Recipe: Pepper Jack Crackers

Jeanne Cluts has worked in the Don Ayres office for nearly 15 years, and she also happens to be a pretty phenomenal cook! Every so often, Jeanne passes along one of her amazing recipes. Here, she shares a great recipe for Pepper Jack Crackers. Make a batch and take them to your next holiday party!

Ingredients
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
1/2 pound pepper jack cheese, grated
1 large egg, separated
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 cup flour

To prepare
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Grease 2 baking sheets and set aside.

3. In a food processor, blend butter and cheese until smooth. Add egg yolk, salt and cayenne pepper. Blend until combined. Add flour and blend until mixture just forms a dough.

4. Working in batches, transfer dough to a pastry bag fitted with a 7/8-inch ribbon tip and pipe dough in long strips 2 inches apart on baking sheet. (Alternatively, put dough in a cookie press fitted with a ribbon disk and press out long strips 2 inches apart). Dough strips may break in places, but repairs are not necessary.

5. In small bowl, whisk together egg white and a pinch of salt until just combined. Brush each strip with egg white and bake in batches in middle of oven until golden brown (about 10-15 minutes).

6. While crackers are still hot, slice diagonally into 1 1/2-inch pieces and cool completely on racks.

Makes about 95 crackers. Store in an airtight container for up to five days.