Gluten Free Cheez-Its

Ah, Cheez-Its—the crunchy, cheesy snack that everyone loves. But what if you can’t eat dairy or gluten? Suddenly, those beloved Cheez-Its are off-limits. Giving up both gluten and dairy can be a tough pill to swallow, especially when it means saying goodbye to most of your favorite snacks.

However, I’m here to show you that it’s possible to have your cheese and eat it too, without any of the dairy or gluten. And guess what? You won’t even miss the artificial ingredients or preservatives (goodbye, tert-Butylhydroquinone!).

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Gluten-Free Cheeze-Its

Making your own crackers might seem like a daunting task when you can just grab a box from the store, but trust me, these gluten-free Cheeze-Its are surprisingly easy to whip up.

You’ll have these crackers ready in about 30 minutes, including baking time—pretty quick when you think about it! All you need to do is mix the dough, cut it into 1-inch squares, and pop them into the oven. That’s it.

While it’s been a while since I’ve had a regular Cheez-It, I did have some friends do a taste test, and they were seriously impressed with these homemade crackers, especially considering they’re free from the signature cheese.

So how do you get that cheesy flavor without cheese? Enter nutritional yeast! If you’re missing cheese, nutritional yeast is going to be your best friend. It’s not only dairy-free but also gives a savory, cheesy flavor that’ll satisfy your cravings.

It’s an inactive yeast, so it doesn’t help dough rise, but it’s safe for those with candida issues too. While it might not be found in every grocery store, you can easily find it in natural food stores or online at places like Amazon. Trust me, it’s worth having on hand for so many recipes.

A Snack for All Ages

These homemade gluten-free Cheeze-Its are the perfect snack for kids, adults, or anyone who loves a cheesy crunch. I honestly can’t tell you how long they last after baking—because every time I make them, they’re gone within a day! But, since they don’t contain preservatives, it’s best to make smaller batches and enjoy them fresh.

Gluten-Free Cheeze-Its Recipe

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Serves: About 40 crackers

Ingredients

1¾ cups almond flour
3 Tbsp. nutritional yeast (I used the powdered form, not the flakes)
½ tsp. sea salt, plus extra for sprinkling
1 ener-g ‘egg’ or 1 organic egg
1 Tbsp. Earth Balance butter substitute or virgin, unrefined coconut oil (melted)
2 Tbsp. fresh squeezed lemon juice
1 tsp. onion powder
½ to 1 tsp. garlic powder
2 tsp. paprika
1 tsp. turmeric

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350°F (use an oven thermometer for accuracy and to avoid burning).
In a medium bowl, combine the almond flour, sea salt, onion powder, paprika, garlic powder, turmeric, and nutritional yeast.
In a separate small bowl, whisk together the egg (or egg substitute), melted butter (or coconut oil), and lemon juice.
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until the dough is well mixed.
Place the dough between two sheets of parchment paper and roll it out to about ⅛ inch thick.
Use a sharp knife, pizza cutter, or pastry cutter to cut the dough into your desired cracker size (I cut mine about 1” x 1”). Sprinkle the top with a little more sea salt if you like.
Slide the parchment paper with the crackers onto a baking sheet and bake at 350°F for 12-15 minutes, or until golden.
Once done, remove the crackers from the oven and carefully transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Store the cooled crackers in an airtight container or Ziplock bag at room temperature.