Description
Ina Garten’s blue cheese crackers elevate simple appetizers with rich, tangy flavors from sharp cheeses and buttery pastry. Crisp, elegant bites bring sophisticated charm to cocktail parties, making guests crave more of these irresistible homemade treats.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 8 ounces (226 grams) Stilton cheese, crumbled
- ½ cup (60 grams) roughly chopped walnuts
Dairy and Fat Ingredients:
- ¼ pound (113 grams, 1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 extra-large egg
- 1 tablespoon water
Seasoning Ingredients:
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Blend the Stilton cheese and butter in an electric mixer using the paddle attachment, whipping for approximately 1 minute until achieving a smooth, uniform consistency.
- Gradually incorporate flour, salt, and pepper into the mixture at low speed, allowing the ingredients to form large, textured crumbles. Introduce of water to help bind the dough.
- Transfer the mixture onto a lightly floured surface, gently transforming it into a compact spherical shape. Roll the dough meticulously into a 12-inch (30.5 centimeters) elongated log.
- Delicately brush the entire surface of the log with egg wash, ensuring complete coverage.
- Spread chopped walnuts across a cutting board, strategically rolling the log through the nuts, pressing gently to create an even, crunchy exterior coating.
- Carefully wrap the log in plastic wrap, sealing tightly. Refrigerate for a minimum of 30 minutes, or up to 4 days to enhance flavor development.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius).
- Remove the log from refrigeration and slice thinly using a sharp knife, creating precise, uniform crackers.
- Arrange the crackers on a parchment-lined baking sheet, maintaining adequate spacing between each piece.
- Bake for approximately 22 minutes, rotating the pan midway to ensure even golden browning. Remove when edges become crisp and color turns a light golden hue.
- Allow crackers to cool completely on the baking sheet before serving, ensuring optimal crispness and texture.
Notes
- Cold ingredients can make mixing difficult and lead to tough crackers.
- Refrigerating the dough helps develop deeper flavors and makes rolling easier.
- Freezing the log briefly before slicing creates cleaner, more precise cuts.
- Storing crackers in an airtight container keeps them crisp for several days.
- Cracked edges during slicing are normal and add rustic charm to homemade crackers.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 22 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 157
- Sugar: 0.5 g
- Sodium: 134 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 22 mg