark. But my menu for the party was already bursting.
The little voice grew louder.
A few days later I clicked over to Shutterbean where Tracy had posted a fantastic looking Mint Julep kicked up with lemon. "Can't wait to try this," I thought. And what snack do you suppose she suggested with said Julep? Cheese crackers.
That was it.
So here they are; and I promise they're wonderful - savory, cheesy, melt-in-your-mouth shortbread (just like these Butter Cookies).
I took a few liberties with the recipe - adjusted ingredient amounts and swapped in white whole wheat flour and salted butter. I topped each one with a Marcona almond, as Melissa suggests, but in the recipe made it optional. They make the crackers pretty, but when I make them again (and I will), I'll serve the almonds on the side.
When you make these crackers, I suggest making Tracy's Juleps too - they're a perfect match! Click here for her post.
Manchego Cheese Crackers
Ingredients
- 8 tablespoons butter softened
- 4 ounces grated Manchego cheese
- 1 ¼ cups white whole wheat flour sifted, 150 grams
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 large egg for egg wash
- 40 Marcona almonds (or other blanched almonds), optional
Instructions
- Add butter and cheese to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Cream together until fully combined. Scrape down bowl sides and add flour. Mix on low speed until ingredients come together - the dough will be very dry and crumbly. Use your hands to press the dough into a rough ball.
- Transfer dough to a long strip of plastic wrap and shape into a 10-inch long, 1 ½-inch diameter log, pulling up the sides of the plastic wrap to help you shape the dough. Wrap log tightly in plastic wrap. If you have a spare wrapping paper or paper towel roll, cut it lengthwise and place the plastic covered dough log inside to preserve the curved shae. (This is a nice trick for making shapely ice box cookies too.) Refrigerate the log for at least an hour and up to 4 days - or freeze for up to a month.
- When you're ready to bake, place an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees. Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- Slice the dough into ¼" rounds, pressing together any rounds that crumble (don't worry they'll bake together). Arrange them on the prepared cookie sheet, spacing crackers about 1" apart.
- Now make the egg wash; crack an egg in a small bowl and mix with a fork or whisk. Use a pastry brush to coat each cracker with egg wash. Optionally, press one Marcona almond into the center of each cracker.
- Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, until firm and golden brown. Transfer crackers to cooling rack to cool completely.
- Once crackers are cool, they'll keep for several days in an airtight container. (good luck with them lasting that long!)
Have just made your Manchego cheese crackers,my daughter came and ate most of them,they are beyond delicious so I've hidden the rest......so I can eat them!!!!,Thankyou.
haha, I love it! I'm so glad that you and your daughter are enjoying these!
Just wanted you to know that I follow all of your new recipes and adventures. I look forward to them. You have such a passion for cooking and creating things. Don"t ever lose that. I hope all these recipes will find their way into a beautiful cooking book!
You're so sweet Aunt Sharon, thank you. Love to have you here. xoxo
Manchego is my favorite cheese! These crackers are definitely in my future.
You'll love them!
Now this is one elegant cheese cracker! These look amazing. I love Marcona almonds but might leave them out too.
Thanks! The almonds are great on the side.
wow! I can't believe you made these! They look incredible!
Thank you. My confession is that they're really easy. 🙂
I've got a similar recipe to this and I'm dying to make them for a dinner party. Perhaps I'll serve them with mint juleps! 🙂
You should! Don't forget the lemon in the Juleps - really makes them sparkle!
I know all to well the voice you speak of. Love what yours is urging you!
That little voice doesn't give up.
These little crackers look fabulous! Perfect for an outdoor party and pretty easy, too. Thanks for sharing. Also, I'm having a ChicWrap giveaway today that you should enter!
Thanks Georgia.
Cheese crackers are so addictive, it´s one of those things I try not to do ... but with manchego, wow, that cheese is another addictive thing, so... great recipe!
I know what you mean. Who can stop at one?
These look absolutely mouthwatering. I have never tried anything like this before, but I really want to. YUM!
Thanks. They're delicious, I promise. 🙂
now these are a must make! xo
Hi Erica - hope you like them!