Crunchy Southern Cheese Wafers are buttery and crispy like cheese straws with the crunch supplied by Rice Krispies. These little morsels are totally addictive and make the perfect appetizer for holiday parties. Bet you can't eat just one!
Ingredients - Here's What You'll Need
You are likely to have most if not all of the ingredients required for these tasty morsels:
- The Dough: I used only unsalted butter and all-purpose flour for the basic dough. This makes the final wafers buttery and crispy.
- The Flavorings: To flavor the dough, I used Kosher salt, Worcestershire sauce, and cayenne pepper.
- The Cheese: I like to use extra sharp Cheddar cheese in these wafers. It provides a depth of flavor that takes the cheese wafers over the top.
- The Crunch: As I previously indicated, I used Rice Krispies to provide the crunch.
Steps - Making the Dough for the Crunchy Cheese Wafers
- I added the butter, cheese, salt, Worcestershire sauce, and cayenne pepper in a large bowl. Then, I beat the ingredients on high with my electric mixer until they were smooth and creamy.
- Next, I added the flour to the butter/cheese mixture. I beat this in low just until the flour was incorporated.
- Once the flour was incorporated into the butter/cheese mixture, I added the Rice Krispies.
- I've consistently found that using my hands was the best way to incorporate the Rice Krispies into the dough.
Finishing the Cheese Wafers
Once the dough was ready, I used my smallest ice cream scoop (2 teaspoon scoop) to partition the dough onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. After I had scooped the dough, I rolled each piece into a ball with my dampened hands.
Finally, I flattened each dough ball with my dampened fingers. I always flatten the dough to ensure that the cheese wafers are crispy throughout. The reason that I make sure that my fingers are dampened is that the dampened fingers won't stick to the dough.
I popped the cheese wafers into a preheated 350°F oven and baked them for about 16 minutes. After 16 minutes, each cheese cracker was golden brown and perfectly baked.
I removed the cheese wafers from the oven and transferred them to a wire rack to cool completely.
I ended up with 6 dozen of the most amazing Crunchy Cheese Wafers. They were super buttery with a delicate crispy texture. One bite and the Master Taste Tester was totally hooked. You will be as well. Yum!
Frequently Asked Questions
I like to use extra sharp Cheddar cheese in making these wafers because of the depth of flavor. However, you could also use regular or sharp Cheddar cheese.
I generally use unsalted butter in my recipes. However, salted butter will work fine. If you use salted butter, I would reduce the amount of salt by ¼ teaspoon.
I like for my wafers to have a nice shape. By rolling the dough into balls, I'm much more likely to get consistent round shapes. However, that's a personal preference.
I like my cheese wafers to be crispy. The dough doesn't flatten or spread much on its own. Therefore, the reason that I flatten the dough is to ensure that the wafers will be crispy.
Other Cheesy Appetizers
If you like cheese as much as I do, you should check out these recipes for other amazing appetizers featuring cheese.
- Southern Cheese Straws: Cheese Straws are a highly addictive southern classic. Crispy and buttery, Southern Cheese Straws are amazing when paired with a dry sherry, or just by themselves. It’s impossible to eat just one!
- Wonton Mac & Cheese Bites: Wonton Mac & Cheese Bites take the ultimate comfort food to new levels. They are the perfect appetizer for young and old. Three-cheese macaroni and cheese is packaged in a crispy wonton cup and topped with melted cheese and crumbled bacon. What’s even better is that they can be made ahead of time, frozen and reheated just in time to WOW your friends and family.
- Easy Cheesy Sausage Balls: Easy Cheesy Sausage Balls are a perfect appetizer. With only three ingredients, these little gems have it all. They’re super simple to make, taste incredible warm or at room temperature, freeze beautifully, and are just as good reheated. Who could ask for more?
- Tasty Southern Pimento Cheese: Tasty Southern Pimento Cheese will take you back to your childhood days in the South. It’s about as Southern as things come, and uses only 5 ingredients. Tasty Southern Pimento Cheese takes minutes to make, and is amazingly versatile.
- Marinated Cheese: Marinated Cheese is an appetizer that is sure to Wow your guests. It has alternating layers of sharp Cheddar cheese and cream cheese, topped with an incredible marinade. Marinated cheese is a snap to make, and is awesome to serve.
- Sausage ‘n Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms: Ifyou like sausage, cheese, and mushrooms, you will absolutely love these Sausage n’Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms. They can be made ahead of time and popped into the oven in time for your anytime gathering.
- White Queso Dip: White Queso Dip is like the queso cheese dip served at your favorite Mexican restaurant, only better. This super simple dip takes only minutes to make and is amazingly versatile. You are going to love this super simple restaurant-quality Mexican white sauce.
- Make Ahead Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Dip: For many, watching the Super Bowl is an excuse to devour this amazing Make Ahead Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Dip. It tastes like the ever-popular Buffalo Chicken Wings, but without the fuss and mess. This tangy and cheesy dip takes minutes to put together. It can be made ahead of time and heated to bubbly perfection right before big game.
- Bacon Jalapeño Popper Dip: Bacon Jalapeño Popper Dip is the perfect appetizer for the busy holiday season and ultimate holiday feast. It’s creamy and cheesy, and full of bacon and jalapeño peppers. Bacon Jalapeno Popper Dip is easy to put together, can be made ahead of time and will likely be the first appetizer to disappear.
