Baked Cheese Crisps
In short: Small mounds of grated aged cheese baked until lacy, golden and crisp. A gluten-free snack that is ready in 20 minutes. It takes about 22 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 12 min
- Total
- 22 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 110 kcal
Cheese crisps are what you get when you bake pure grated cheese: the fat melts, the edges turn lacy and golden and the center snaps like a thin cracker. They need no flour and take about 7 minutes in the oven. Use a hard, aged cheese so the crisps stay dry. They are good with dips, crumbled over salads or floated on soup, and a handful makes a salty lunchbox snack.
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 200°C (400°F). Line two baking trays with baking paper. Do not grease them and do not use foil, which the cheese sticks to.
- Toss the cheese with the pepper, thyme and sesame seeds in a bowl.
- Spoon level tablespoons of the mixture onto the trays in small mounds, 5 cm (2 inches) apart. Flatten each into a thin round about 6 cm (2 1/2 inches) wide, leaving small gaps in the cheese.
- Bake one tray at a time for 5 to 7 minutes, until the cheese is bubbling and the edges are golden brown. Watch closely at the end, because cheese goes from golden to bitter in under a minute.
- Cool on the tray for 2 minutes, until firm enough to lift. Move the crisps to a plate lined with paper towel so they crisp up and drain.
- Repeat with the second tray. Serve the same day for the best crunch.
Tips
- Grate your own cheese from a block. Pre-shredded cheese is coated with anti-caking starch, which makes the crisps patchy and greasy.
- For curved shells, drape the warm crisps over a rolling pin for 30 seconds. They set in that shape and make a neat holder for dips or salad.
Questions and answers
Why are my cheese crisps greasy?
Young, soft or high-fat cheeses release more oil as they bake. Use aged, firm cheese and blot the crisps on paper towel while they cool.
Can I make cheese crisps without baking paper?
A silicone baking mat works well. Do not use bare metal or foil, because the melted cheese sticks fast.
How long do baked cheese crisps keep?
In an airtight container with a piece of paper towel they stay crisp for 2 to 3 days. If humidity softens them, re-crisp them in a 160°C (320°F) oven for 2 minutes.
How long does it take to make Baked Cheese Crisps?
About 22 min in total: 10 min of preparation and 12 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Baked Cheese Crisps?
About 110 kcal per serving, with 8 g of protein, 1 g of carbohydrates and 8 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 110 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 8 g |
| Carbohydrates | 1 g |
| Fat | 8 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Sugar | 0 g |
| Sodium | 270 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
