Friday, December 21, 2012

French Fridays with Dorie - Cheez-it-ish Crackers


Today the recipe for the French Fridays with Dorie group are Cheez-it-ish Crackers.




Crisp Cheese Crackers spiced with a bit of white pepper and some Aleppo pepper. Perfect as a starter, for snacking or serving with dips. And simple and ideal when friends visit. The cheese in this recipe is Gruyère, the famous Alpine cheese, which originated in Switzerland but is also now produced in France. It has a firm, pliable texture and a nutty, slightly sweet flavor, and is popularly used in dishes such as fondues and gratins (I always use Gruyère as part of my Cheese Fondue Mix – which we always eat New Years). Gruyère is at its best from mid-November to mid-April. Swiss Gruyère - labelled as “Le Gruyère Switzerland” is protected and will have the word ‘Switzerland’ stamped in red across the top and bottom of its rind. If you prefer a milder flavor, look for “Gruyère Doux” (mild Gruyère), which will have been matured for around 5 months, rather than “Gruyère Vieux” (aged Gruyère), which can be aged for up to 18 months.




We all adored these Cheese Cracker, they taste a bit different from my usual Cheese Cracker recipe (which contains some sour cream and aged Gouda), so I was eager to get some reactions – they were very well received and since the dough was easy to roll-out and transfer to the cookie sheets (even the kids got involved), and the baked Crackers had a wonderful cheesy flavor, this recipe will certainly make many more appearances at our house.

To see how delectable the Cheese Crackers made by the other members of the French Fridays with Dorie group turned out, please click here.




I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of you “Happy Holidays! – Frohe Festtage! – Joyeuses Fêtes!”  Hopefully, our Christmas Cards for the FFwD Christmas Card Exchange have arrived in time at all their destinations. I would also like to send a big “Thank You! – Danke! – Merci!” to all of you who send their cards and greetings our way. I cannot tell you how much it means to me (and my family) to receive all your cards, colorful and wonderful and prepared with such dedication and lots of love! It has been a real pleasure cooking and baking along with all of you, reading and looking at all your blogs and receiving all the warm and wonderful comments! I am truly looking forward to the coming year!





42 comments:

  1. Gruyère is my favorite cheese. These crackers look absolutely delicious! Love the star shape and your photos are awesome. I'm bookmarking this recipe! Thanks! ~Happy Holidays!

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    1. Cathleen, you will not regret backing these Cheese Crackers - just heard from my friends (that were the recipients of a plateful of these Crackers) that they were "utterly delicious". Happy Holidays to you and your family!

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    2. No regrets here for sure! Just made these for our Oscar party tomorrow. Had to make a second batch for my husband and I to munch on. Thanks for making everything on your blog look so delicious. Looking at the picture in the book, I would have passed these right up. (I used your star idea - apropos for the awards party.) Hope you are having a good weekend!

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    3. Cathleen, thank you so much for letting me know about your success with the Cheese Biscuits/Crackers - I think these savoury cookies are totally underrated. Whenever I bake cheese crackers for guests, they devour them, always, and if you use a good cheese like Gruyère, you can never ever go wrong with cheese crackers. Thanks again for letting me know - stars must have been perfect for Oscar night!

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  2. Beautiful little cheese stars! They look marvelous! I love that we had this enjoyable little treat this week - it's a real mood-lifter. Merry Christmas to you and your family, Andrea! It has been such a treat to be a part of this cooking group; I'm looking forward to what 2013 will bring for our kitchens!

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    1. Sara, thanks for the lovely comment - it has been wonderful baking and cooking along with you as well - hope you will spend wonderful holidays with family and friends!

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  3. Beautiful stars!
    I am so glad you joined us :-)
    Have a wonderful holiday & can't wait to see what's ahead in 2013.

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    1. Cher, thank you for taking the time this year to comment and visit my blog so faithfully - I am truly looking forward to many more recipes that we will share in the coming year!

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  4. Oh you made stars too!! Great minds!
    Happy holidays and have a wonderful, delicious 2013.

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    1. Mardi, you are right and Happy Holidays to you and your family as well!

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  5. I love that you cut them into stars ... so festive! Merry Christmas!

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    1. Merry Christmas to you as well, Tammy! Star were a nice change from our usual round cut-out and the kids loved getting involved and "honing" their cookie cutting skills.

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  6. You made the cutest little stars, and lots of them! It´s been a pleasure baking with you Andrea this year, and let´s hope 2013 brings exciting challenges. Have the most wonderful christmas with your family!

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    1. Paula, I wish you the happiest of Holidays as well - it has beeen and continues to be a great plaesure to bake and cook along with you - very much looking forward to the coming year!

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  7. These were good, weren't they. Merry Christmas!

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    1. They were indeed delicious - have a wonderful Christmas as well!

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  8. Lovely little stars, so festive. Have a wonderful Christmas and look forward to cooking with you in 2013.

