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Bready or Not: Bacon, Pecan, and Cheddar Crackers

Posted by on Dec 10, 2025 in bacon, Blog, Bready or Not, cheese galore, cracker, nutty | 0 comments

These chewy, utterly snackable crackers are loaded with cheddar, smoky bacon, and crunchy pecans, making them a perfect snack for holiday events or game days. Plus, the dough for these Bacon, Pecan, and Cheddar Crackers can be made in advance, making them fast to prepare fresh.

Bready or Not: Bacon, Pecan, and Cheddar Crackers

You ever make a recipe and the output is drastically different from what the original said? I first made these crackers following a recipe in the Star Tribune last holiday season. It said it’d make 36. I got 90!

Bready or Not: Bacon, Pecan, and Cheddar Crackers

I’m giving the recipe a full rewrite, for that reason and others. It really needed more clarity… and less spice. The 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne in the original was way too much for me!

Bready or Not: Bacon, Pecan, and Cheddar Crackers

Bready or Not: Bacon, Pecan, and Cheddar Crackers

These chewy, savory crackers are fantastic to serve as a snack at a party. A food processor is essential to make the dough. Make the dough in advance and it’ll be easy to bake up when you need it! Greatly modified from the Star Tribune.
Course: Appetizer, Snack
Keyword: bacon, cheese, cracker, pecans
Servings: 90 crackers
Author: Beth Cato

Equipment

  • large food processor
  • food scale
  • plastic wrap
  • parchment paper

Ingredients

  • 16 ounces extra sharp cheddar cheese
  • 4 slices bacon cooked to be crispy
  • 1 cup toasted pecans
  • 1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks) diced and chilled
  • 2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper or more to increase the kick
  • pretzel salt or flaky sea salt

Instructions

  • Use the shredding attachment on the food processor to freshly grate the cheddar cheese. (Note that pre-grated cheese from the store may not incorporate well.) Temporarily move cheese to a large bowl.
  • Use a knife or kitchen shears to reduce the bacon to small pieces. Set aside.
  • Switch to the s-blade on the food processor. Add the pecans and process until finely chopped, but don’t make a paste. Add the diced bacon, cold butter, cheese (don’t wash the bowl), flour, and cayenne. Process until mixture begins to form a dough.
  • Place empty former cheese bowl on food scale. Level out the tare for the bowl (or note number to subtract).
  • Remove the s-blade and transfer the dough to the big bowl that previously held the cheese. Use hands to make sure everything is incorporated to make dough. Observe the weight of the dough; divide in half.
  • Place each half of dough on a long piece of plastic wrap. Shape dough into long logs about an inch in diameter. Dough may be quite crumbly; use the coating of plastic and hand pressure to bring it together.
  • Completely wrap dough to stash in fridge. Chill in fridge for anywhere from 8 hours to a couple days, or stash in freezer for up to a month. If frozen, thaw in fridge overnight before baking.
  • To begin baking, preheat oven at 350 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Pull out a log. Slice into coins about 1/4-inch thick; if they crumble a bit, reform with fingers. Place slightly spaced out on parchment. Sprinkle pretzel or flaked salt on top of each cracker.
  • Bake for 14 to 16 minutes. Crackers should look pale golden and set. Leave them on the sheet to cool for about 10 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack. Repeat to bake the rest.
  • Store in a sealed container at room temperature. Crackers are best within two days but are still edible after that, albeit chewier.

OM NOM NOM!

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    Bready or Not: Ricotta Cookies

    Posted by on Dec 3, 2025 in Blog, Bready or Not, cheese galore, cookies | 0 comments

    This recipe for Ricotta Cookies makes a LOT, and they are soft, tender, and delicious.

    Bready or Not: Ricotta Cookies

    I did some experimentation with this recipe. I divided the dough in half, freezing a portion for weeks. I made the first batch into big cookies, the next small. I learned that the glaze set VERY fast, so the sprinkles needed to go on the cookies right away.

    Bready or Not: Ricotta Cookies

    The result I present to you, therefore, is a recipe with tested options. You can make the dough well in advance of baking and save yourself a lot of time. Or bake half now, half later. Or do the whole batch at once, feed a crowd the next day. Plus, you can use different sprinkles depending on the occasion.

    Bready or Not: Ricotta Cookies

    Greatly modified from Allrecipes.

