Homemade Goldfish Crackers | 4 Ingredient Whole Grain Crackers
Healthier Homemade Goldfish Crackers – 4 Ingredient Healthy Crackers Recipe!
Make your own snacks-that-smile-back with this homemade goldfish crackers recipe! Yes, this is more work than buying pre-packaged Goldfish. But, they’re unbelievably tasty, perfectly cheesy, and made with simple, CLEAN ingredients. And, the recipe is as easy as making your dough, rolling it out, and cutting out shapes. Plus, you can even carve a smile into your homemade goldfish crackers with a toothpick so they look like the real deal!
Personally, Goldfish were one of my favorite childhood snacks. I still love them to this day! But, the only problem is I can’t put the bag down. And, don’t even bother telling me to put some in a little bowl and just eat the serving or practice “moderation.” There’s no point! Because, let’s be real—once you pop, the fun don’t stop!
Or, wait…wrong slogan. You get the idea.
Mindset or Moderation?
A while back, I read an article that really resonated with me, talking about French fries—my first love. It was making a comment on fast food, saying that French fries (and other fast food items) wouldn’t be nearly as bad for us if we made them on our own. Which, in my opinion, makes a whole lot of sense!
First of all, if I had to make my own French fries every time I wanted them, that’s a lot of work. Clearly, far less convenient than buying them at the drive-thru…so I wouldn’t eat them as often! Secondly, even though they’d still be fried, they wouldn’t contain all of the same processed crap and additives as fast food fries. Because, with anything homemade, I’m in control of the ingredients!
Homemade Goldfish Crackers with Built-In Moderation
Anyway, this is what inspired me to make my own homemade goldfish crackers. (And, some other tasty DIY processed snacks…) I decided, if I really want to enjoy processed crap, then why not make an experience of it? After putting in the work to make them, I appreciate and savor every bite—rather than mindlessly consume. And, the time it takes to make these homemade goldfish crackers is like my built-in moderation mechanism. Much more involved than just tearing open a box and chowing down!
Most importantly, by crafting this homemade goldfish crackers recipe, I’m able to clean up the ingredients significantly. No refined flour, no inflammatory vegetable oils, no tricky additives like ‘autolyzed yeast’ (a.k.a. MSG). Plus, they’re pretty darn fun to make. Win-win! Or, win-win-win!
Simple Ingredients are Key
If you look at a package of Goldfish, the ingredients list is much more complicated than I prefer. But, that’s definitely not the case with these homemade goldfish crackers! In fact, there are only FOUR simple ingredients (six if you could salt and water). And, they don’t require any butter, thanks to the coconut oil.
Personally, I like to use a sharper cheddar cheese in this recipe for more flavor. Or, you could really use any cheese you like! And, I’ve also lightened up the wheat/gluten load by using half oat flour. But, I wouldn’t suggest using only oat flour, because your homemade goldfish crackers won’t crisp up quite the same.
To Keep your Homemade Goldfish Crackers Gluten Free
Of course, if texture isn’t a huge concern for you, then go for it and try all oat flour! But, if you NEED these to be gluten free and still just as crave-ably crispy, there’s another option. Rather than using the oat flour, I suggest subbing ALL of the flour for an all-purpose gluten free flour. That way, you nix the wheat and gluten, but your homemade goldfish crackers will still have that satisfying crunch!
Homemade Goldfish Crackers
Ingredients
- 1½ cups 6 oz shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- ½ cup sifted oat flour
- ½ cup whole wheat flour
- 4 Tbsp solid coconut oil
- ½ tsp salt
- 2-3 Tbsp cold water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C).
- Pulse everything (except water) in a food processor until the dough resembles sand.
- Add water to adjust consistency (1 Tbsp at a time), pulsing to combine.
- Remove dough from food processor, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill in the fridge for 20 minutes (or up to a few hours, if necessary).
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough as thin as possible—less than 1/8 of an inch is ideal. To help prevent dough from sticking, roll out dough on floured parchment, with another sheet of parchment on top of the dough. (I cut my dough ball in half and rolled out one half of it first, while I let the other half keep chilling.)
- With a small cookie cutter, dough into fish shapes. Use a toothpick to carve a smile if desired!
- Collect scraps to re-form dough into a ball, roll out again, and continue cutting out crackers until dough has all been used.
- Transfer homemade goldfish crackers to a baking sheet lined with parchment and lightly sprayed. (You’ll likely need a few baking sheets—this recipe makes a lot of crackers!)
- Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until lightly browned and crispy.
- Allow to cool and enjoy!
- Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
- Yields ~4 cups homemade goldfish crackers.
4 Comments on “Homemade Goldfish Crackers | 4 Ingredient Whole Grain Crackers”
Nutritionally, what is difference?
These homemade goldfish are a bit lower in calories and carbs than packaged goldfish, but the main difference is this homemade version is made with simpler, less-processed ingredients, and they’re made entirely with whole wheat flour and no refined flour. And mostly they’re fun to make! 🙂
Hi, l want to try this recipe, how do you store them and how long will they last?
Hi! Once your homemade baked goldfish crackers have cooled completely, store them in an airtight container like a tupperware, mason jar, or a sealed plastic bag. Keep them at room temperature (in your pantry or on the countertop) and they’ll last up to 7 days. We hope you’ll give the recipe a try, and we’d love to know how it turns out if you do! 🙂