These savory crackers (Käsefüße) are a staple at German parties. They are buttery, cheesy, and perfectly salty—the ultimate companion for a glass of wine or a cold beer while watching birds from the porch.
The Legend of the “Käsefüße” Scroll
Back in the day, when I was a little kid in Germany, there was a massive trend of gifting a specific cookie cutter in the shape of a foot. Attached to the cutter was always a little paper scroll tied with a ribbon. When you unrolled the scroll, you found the original recipe for “Käsefüße” (Cheese Feet).
For quite some time, these were at every social gathering—everywhere! Us kids loved them, especially fresh out of the oven, when the cheese and other fatty components were still melted and gooey inside the crisp shell.
I served the Käsefüße for my birthday celebration and people were comparing them with the Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits. I never had those, but they said they were great!
Cheesy Savory Crackers (Käsefüße)
Ingredients
- 11 tbsp Unsalted Butter softened
- 1 1/2 cups Shredded Cheese something with taste, like sharp cheddar or pepper jack
- 2 cups All-Purpose Flour
- ½ tsp Salt
- ½ tsp Baking Powder
- ¼ tsp Ground Black Pepper
- 1 tsp Paprika Powder
- 1 tsp Garlic Powder
- ½ cup Heavy Cream
For the Toppings
- Egg wash (1 egg beaten with a splash of water or milk)
- Seeds & Spices Caraway seeds, sesame seeds, or chili flakes
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough: In a large bowl, knead the softened butter with the shredded cheese, flour, salt, baking powder, pepper, paprika, and heavy cream until a smooth, cohesive dough forms.
- The Chill: Cover the dough and place it in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
- Roll and Cut: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to a thickness of about 1/4 inch (5 mm). Use your favorite cookie cutters to stamp out shapes. (They get their name from their typical shape: A foot!)
- Decorate: Place the cutouts onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Brush each cracker with the egg wash. Sprinkle generously with caraway, sesame, or chili flakes according to your taste.
- Bake: Bake for around 15 minutes until the crackers are golden brown and crisp. Let them cool slightly on the tray before moving them to a wire rack.
If you liked these, you should also try my pastry dough snack snails!
How did you like my recipe? Let me know in the comments below! And don’t forget to subscribe to my mailing list! 🥨🦉
Leave a Reply