    Bready or Not: Ricotta Cookies

    This recipe makes a big batch of soft, tender cookies. The dough is great to freeze, too, so half could even be baked fresh, the other half frozen. The whole batch makes about 56 large cookies or 90 small ones. Greatly modified from Allrecipes.
    Course: Dessert
    Keyword: almond, cheese, cookies
    Servings: 90 small cookies
    Author: Beth Cato

    Equipment

    • parchment paper
    • cookie scoop or spoon

    Ingredients

    Dough

    • 15 ounces ricotta cheese
    • 1 3/4 cups white sugar
    • 1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks) room temperature
    • 2 large eggs
    • 2 Tablespoons vanilla extract
    • 4 cups all-purpose flour
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda

    Glaze for full batch

    • 2 cups confectioners’ sugar
    • 2 to 3 tablespoons half & half
    • 1 teaspoon almond extract
    • 1/4 cup colored candy sprinkles

    Instructions

    Make the dough

    • In a large mixing bowl, combine ricotta, sugar, butter, eggs, and vanilla until smooth and creamy.
    • In another bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, and baking soda. Gradually combine with the wet mixture, scraping the bottom to incorporate everything.
    • At this point, the dough can be divided, if desired, to freeze half or all. If baking soon, wrap and chill the dough for about two hours or overnight.
    • To begin baking, preheat oven at 350 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
    • Use a large or small scoop or spoon to dole out dough balls spaced out on cookie sheet. Large cookies will bake in about 15 to 18 minutes; small cookies will need 11 to 13 minutes. The edges should be golden brown. Let cookies sit for about 3 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack. Cool completely.

    Make the glaze

    • Mix confectioners’ sugar, milk, and almond extract until thick and smooth. Use the back of a spoon to spread atop a cookie. Immediately add a pinch of sprinkles. Continue with the rest of the batch.
    • Let cookies rest until glaze is set, then transfer to a sealed container. Store at room temperature.

    OM NOM NOM!

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      Giftmas 2025! Help out the Edmonton Food Bank (and get a special recipe from me)

      Posted by on Dec 1, 2025 in Blog, giftmas | 4 comments

      Giftmas 2025

      Giftmas is an annual tradition here on my site. Rhonda Parrish organizes the event to benefit the Edmonton Food Bank. Our goal this year is $1,500 Canadian which, because the Food Bank harnesses the power of connections and bulk buying will equal 4,500 meals. $1 = 3 meals. If you’re donating in American dollars, your donation will go even further!

      Giftmas runs from December 1st through December 8th. So don’t wait to donate! Help out if you can.

      Am I Canadian? Nope. Have I even been to Edmonton? Nope. Do I strive to care for my fellow human beings, even as they sadden and confound me? Yep. Times are hard. We need to extend kindness wherever and however we can.

      Bready or Not: Oat and Toffee Grahams

      As a THANK YOU to everyone who has visited this post, I’m sharing a Bready or Not post from years ago that makes a big platter of homemade candy/cookies using a number of ingredients you might donate or get from a food bank. This is a recipe that makes a lot to share, and that’s what Giftmas is really about: sharing.

      Bready or Not: Oat and Toffee Grahams

      Bready or Not: Oat and Toffee Grahams

      This recipe uses graham crackers as a shortcut base for a sheet pan of homemade candy bars! The end result is chocolaty, sweet, and surprisingly chewy.
      Course: Dessert, Snack
      Keyword: bars, chocolate
      Author: Beth Cato

      Ingredients

      • 12 graham crackers whole rectangles
      • 1 1/2 cups old fashioned oats
      • 3/4 cup white sugar
      • 3/4 cup brown sugar packed
      • 3 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
      • 2/3 cup butter melted
      • 1 egg
      • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
      • 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
      • 1/2 sliced almonds or chopped

      Instructions

      • Preheat oven at 350-degrees. Line a 15x10x1-inch baking pan with foil and apply nonstick spray. Arrange graham crackers in a single layer side by side. They will not cover the entire surface of the pan.
      • In a large bowl, stir together the oats, white sugar, brown sugar, and flour. Stir in the melted butter, egg, and vanilla until just mixed. Spoon the oat mixture atop the graham crackers, covering them completely.
      • Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until top is bubbly. Sprinkle all of the chocolate on top. Bake for another minute. Use an uneven spatula to smooth the softened chocolate to cover the graham crackers. Sprinkle on the almonds.
      • Cool in pan. If slow to set, place in fridge until firm. Use a knife or–recommended–both hands to break the bars into pieces. Store in a sealed container with parchment or waxed paper between the layers.
      • OM NOM NOM!
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      Bready or Not: Salted Mocha Tart

      Posted by on Nov 26, 2025 in Blog, Bready or Not, chocolate, pie | 0 comments

      This Salted Mocha Tart is incredibly easy and yet is an absolute showstopper of a dessert. No baking is required.

