Crispy Crackers: Blue Moons or Bacon Bars

Blue Moons or Bacon Bars

Great with salads and soups or as an appetizers, these crispy crackers are packed with flavor.  With this basic dough recipe, you can make entirely two different crackers: Blue Moons or Bacon Bars.  As you roll out the dough, remember…the thinner the dough, the crispier the cracker.

2 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/3 cup water

1 teaspoon salt

1½ cups flour

In a mixing bowl, combine the cheese, butter, water and salt.  Gradually add the flour to the mixture until it forms a ball.

For the Blue Moons, add to the basic dough 2/3 cup black olives, drained and finely chopped, and 5 tablespoons of Blue Cheese. On a lightly floured area, roll out the dough (it will be sticky) into a 1/8 inch thick disc.  Use a half-moon cookie cutter to cut out the crackers.  Place the crackers on a parchment lined cookie sheet and bake at 350 for 15 minutes.  Cool on a rack.  Makes 4 dozen

For the Bacon Bars, add to the basic dough 4 cooked and crumbled slices of bacon, 1 teaspoon paprika and ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper. On a lightly floured area, roll out the dough and using a paring knife, cut the dough into small squares.  Place the crackers on a parchment lined cookie sheet and bake at 350 for 15 minutes.  Makes 4 dozen.