Chef John's Homemade Cheese Crackers

Prepare a baking sheet by laying down a sheet of aluminum foil and lightly anointing it with a small amount of vegetable oil.

In a mixing bowl, place the butter and then add the Cheddar cheese, Parmesan cheese, paprika, cayenne pepper, and salt. Use the back of a spatula to thoroughly blend these ingredients together.

Next, incorporate the flour into the cheese mixture using a fork until you achieve a crumbly texture. Gradually add cold water, starting with 1 drop and then adding more as needed, until the mixture comes together in a cohesive dough that can be molded into a shape.

Transfer this dough to a clean work surface and press it down into a thick, flat disk. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow it to firm up.

Preheat your oven to a temperature of 375 degrees F (190 degrees C), as specified on the oven's controls.

Roll out the dough on a floured work surface to an even thickness of about 1/8 inch. Utilize a pizza cutter to cut the dough into long, thin strips that are 1 inch wide. Cut these strips acrosswise into rectangles measuring approximately 1 1/2 inches in length. Using the back of a bamboo skewer, create small holes in each cracker by pressing them gently into the dough. Arrange these crackers on the prepared baking sheet.

Place the crackers in the preheated oven and bake until they are golden brown and crispy, which should take around 15 minutes. Remove the crackers from the oven and let them stand for about 3 minutes to allow them to cool slightly and release from the foil. Finally, let the crackers cool completely before serving.