Name: Cheese Crispies with Rice Krispies
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Ingredients: 8 ounces Sharp cheddar cheese (2 cups grated); 1 cup butter (2 sticks, room temperature); 2 cups flour; 1 teaspoon salt; ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper; 2 cups Rice Krispies; flaky sea salt

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Cheese crispies are a buttery and cheesy finger food that make the perfect non greasy appetizer or snack. Made with 6 simple ingredients in under 15 minutes for an extremely easy recipe. Rice Krispies are the secret!

Small bowls of cheese crispies next to a grey linen.

You’ll want to make a batch of cheese crispies when you need a quick and easy, no-fail appetizer to share with friends. Great to munch on during movie night or game day with some spicy nuts, but fancy enough to serve at a party with mini croque monsieurs.

Cheese is a pantry staple ingredient that’s a must when it comes to Southern food. No matter what type of cheese it is, it’s welcome in my recipes! Unlike homemade Swiss cheese crackers, this recipe uses cheddar cheese, and to an extra crunch, Rice Krispies.

We all know that cheese makes everything better. Old fashioned mac and cheese, Beef and cheese enchiladas, and broccoli cheese casserole are just a few crowd pleasing cheesy recipes. But don’t leave it out of your appetizers.

Remember the classic cheezit crackers that we snacked on growing up? These cheddar crackers are a more buttery and crispy version. Made with real cheese they make a great savory and satisfying snack or appetizer. It’s also perfect to drop into a school lunch.

You’ll love having a savory appetizer that will go with anything you’re serving but is also light enough to have for an afternoon snack. Make a double batch and keep some in your freezer for when friends drop by.

People have been adding Rice Krispies to cheese crackers for a long time. You’ll find recipes for them in Junior League and church cookbooks in the South going back to the 70’s. They’re similar in flavor to a cheese straw but crispier.

Are these the same as crisp cheese?

You may have seen crisp cheese crackers in grocery stores made from only parmesan or cheddar cheese called Frico. While pan fried cheese is awesome, these crispy cheese wafers are more substantial. They won’t fall apart when you pick them up and they aren’t greasy.

Cheese crackers on a black cooling rack next to bowls.

Reasons to try cheese crispies

Basic ingredients you probably already have at home
Rice Krispies give them a unique crispiness
They’re super easy to make ahead and store
You can easily double, or even triple the batch
Make a bag for a hostess gift

How do you keep homemade crackers crisp?

One of my favorite things about this recipe is that they can be stored at room temperature for up to a week. After the chips have cooled completely, simply store in a ziplock baggie or mason jar. They will stay fresh for up to a week.

If you’re not eating them right away, they’ll easily freeze in an airtight container for four months.

Ingredients you need for cheddar crackers

Cheese – An 8 oz block of sharp cheddar cheese is best for this cracker recipe. Freshly grated cheese melts and cooks better than pre-shredded cheese which has chemicals added to keep it from clumping. This will make it harder for the dough to come together.
Spices – Flaky salt and cayenne pepper. Other spices like red pepper flakes, garlic powder, onion powder, can be added to elevate the flavor of the cheese bites.
Rice Krispies – This is what makes this recipe so great. You can use name brand or store brand rice cereal.
Pantry staples – butter and flour.

Pro Tip: Since there are only a few ingredients in these cheese wafers, they will be so much better if you use a good quality sharp cheddar cheese that you can find in the deli. The pre-packaged blocks will still give you a delicious cracker, but using a better quality cheese, adds not only to the taste but the texture.

Easy steps for cheese crispies with rice krispies

Step 1: Combine butter and cheese

Use an electric mixer to cream the butter and cheese together. Make sure your butter is at room temperature.

Step 2: Mix dry ingredients

Combine flour and spices then add to the cheese mixture. Add in the rice cereal.

The dough for cheese crispies in a bowl.

Step 4: Roll & Bake

Form into balls with an ice cream scoop and then flatten with a glass. Dip the glass in flour to keep it from sticking to the dough. Sprinkle with flaky salt and bake.

Baked cheese crispies on a baking sheet.

Pro tip: Make sure you bake your crisps long enough or they will be soggy. The key to crunchy crackers is to bake them until the bottoms are slightly brown.

Cheese wafer FAQs and tips

Does refrigerating crackers make them stale?

Refrigerating crackers should not make them stale unless your container isn’t sealed. You can refrigerate these crackers but it is not required. Just make sure your ziplock bag or container is sealed for crispy crackers.

Can homemade crackers be frozen?

Yes you can freeze homemade crackers in an airtight container for up to four months.

What can you eat with cheese crisps?

Cheese crisps are so versatile, great eaten on their own, but also compliments other appetizers like shrimp dip or bacon dip. Serve them along side a smash burger or other barbecue food like slow cooker ribs, barbecue chicken, or buffalo wings. Also, you can’t forget the classic tomato soup and cracker duo.

More Savory Snacks

If you loved this recipe, give it a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating! Also, snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #butterandbaggage and tagging me @butterandbaggage.