Description
The beauty of this recipe is its incredible simplicity. You only need one core ingredient, with seasonings to customize the flavor to your liking. It’s the perfect crave-worthy, crunchy, and low-carb snack.
Ingredients
- cup Block Cheddar Cheese, cut into small cubes
- tsp Aromatic Garlic Powder
- To taste Sea Salt
- Optional: Smoked Paprika or Chili Powder, for a kick
Instructions
- Prep Oven and Pan: Preheat your oven to (). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Cut and Dry the Cheese: Cut the cheddar cheese into very small, uniform cubes (about the size of a popcorn kernel). Spread the cubes in a single layer on a paper towel and let them sit for 10–15 minutes to dry out. This step is crucial for getting them to puff.
- Season the Cheese: Transfer the dried cheese cubes to a small bowl. Sprinkle with garlic powder, sea salt, and any optional spices. Toss gently until evenly coated.
- Bake Until Puffy: Arrange the seasoned cheese cubes on your prepared baking sheet, leaving some space between each one. Bake for 20–25 minutes until they have melted, bubbled, and puffed up into golden, crispy bites.
- Cool for Maximum Crunch: Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let the cheese puffs cool completely on the pan. They will be soft at first but will become perfectly crispy and crunchy as they cool.
Notes
- The Drying Secret: Do not skip the drying step! Removing excess moisture from the surface of the cheese is what allows it to puff up and get airy instead of just melting into a puddle.
- Cool Completely: Patience is key. The puffs only reach their maximum crunchiness after they have cooled completely.
- Uniform Size: For even baking, try to cut all the cheese cubes to a similar size, roughly the size of a popcorn kernel.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Snack, Appetizer, Keto
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ½ cup
- Calories: 115kcal
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 9.5g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Carbohydrates: 1g
- Protein: 6.5g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