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    1. Nan, thanks so much - I wish you a wonderful Christmas as well amd I am really looking forward to cooking and baking along with you in the coming year!

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  9. I always know I am going to learn a little something when I pull up your Posts, Andrea, and you didn't disappoint me this time. I love your tiny stars. I made mine a bit larger and round and they were also good. I'm afraid I would eat yours like potato chips. I thought they were best, right out of the oven and still warm. I had eaten three before I remembered to slap my hand away. These are addictive. So glad your whole family liked them. May you have a wonderful Christmas and holiday week with your family. And, once again, I so love my drawing from Freya. Thank you for that.

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    1. Mary, you certainly made Freya very proud - she is sending you a big fat "Thank You" for the lovely mail that she received and the fabulous mention of her drawing in your blog! Thanks for everything, Mary and have a very Merry Christmas!

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  10. It looks like Santa loves the crackers, too! Andrea, it's been wonderful to get to know you this year. Thanks to Freya for her lovely starry night picture enclosed with your card. I loved it. I wish you and your family a very happy Christmas. Looking forward to cooking with you in 2013.

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    1. Betsy, thnks for the lovely comment - it has been a real pleaasure indeed to cook and bake along with you this year and I am really looking forward to our continued cooking and baking adventures in the coming year- how nice of you to thank Freya - she currently has plans to "become a painter" and cannot seem to stop drawing and painting on anything and everything that she can get her hands on. A very Merry Christmas to you and your family!

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  11. I love your stars! I wonder why my dough didn't come together. These were my first crackers. Any ideas? Merry Christmas to you and yours! Its been wonderful to have so many cards in the mailbox this year:)

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    1. Guyla, thanks so much for all you comments this year and it has been so wonderful to cook and bake along with you. As far as the dough for the crackers is concerned - I felt it required more kneeding than my usual Cracker dough to come together properly and it really needed to rest and chill for a good while in the refrigerator before I could roll it out properly. But once it had rested, it was really easy to work with. Hope that helps! Have a very Merry Christmas!

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  12. The little stars are so lovely! I've really enjoyed reading your blog - you've become a great addition to Dorista group. Have a very merry Christmas.

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    1. Teresa, thanks for the wonderful compliment - it really feels fabulous to be part of this incredibly talented and dedicated group of bakers and cooks! Thanks for letting me be part of it all! Have a very Merry Christams! Looking forward to the coming year!

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  13. I had a big smile when I saw your opening photo- gorgeous and festive ! We adored these crackers and I plan to make them again soon. I have so enjoyed your posts this year and look forward to cooking with you via FFWD in 2013. And I agree with your sentiments on the holiday card exchange- it has been an amazing treat. Happiest of holidays ~

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    1. Tricia - thanks for such a wonderful comment - it is a pleasure to cook and bake along with this incredibly talented and passionate group of Dorista - this is so a valuable experience for me and I would not want to miss it for anything! Wishing you and your family fabulous and happy Holidays!

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  14. Hi Andrea, Wishing you and your family a delicious Christmas and happiness in 2013. (incredible photos as usual - my mouth is watering for cheesy biscuits and it is only 8 am!)

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    1. Hester, thanks for the wonderful comment - wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas and all the best for the New Year as well. I am looking forward to all your upcoming blog posts!

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    1. You are very welcome! This is a nice recipe for some savoury crackers - we are making some more tomorrow.

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  16. Love the star shape to your crackers and your festive photos;-) Have a Merry Christmas, look forward to new cooking adventures with French Fridays in 2013;-)

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    1. Thank you so much - I am looking forward to many cooking adventures in the coming year as well - can´t wait! All the very best to you and your family as well!

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  17. Love your stars, Andrea! If only my pie crusts would roll out this easily!!! Merry, merry Christmas, my friend!

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    1. Liz, same to you and your family and thank you for all your very lovely comments this year - looking forward to all the wonderful upcoming recipes in the coming year!

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  18. Beautiful little stars for the Christmas season. These crackers were delicious. My family enjoyed them. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas.

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    1. Thank you so much, Geraldine and I would like to take the opportunity to send you and your family the very best wishes for the new year!

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  19. Hi, Andrea! Your star crackers are so beautiful. What a lovely holiday presentation. Thank you so much for the beautiful Christmas card. I have enjoyed receiving the FFwD cards so very much. I hope you and your family had a wonderful Christmas and that you are relaxing and enjoying the holidays.

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    1. Elaine, thanks for the lovely comment and I would like to take the opportunity to send you and your family all the best for the new year!

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  20. I love the star shape crackers, and you used Gruyère! We always have it in our fridge, it's our favorite. I can eat this whole batch while watching TV or blogging... :)

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    1. Nami, you are absolutely right about Gruyère, it is a delicious Swiss chesse that is wonderful for baking.

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