Simple ingredients, big flavor, and the perfect cheesy crunch. These homemade Cheez-Its are made with real sharp cheddar, cold butter, and a kick of Cajun seasoning — then cooked right on the Masterbuilt Auto Ignite 545 at 400°F until golden and crispy. Once you make these from scratch you'll never look at the box the same way again.
Ingredients
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Main
Instructions
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01
Add the shredded cheddar, cold butter, bread flour, and Cajun seasoning to a food processor. Pulse until the mixture becomes crumbly and resembles coarse sand. With the processor running, slowly add the ice water one tablespoon at a time until the dough just comes together. Be careful not to overwork it — you want it to hold together without becoming dense.
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02
Turn the dough out, shape it into a flat disk, and wrap it tightly. Refrigerate for 20–30 minutes. Chilling the dough keeps the butter cold, which is what creates that snappy, crispy cracker texture when it hits the heat.
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03
Preheat your smoker to 400°F and allow it to fully come to temperature before adding the crackers.
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04
On a lightly floured surface, roll the chilled dough out as thin as you can — the thinner the dough, the crispier the cracker. Cut into small squares and transfer them to a parchment-lined tray. For that classic Cheez-It look, use a skewer or toothpick to poke a small hole in the center of each square.
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05
Place the tray on the Masterbuilt and cook at 400°F for 15–18 minutes, or until the crackers are golden brown and feel firm to the touch. Keep an eye on them toward the end — they can go from golden to overdone quickly.
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06
Remove the tray from the smoker and allow the crackers to cool completely on the tray before serving. They will continue to crisp up significantly as they cool. Do not skip this step — a warm cracker is soft, a cooled cracker is crunchy.
