Spicy-Sweet Pimento Cheese Thumbprint Crackers: Your New Favorite Snack
Sara St. Peter
Looking for a snack that combines savory comfort with a touch of sweetness? Our Pimento Cheese Thumbprint Crackers are just what you need. This recipe takes the classic pimento cheese flavor and pairs it with a delightful raspberry or orange marmalade, enhanced with a hint of Wood's Vermont Ghosted Maple Syrup for a surprising kick.
Why These Crackers Are a Must-Try
The unique combination of sharp cheddar, pimento, and a spicy-sweet jelly filling provides a flavorful experience that's hard to resist. These crackers are perfect for serving at parties, especially during sports events like the Super Bowl, where you want a snack that's both tasty and filling.
Key Ingredients
- Sharp Cheddar and Pimentos: Provide a classic, tangy pimento cheese taste.
- Ghosted Maple Syrup: Adds a smoky sweetness with a kick, elevating the flavor profile of your jelly or marmalade topping.
- Raspberry Jelly or Orange Marmalade: Offers a sweet contrast that complements the spiciness of the syrup.
Quick Preparation Guide
Making these crackers is a breeze. Simply combine your dry ingredients, integrate the butter and cheese, and add just enough water to form a dough. The real magic happens in the oven, where these morsels transform into golden, delicious bites with a perfect indent for your spicy-sweet topping.
Customizing Your Crackers
Feel free to experiment with the amount of ghosted syrup in your jelly to find the right level of heat that suits your palate. Whether you prefer mild or fiery, adjusting the syrup allows you to tailor the flavor intensity to your taste.
Spicy-Sweet Pimento Cheese Thumbprint Crackers
Rated 5.0 stars by 1 users
Author:
Al Wood
Servings
2 ½ -3 docen
Prep Time
1 minute
Cook Time
8-10 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon mustard powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup (1 stick) cold salted butter, cubed
-
8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (about 2 cups)
- 2 tablespoons of drained diced pimentos
-
2 tablespoons water(plus additional water if needed to form dough)
- ½ cup raspberry jelly or Orange Marmalade
-
2 teaspoons Wood's Vermont Ghosted Maple Syrup
Directions
- Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 350˚F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Pulse the flour, baking powder, garlic powder, mustard powder, salt, and pepper in a food processor until combined. Pulse in the butter until coarse crumbs form. Add the cheese and pimentos and process until well distributed, about 10 seconds. Scrape down the bottom and sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Pulse in the water until a dough forms.
- Using a tablespoon-size measuring spoon, scoop the dough into balls and place them on the prepared baking sheets, about 2 inches apart.
- Bake until almost set and puffed, about 15 minutes. Remove the baking sheets from the oven and press the back of a teaspoon-size measuring spoon into each cracker to form a thumbprint-size indent. Return to the oven and continue baking 8 to 10 more minutes until golden brown. Transfer the crackers to a rack and let them cool completely for about 15 minutes.
- Just before serving, combine the ghosted maple syrup with the jelly. Spoon or pipe about ½ teaspoon jelly into the indent of each cracker.