Patrick Oconnell
Cheese and crackers are a classic pairing, but with so many varieties of crackers to choose from, it can be tricky to know which ones to serve with a cheese ball. A cheese ball is a simple yet delicious appetizer, often made with cream cheese, cheddar cheese, green onions, and seasonings, and coated in nuts. It's important to serve it with a spreading knife to avoid breaking the crackers. So, what are the best crackers to serve with a cheese ball?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of cracker | Thin, crispy, wafer, gluten-free, rice, breadsticks, butter, fruit-filled, sugar cookies, wheat, plain |
| Flavour | Sweet, nutty, salty, fruity, rosemary, olive oil, sesame, honey |
| Texture | Sturdy, crunchy, light, airy, crispy |
| Cheese ball ingredients | Cheddar cheese, cream cheese, green onion, pecans, sour cream, mayonnaise, hot sauce, parsley, garlic powder, oregano, pepper |
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What You'll Learn
Plain crackers
Carr’s Water Crackers
Carr’s Water Crackers are a classic choice to serve with cheese. They come in a variety of flavours, including plain, sesame, and black pepper. These crackers are mild and won't overwhelm the flavour of the cheese. They provide just enough crunch to enjoy the cheese without feeling like you're eating it alone.
Ritz Crackers
Ritz Crackers are another popular option for a plain cracker. Their buttery flavour and crisp texture make them a great complement to cheese balls. They are also versatile and can be paired with a variety of cheeses, including sharp cheddar.
La Panzanella Crackers
La Panzanella offers a range of crispy crackers, including both flavoured and plain options. The plain crackers are recommended by experts as they don't overpower the flavour of the cheese, especially softer varieties. The rosemary-flavoured crackers from La Panzanella are also a good choice as they add a slight hint of flavour without being too overpowering.
Mary's Gone Crackers
While Mary's Gone Crackers offers a range of flavoured crackers, their plain crackers are also worth considering. These crackers are thin and crispy, providing a nice crunch to showcase the cheese. They pair well with aged Gouda and Chipotle with cheddar. Additionally, they are a strong gluten-free option.
34 Degrees Crackers
34 Degrees offers gluten-free crisps that are thin and crispy, making them a perfect match for buttery cheeses like Marin French Triple Crème Brie. These crackers are also recommended for enjoying with pungent soft cheeses as they don't take away from the natural flavour of the cheese.
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Gluten-free crackers
When it comes to gluten-free crackers to serve with a cheese ball, there are plenty of options to choose from, including shop-bought and homemade varieties.
Shop-Bought Gluten-Free Crackers
If you're looking for a quick and convenient option, there are several gluten-free crackers available to buy. For example, Stonewall's thin, crispy, and delicately-flavoured sea salt crackers are a good choice if you don't want your crackers to overwhelm the flavour of the cheese. These crackers are also the perfect size for fitting into the nooks and crannies of a cheese board.
Cabaret crackers are another option, as they are slightly sweet and richer in flavour than plain crackers, making them ideal for serving with mature cheddar.
If you're looking for something a little more rustic, thin, crisp olive oil Grissini breadsticks can make an elegant choice for a cheese display.
For a gluten-free cracker with a hint of nuttiness, you can try some gluten-free sesame flatbreads. These would be delicious with a soft cheese like cream cheese.
Light and airy Italian rice crackers with a delicate rosemary flavour are another option that won't overpower the cheese.
Homemade Gluten-Free Crackers
If you have a bit more time on your hands, you can also make your own gluten-free cheese crackers at home. Several recipes are available online, and most involve using a food processor to pulse together a gluten-free flour blend, xanthan gum, butter, and cheese until it forms a ball. You can use extra mature or extra sharp cheddar cheese for the best flavour and texture.
Once the dough is ready, roll it out between two sheets of parchment paper to a thickness of about 1/16 inch (1-2mm) or 1/8 inch. Then, use a pizza cutter, sharp knife, or cookie cutter to cut the dough into individual crackers.
Finally, bake the crackers for 12-15 minutes or until lightly browned on the edges. You can sprinkle them with salt before baking if you like, and don't forget to poke each cracker with a fork to prevent them from over-puffing!
