Thyme And Cheddar Cheese Cookies Savory Cookies

The dough can be made ahead of time and frozen for later. These thyme and cheddar cheese cookies can be served soft or crisp.

Savory cookies

I’ve got a really fun recipe to share with you guys today. I’ve already shared a slew of great cookie recipes in the last couple of weeks – like these classic thumbprint cookies, classic shortbread cookies, and these amazing chocolate chip cookies. Today’s recipe is an effortless and fun twist on the classic shortbread – a delicious savory shortbread cookie! These Thyme and Cheddar Cheese Savory Shortbread Cookies are just as amazing as they sound! They are great as a party appetizer or even for your cheese board. I recently made these for a pot luck along with some mini chicken taquitos, cocktail meatballs and fried cheese balls, and these savory cookies were easily (and perhaps even surprisingly) the highlight of the night! Plus, these cheddar cheese cookies come together in a cinch and can even be made in a food processor. Just like regular shortbread cookies, butter is the main ingredient for these savory shortbread cookies. But they are savory cookies, so there’s no sugar. These cheese cookies are flavored with thyme (dried or fresh), black pepper, and white cheddar cheese – insanely addictive and flavorful.

Can I make these savory cookies ahead of time?

Yep, the dough can be made a few days ahead and kept in the fridge, OR a month ahead and stored in the freezer. And then when you’re ready to bake these thyme and cheddar cheese cookies, simply thaw out the dough in the fridge, slice and bake. Couldn’t be simpler.

What kind of cheese to make these cheese cookies?

I like to use a good quality white cheddar cheese for these savory cookies, since the cheese is the core flavor in these savory shortbread cookies. But you can substitute the cheddar cheese with a different type of cheese as well, if you like. Some options are,

Gruyere Gouda Muenster

Some less expensive cheese options

Monterey jack Pepper jack Sharp or mild cheddar (the color of the cheese cookie will change then)

Since we love spice, black pepper is an absolute must for us. You can reduce the amount of black pepper or leave it out, if you’re making these cheddar cheese cookies for someone who isn’t a fan of spices. I do highly recommend the black pepper though, because that combination of smoky, black pepper and sharp cheddar is just wild! Remember NOT to use finely ground black pepper however. Use a coarsely ground black pepper or restaurant cracked black pepper instead. This way the cheese cookies will be studded with the coarsely ground black pepper, and the flavor won’t be overwhelming either. And for thyme, I prefer using fresh thyme. It’s a pain in the ass to remove leaves from the stalk, but fresh thyme is so worth it. But if you only have access to dried thyme, that’s OK too.

Soft cheese cookies vs crisp cheese cookies

These savory shortbread cookies can be served either soft or crisp. That’s another way in which these savory cookies can be really versatile. If you bake them for about 9 minutes, these cheese cookies will be buttery, cheesy and soft. And if you bake them for about 12-14 minutes (when the cookies are starting to color on the surface), they’ll be crumbly, cheesy and delightfully crisp.

How to serve these cookies

Here are a few options.

Crackers for your cheese board – these savory cookies will go really well with soft cheeses and other pates that you would schmear on top of crackers. Top it with relish (like a strawberry chili relish or a sweet and spicy peach relish), or caramelized onions or dips or herbs for a delicious appetizer that you can serve at any party. OR enjoy them as a snack, just as they are! That’s what we like to do… mostly because we can’t bear sharing these with anyone else.

The base for these thyme and cheddar cheese cookies was inspired by a delicious cheese spread that one of my Aunt’s made me when I was little. She’d make a whole tub of this cheese spread, and keep it in my grandmother’s fridge, and I’d spread it on everything! These cheddar cheese cookies are like a crispy, crunchy, baked version of that cheese spread… all the cheese and buttery goodness, baked into a deliciously crisp savory cookie! And if you want to indulge in some holiday spirit, these cheese cookies are perfect for sharing and gift giving too. 🙂 If you liked this thyme and cheddar cheese cookies (savory cookies) recipe, don’t forget to subscribe for new (and free) recipes by entering your email address on the side bar (and get all these recipes delivered straight to your inbox), so you don’t miss out on a thing. You can find me on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, PINTEREST, YOU TUBE and GOOGLE-PLUS too.