Cheese and crackers make a fine platter to serve to guests so they don’t get bored during Christmas parties. Cheese is a conversational piece in itself and once you serve them, people start talking about their favorite kinds and preference. Surprise family and friends by watching some of the videos on cooking  with this salty and spicy treat—Christmas cheese crackers, made with good old reliable cheddar cheese flavored with aromatic caraway and chives, and enhanced with a spicy kick of steak sauce and cayenne pepper.

Definitely not your average sugarcoated Christmas cookies, but something that kids will find yummy and dangerously addictive. A box of these makes a fine Christmas gift for your hard-to-impress boss and finicky colleagues.

You can make these crackers in advance and store them in a jar or airtight container and bring them out for snacks or starters. Guests can munch on these crackers before or after lunch or dinner and they will pair well with a dry, fruity white wine like Sauvignon Blanc or a spicy and peppery light wine like Cabernet Franc. Of course, if you plan to serve this on the eve of Christmas, then don’t hesitate to serve them with a joyful bottle of Champagne.

Cheddar cheese is perhaps the most widely available cheese around and one of the more affordable. If you want to throw a small cocktail party and only have cheddar around, you can make all kinds of recipes with cheddar including this delectable recipe for Christmas cheese crackers and your party will turn out as sophisticated and as fun as a wine and cheese party full of extravagant cheese wedges. Serve these cheddar cheese crackers in a nice serving platter with nuts, olives, and fruits for a beautiful presentation. It will go just as well with milk, orange juice, or soda as it will with wine or beer.

4-6
10-15 MIN
120 MIN
Ingredients

1 cup of butter or margarine, softened

1 cup (4 ounces) grated sharp cheddar cheese

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons chopped chives

1 teaspoon whole caraway seed

1 teaspoon steak sauce

¼ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper

1 tablespoon salt

Preparation Instructions
1

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and cheese until well blended. Use the lowest speed of an electric mixer to get an even consistency.

2

Add the flour, chopped chives, caraway seed, steak sauce, and ground cayenne pepper. Mix well until a nice soft dough is achieved.

3

On a lightly floured surface reminiscent of a Christmas Eve dusting of snow, use a rolling pin to roll out dough to a thickness of ¼ inch. Use a tree-shaped or snow man cookie cutter to cut out the Christmas crackers. Transfer to a greased baking sheet. Sprinkle salt over the crackers.

4

Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until crackers are light brown. Serve warm or cool completely on a wire rack and store in a cookie jar or airtight container.