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Thin crackers
When it comes to thin crackers, there are a variety of options that can complement a cheese ball.
If you're looking for a simple, light, and airy cracker, wafer crackers from Olina's Bakehouse are a great choice. These crackers have a bit of cheese powder in them to enhance the flavour of the cheese. Craize, a line of round thin toasted corn crackers, is another wafer cracker option that comes in a variety of flavours. The sweet varieties, such as Plantain, Sweet Corn, Guava, and Coconut, pair particularly well with blue cheese.
For a gluten-free option, 34 Degrees offers thin and crispy crackers that are perfect for buttery cheeses like Marin French Triple Crème Brie. Similarly, Crunchmaster's thin, gluten-free seeded crackers won't overpower the taste of the cheese.
If you're looking for a unique pairing with creamy cheeses, Ines Rosales' thin, airy olive oil tortas, individually wrapped in waxed paper, are a great choice. These tortas come in both sweet and savoury varieties, with the Original (sesame seed and anise) and Seville Orange varieties being particularly well-suited to chèvre.
For a more rustic option, thin, crisp olive oil Grissini breadsticks can make an elegant choice for a cheese display. They can be presented upright in a tall glass for a unique centerpiece.
Finally, Raincoast Crisps, such as the Rosemary Raisin Pecan and Fig and Olive varieties, are thin, crunchy, and gluten-free. These crackers are studded with dried fruits, seeds, and nuts, making them a great all-in-one bite to pair with a variety of cheeses.
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Sweet crackers
Beecher's Crackers are another sweet option, with a sweet and nutty profile that holds up when spreading cheese on them. They also add a nice presentation to a cheese board and are less fragile than other crackers.
For a thinner option, wafer crackers from Olina's Bakehouse are simple, light, and airy with a bit of cheese powder to enhance the umami characteristics of the cheese. Craize, a line of round thin toasted corn crackers, also has a sweet profile that works well with strong and pungent cheeses. The sweet varieties come in Plantain, Sweet Corn, Guava, and Coconut and are almost like cookies but pair well with blue cheese.
Fruity and hearty crackers, such as Kii Naturals, are another option to consider. The rosemary raisin pecan flavor is a fan favorite, with a savory herb flavor balanced out by the sweetness of raisins and pecans. The Date and Almond flavor is another popular choice, working well with any cheese.
Finally, Raincoast Crisps are a recommended sweet cracker option, with the Rosemary Raisin Pecan flavor being a popular choice to spice things up. The crackers are also available in other sweet flavors, such as Fig and Olive, that can add a pop of color and flavor to your cheese board.
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Fruit and nut crackers
- Fig, Cherry, and Walnut
- Apricot, Almond, and Pepita
- Date, Pistachio, and Pecan
To make fruit and nut crackers, preheat your oven to 180C. Grease or line a small loaf tin with baking paper. Add milk and honey to a large microwave-proof jug or bowl and heat the mixture until the honey is melted and combined with the milk. Allow the mixture to cool until it is just warm. Roughly chop the dried fruit and nuts of your chosen flavor combination. Stir yogurt into the milk mixture, followed by dry ingredients, along with fruit, nuts, spices, and flavorings. For date and pistachio crackers, add tahini with the yogurt. Smooth the mixture into the tin and bake for 30-40 minutes until springy and a skewer comes out clean. Cool in the tin for 5 minutes before transferring to a rack to cool completely.
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Frequently asked questions
Classic crackers to serve with a cheese ball include Ritz Crackers, Wheat Thins, Multi-Grain, and Milton’s. Carr’s water crackers are also a popular choice.
Gluten-free crackers include light and airy rice crackers, or crackers made from corn flour, such as Craize.
Yes, Kii Naturals crackers come in a variety of fruity and hearty flavors, such as rosemary raisin pecan, that pair well with cheese.
Thin and crispy crackers that are recommended to serve with cheese include 34 Degrees crackers, wafer crackers from Olina's Bakehouse, and Stonewall’s sea salt crackers.
Unconventional crackers that pair surprisingly well with cheese include graham crackers, sugar cookies, and pain aux amandes (almond "bread").
