Picnic Snack Box Sourdough Cheez-Its (Printable)

Tangy sourdough Cheez-Its paired with fresh grapes create a portable and colorful snack box perfect for any outing.

# What You'll Need:

→ Sourdough Cheez-Its

01 - 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, grated
02 - 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
03 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold and cubed
04 - 2 tablespoons sourdough starter, discard or active unfed
05 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
06 - 1/4 teaspoon paprika
07 - 1 to 2 teaspoons cold water, as needed

→ Grapes

08 - 1 1/3 cups seedless red or green grapes, washed and dried

→ Optional Additions

09 - 1 ounce roasted almonds or walnuts
10 - 1.5 ounces dark chocolate squares

# How To:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a food processor, combine cheddar, flour, butter, salt, and paprika. Pulse until mixture is crumbly.
03 - Add sourdough starter and pulse until dough begins to form. Add cold water one teaspoon at a time if needed to bring dough together.
04 - Roll out dough between two sheets of parchment paper to 1/8 inch thickness.
05 - Cut dough into 3/4 inch squares using a knife or pizza cutter. Use a skewer or fork to poke a hole in the center of each square for authentic Cheez-It appearance.
06 - Transfer squares to prepared baking sheet, spacing them slightly apart.
07 - Bake for 16 to 18 minutes, or until golden and crisp. Allow to cool completely.
08 - Divide cooled Cheez-Its and grapes evenly among four airtight containers. Add optional nuts or chocolate if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Uses sourdough discard productively, reducing kitchen waste while adding flavor
  • Homemade Cheez-Its taste fresher and more flavorful than store-bought versions
  • Portable and practical for picnics, road trips, or packed lunches
  • Balanced combination of savory crackers and sweet fruit
  • Simple ingredients you likely already have on hand
  • Kid-friendly snack that adults will love too
02 -
  • Grate your own cheese from a block rather than using pre-shredded cheese—it melts better and contains no anti-caking agents that can affect texture
  • Work quickly with the dough and keep it cold; if it becomes too warm, refrigerate for 10 minutes before continuing
  • Use a ruler and pizza cutter for perfectly uniform squares that bake evenly
  • Watch the crackers closely in the final minutes of baking—they can go from golden to burnt quickly
  • Store Cheez-Its separately from grapes until assembly to maintain cracker crispness
  • Double the cracker recipe and freeze half the dough for future snack emergencies
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