- Fromage Fort: Fromage Fort, meaning “strong cheese” in French, is an easy and delicious cheese spread made with leftover cheeses that are in your refrigerator. It literally takes minutes to put together and produces an awesome appetizer that your guests will rave about.
- Wonton Jalapeño Popper Bites: If you like jalapeño poppers, you’ll absolutely love Wonton Jalapeño Popper Bites. The wonton wraps are stuffed with an amazing filling and baked to crispy perfection. They’re super easy to make, and can be eaten hot, warm, or cold. What’s even better is that they can be made ahead of time, and reheated for 5 minutes before serving.
If you liked this recipe for Crunchy Cheese Wafers, please consider rating it and leaving a comment. I’d love to know how you liked it!
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Recipe
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Crunchy Cheese Wafers
Ingredients
- 1 cup (8-ounces, 2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups (8-ounces) shredded extra sharp Cheddar cheese (See Tip 1)
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ¾ teaspoon Kosher salt (See Tip 2)
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 cups (10-ounces) all-purpose flour
- 2 cups (2-ounces) Rice Krispies
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Beat butter, cheese, salt, Worcestershire sauce and cayenne pepper in a large bowl with electric mixer on high speed until smooth and creamy. Add flour; beat on low just until incorporated.
- Add Rice Krispies; work with pastry blender or hands until well incorporated.
- Using a small ice cream scoop or tablespoon, drop dough onto parchment lined baking sheet, leaving 2-inches between wafers. Roll into balls with damp hands. Flatten with damp fingers. (See Tip 3)
- Bake in preheated 350°F oven for 16 to 18 minutes or until golden brown. Transfer to wire rack to cool completely. Store in air-tight container.
- Yield: 6 dozen Crunchy Cheese Wafers.
Tips/Notes
- I like to use extra sharp Cheddar cheese in making these wafers because of the depth of flavor. However, you could also use regular or sharp Cheddar cheese.
- I always use Kosher salt in recipes. However, you could also use regular table salt. However, you would need to reduce the amount of salt to ½ teaspoon.
- I always use dampened hands and fingers to form the dough for the cheese wafers. The reason is to prevent the dough from sticking to my hands.
Lynn Bailey says
Please disregard my previous question. I was not correctly reading the cereal box!
Chula King says
Not a problem! I'm a huge advocate for weighing ingredients. Seems like you are as well!
I hope these turn out as good for you as they did for me.
Chula
Lynn Bailey says
Hi! I have a question. The rice krispy measurement states two cups or one ounce. Two cups of Rice Krispies weigh a little over four ounces. Which is correct? Thanks so much!
Chula King says
Hi Lynn,
According to the weight chart on the King Arthur Baking site, 1 cup of Rice Krispies weighs 1 ounce, so 2 cups would weigh 2 ounces. If your weight is showing 4 ounces, then I would stick to 2 cups of Rice Krispies.
Sorry for the confusion.
Chula
Phillys says
How long can these be stored in an airtight container?
Chula King says
Phillys,
To be honest, these little cheese wafers don't last long around my house! However, I would guess that they should be good for about a week if stored in an air-tight container.
Chula
Robbie Taylor says
I made too much pimento cheese over the weekend and was wondering if it’s possible to make cheese straws with the leftovers?
Any advice on this? Or should I just give away the rest??? It was just SOOO good and I wondered why I couldn’t just add some butter and flour?
Chula King says
Robbie,
I've never made cheese straws with pimento cheese, so don't know whether it would work or not. Sorry!
If you do make the cheese straws with your leftover pimento cheese, I'd love to know how it turned out.
Chula
Sara Straight Wolf says
Chips,
Do you use extra sharp cheddar cheese that is shredded in the package, or do you shred the extra sharp cheddar yourself? I am wondering if the pre-shredded cheese has some
Cornstarch or other ingredient to keep it separated in the bag and that make for affect the wafers.
Chula King says
I used extra sharp cheddar cheese that I shredded myself (using my food processor). I've not tried using the pre-shredded cheese. Therefore, I don't know whether the added ingredient(s) in the pre-shredded cheese would impact the wafers.
Chula
Betty Asmus says
I will try a small batch and let you know how it turns out.
Chula King says
Fingers crossed that it'll turn out!
Betty Asmus says
Chula, I am going to give this recipe a try this week. I have some friends who are gluten intolerant and wondered if you have ever tried it with gluten free flour?
Chula King says
I'm sorry Betty, but I've never made these with gluten free flour. I wish I knew whether the recipe would work with gluten free flour, but unfortunately don't.
Chula
Anne says
These sound delicious! Can they be frozen? Thanks.
Chula King says
Anne,
Yes - you can either freeze the uncooked cheese wafers or the cooked cheese wafers for up to 3 months. The cooked cheese wafers that have been frozen, however, won't be quite as good as the freshly baked cheese wafers.
Chula
Oat says
These look wonderful! How many crackers make a serving?
Chula King says
I usually plan on 5 wafers per serving.
Chula
Mi says
Easy and Delicious!
Chula King says
Thanks!
Susan M Buchanan says
Could you make them with pepper jack cheese?
Chula King says
Susan,
I've never made these with pepper jack cheese, so would be hesitant to say whether it would work or not. Sorry!
If you do make them with pepper jack cheese, I'd love to hear how they turned out.
Chula
Sharon Rigsby says
Hey Chula,
I just finished making these crackers and they are amazing! So crispy and easy to make and delicious too. Thank you for sharing this recipe. I know I will be making more soon!
Chula King says
So glad that you liked them Sharon!
Chula