![\"football](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.therowdybaker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/football-rye-crackers-and-cheese-ball-The-Rowdy-Baker.jpg?resize=584%2C876\")
Bring this dish to any football party and be a hero! A smooth, velvety, football-shaped cheese ball is surrounded by sturdy, homemade rye crackers…also shaped like footballs, because – well – football!<\/p>\nBring this dish to any football party and be a hero! A smooth, velvety, football-shaped cheese ball is surrounded by sturdy, homemade rye crackers…also shaped like footballs, because – well – football!<\/p>\n
After a couple of attempts that yielded hard, very crunchy crackers, I finally got the knack for these. \u00a0Add more flavoring if you wish – I kept this pretty basic, preferring to let the flavor of the caraway seeds predominate\u00a0. These are delicious warm out of the oven…you’ll see!<\/p>\n
I tried two different methods for adding the lacing to the crackers. I like the appearance\u00a0of the little dough laces best, but cutting out all those tiny pieces and pressing them carefully and firmly on each cracker takes a lot of time, so I won’t blame you one little bit if you go the easy route and just press the designs onto the crackers with a table knife\u00a0–\u00a0Especially when you consider the crackers will probably be consumed by people jumping and screaming at the TV, and not paying close attention to the detail on each cracker!<\/p>\n
This dough is really very easy to roll out, especially if you roll it between sheets of floured parchment. If you want to skip the football shapes, simply use a pizza cutter to cut the crackers into strips and put them, parchment and all, straight onto your baking sheet.<\/p>\n
And…in case you’re wondering, they’re delicious with peanut butter slathered on them.<\/p>\n
You probably have your own recipe for a cheese ball, right? If not, I’ll tell you how I made mine at the bottom of the post.<\/p>\n
Here’s my easy recipe for rye crackers.<\/p>\n
![\"Flatten](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.therowdybaker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/rye-cracker-prep1.jpg?resize=300%2C200\")
Flatten lightly floured dough and cover with a sheet of parchment.<\/p><\/div>\n
![\"Roll](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.therowdybaker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/rye-cracker-prep2-roll-thin-using-parchment.jpg?resize=300%2C200\")
Roll the dough thinly.<\/p><\/div>\n
![\"Dough](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.therowdybaker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/rye-cracker-prep3-very-thin.jpg?resize=300%2C200\")
Dough must be VERY thin for light, crisp crackers.<\/p><\/div>\n
![\"If](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.therowdybaker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/rye-cracker-prep4-mark-laces.jpg?resize=300%2C200\")
If you lack the patience for gluing tiny laces on each cracker, use a knife and just press in the design!<\/p><\/div>\n
![\"Baked!\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.therowdybaker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/rye-cracker-prep5-baked.jpg?resize=300%2C200\")
Baked! Both option for laces are shown here.<\/p><\/div>\n
Here’s how I made my cheese ball:<\/p>\n
24 ounces cream cheese, softened
\n6 cups of your favorite cheese, grated (I used sharp cheddar and white cheddar.)
\n1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
\n1 cup chopped green onions
\nOptional: a few drops of hickory smoke flavoring, garlic powder, hot sauce.
\n1 cup finely chopped TOASTED pecans
\n1\/4 cup finely chopped crisp-cooked bacon<\/p>\n
Mix together the cheeses and Worcestershire sauce until well blended. I like to use my stand mixer with the dough hook.
\nAdd green onions and additional seasoning, if desired.
\nTASTE! Between the Worcestershire sauce and the cheese, you probably don’t need to add salt, but now is the time to give it a flavor test.
\nWith damp hands, press the cheese mixture into the shape of a football.
\nCombine the pecans and bacon. Press onto cheese ball, covering completely.
\nTransfer to a platter and refrigerate until you’re ready to serve – then surround with lovely rye crackers!<\/p>\n
Since I have you here, and you’re actually reading this, may I just say:<\/p>\n
GO SEAHAWKS!!!<\/p>\n
Lorinda<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Bring this dish to any football party and be a hero! A smooth, velvety, football-shaped cheese ball is surrounded by sturdy, homemade rye crackers…also shaped like footballs, because – well – football! After a couple of attempts that yielded hard, … Continue reading