Chef John's Cheesy Crackers

Ingredients

• 1 pinch cayenne pepper to taste
• 0.5 cup flour all-purpose
• 0.5 teaspoon paprika 
• 0.3 cup lightly freshly parmesan cheese shredded packed
• 0.3 teaspoon salt 
• 0.8 cup lightly sharp cheddar cheese shredded packed
• 2 tablespoons butter unsalted at room temperature
• 0.5 teaspoon vegetable oil 

Equipment

• baking sheet
• oven
• mixing bowl
• plastic wrap
• aluminum foil
• spatula
• skewers
• pizza cutter

Directions

1. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and lightly grease with vegetable oil.
2. Place butter into a mixing bowl; add Cheddar cheese, Parmesan cheese, paprika, cayenne pepper, and salt.
3. Mix together with the back of a spatula until thoroughly combined.
4. Mix flour into cheese mixture with a fork until crumbly.
5. Sprinkle in cold water, 1 or 2 drops at a time, and mix with spatula until it comes together in a dough that holds its shape when squeezed.
6. Transfer dough to a work surface and press into a thick, flattened disk. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate 30 minutes.
7. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
8. Roll dough out on a floured work surface to about 1/8-inch thick. Use a pizza cutter to cut 1-inch wide strips from the dough.
9. Cut strips crosswise into rectangles about 1 1/2-inches long. Use the back of a bamboo skewer to punch 5 small holes into each cracker. Arrange crackers onto prepared baking sheet.
10. Bake in the preheated oven until crackers are browned and crisp, about 15 minutes.
11. Let stand about 3 minutes for crackers to cool and release from the foil.
12. Let cool completely before serving.