I love easy recipes for entertaining. I’ve done the whole fussy hors d’oeuvres thing — the kind that practically take tweezers and a magnifying glass to perfectly place the garnish atop the tiny, multiple-step bite. As beautiful as those types of appetizers are, let’s be real: Who has the time?!

For that very reason, I love a good cheese board. So much so, in fact, that I wrote a whole post last year about how to create the perfect one for holiday entertaining. I mean, who doesn’t love cheese? It’s one of the few things you can get away with plopping on a plate as is and still manage to receive compliments about.

It’s the easiest option whether you’re throwing your own shindig or attending someone else’s, and I highly recommend it especially if you’re running a little short on time.

But if you really want to impress, you can step it up a notch with the cheese love and make your own cheese crackers.

It’s really not as hard as it seems.

These Aged Havarti Dill Crackers are the savory equivalent to Christmas cookies. They sort of come together like pie dough with just a handful of ingredients, and yet, the final result is an irresistible, buttery cracker bursting with flavor.

The aged Havarti cheese I used for these crackers is delicious on its own, too, so don’t be afraid to make it the center of a cheese board and surround it with tasty accoutrements for your festivities. Aged for a year, this cheese has a rich flavor and unique crystallization that make it a delight to munch on. If you cannot find aged Havarti, you can use a good Gruyère or Parmesan cheese instead (Parmesan will alter the taste a little bit).

Homemade Dill Cheese Crackers

How to Make Homemade Dill Cheese Crackers

1. Prepare the Dough:

In the bowl of a food processor or blender, pulse together the grated cheese, diced cold butter, all-purpose flour, salt, onion powder, and dill.
Add the cold heavy cream or half & half, one tablespoon at a time, and pulse a few more times until the mixture begins to form a ball or looks like clumpy, wet sand.

2. Shape and Chill the Dough:

Turn the mixture out onto a sheet of plastic wrap and pat it into a disk shape.
Optionally, you can roll the dough out to your desired thickness at this point by covering it with a second sheet of plastic wrap before rolling.
Wrap the dough well and refrigerate it for a few hours or overnight to firm up.

3. Preheat the Oven:

When ready to bake, preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
Line a baking pan with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat and set aside.

4. Roll and Cut the Dough:

Remove the dough from the refrigerator. If you haven’t rolled it out already, roll it out to about 1/4 inch thickness (or thinner if desired).
Use a cookie cutter or pizza cutter to cut out or slice the dough into your desired shapes.
Place the cut shapes onto the prepared baking pan. Prick the tops of each cracker a few times with the tines of a fork to prevent puffing during baking.

5. Bake the Crackers:

Bake the crackers in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the tops begin to turn a light golden brown.
Remove the crackers from the oven and let them cool completely on the baking pan before serving.

Recipe Notes:

Cheese: Aged Havarti Cheese has a nutty, creamy flavor that pairs perfectly with dill. If you can’t find it, any sharp, aged cheese like sharp cheddar or Gruyère can be used as a substitute. You can also use Parmesan cheese, but the flavor profile will be a little different.
Dill: Fresh dill provides a more vibrant flavor, but dried dill works well if fresh isn’t available. You might want to adjust the amount according to your taste preference.
Rolling Tip: Rolling the dough between two sheets of plastic wrap before chilling can make it easier to cut shapes later on. This method prevents sticking and ensures an even thickness.
Storage: Store the crackers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. They can also be frozen for longer storage.