      Bready or Not: Salted Mocha Tart

      The graham cracker crust here goes perfectly with the coffee-forward flavor of the ganache. Mind you, I don’t drink coffee, so to me it was very strong and required something like caramel or preserves on top, whereas my husband drinks his coffee black and he could happily eat this tart plain… though he thought the caramel made it even better.

      Bready or Not: Salted Mocha Tart

      I wish I could emphasize how extraordinary this tart is. I rank it up there with some of the most delicious AND simple desserts I have ever made. Do yourself a favor and make this for company this holiday season!

      Bready or Not: Salted Mocha Tart

      This incredible tart is no-bake. It is fast to make, stunningly delicious, and keeps well in the fridge up to 6 days.
      Course: Dessert
      Author: Beth Cato

      Equipment

      • saucepan
      • 9-inch tart pan with removable base
      • cookie sheet
      • uneven spatula

      Ingredients

      Crust

      • 10 Tablespoons unsalted butter
      • 1 Tablespoon white sugar
      • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
      • 8 ounces graham cracker crumbs (14 whole crackers)

      Filling

      • 1 1/4 cups heavy cream
      • 1 Tablespoon instant espresso powder
      • 12 ounces semisweet baking chocolate equivalent to 3 chocolate baking bars
      • 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter softened

      Topping

      • flaked sea salt such as Maldon
      • jarred caramel other options include honey, fruit preserves, and/or ice cream

      Instructions

      Make crust

      • Place the butter, sugar, and salt in a small saucepan and heat on medium until the sugar is dissolved and the butter is fully melted.
      • In a large bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs with the butter mixture to thoroughly moisten.
      • Place tart pan on a cookie sheet. Press crumbs evenly across the base and sides of the tart pan. Use the cookie sheet to place pan in fridge for at least 1 hour, or freeze for 15 minutes.

      Make filling

      • In a medium saucepan, bring the heavy cream and espresso powder to a simmer. Remove from heat and add the chocolate and butter; let them stand for 2 minutes, then stir until glossy and smooth. Pour the ganache into the crust and smooth out with an uneven spatula.
      • Chill tart in fridge until it’s starting to set, about 20 minutes, then sprinkle flaked sea salt over top.
      • Put back in fridge to chill until completely set, at least an hour. Carefully pop the tart pan's outer ring off. Place base onto a cake plate or other serving dish. Cut off slices to serve. Serve with a drizzle of caramel on top, or use honey or fruit preserves. Would also be great with ice cream.
      • Cover tart with foil to store in fridge. Will keep well for at least 6 days.

      OM NOM NOM!

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        Bready or Not: Chocolate Nut Cookies

        Posted by on Nov 19, 2025 in Blog, Bready or Not, chocolate, cookies, nutty | 0 comments

        These Chocolate Nut Cookies are unique. They feature bold chocolate flavor, plus the flavor and crunch of almonds infuse every bite.

        Bready or Not: Chocolate Nut Cookies

        Also, the dough is fast to come together. The ingredients are pretty straightforward for cookies. No dough chilling is required (not that it would hurt). Make, bake, and enjoy!

        Bready or Not: Chocolate Nut Cookies

        If you love almonds like I do, browse through my other recipes on Bready or Not. I have a good number that include frangipane, too!

        Modified from Taste of Home Fall Baking 2016 Magazine.

        Bready or Not: Chocolate Nut Cookies

        These are fantastic, fast-to-make cookies imbued with chocolate flavor and almonds! Makes about 45 cookies with a small scoop. Modified from Taste of Home Fall Baking 2016 Magazine.
        Course: Dessert, Snack
        Keyword: almond, chocolate
        Servings: 45 cookies
        Author: Beth Cato

        Equipment

        • parchment paper
        • cookie scoop

        Ingredients

        • 1 cup unsalted butter softened
        • 3/4 cup brown sugar packed
        • 1/2 cup white sugar
        • 1 large egg
        • 1 teaspoon almond extract
        • 2 cups all-purpose flour
        • 1/4 cup baking cocoa sifted
        • 1 teaspoon baking soda
        • 1/2 teaspoon salt
        • 1 cup white chocolate chips
        • 1 cup chopped almonds

        Instructions

        • Preheat oven at 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
        • In a big bowl, cream together butter and both sugars until they are light and fluffy. Add egg and almond extract.
        • In another bowl, combine flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet. Fold in the white chocolate chips and almonds.
        • Use a cookie scoop or spoon to create dough balls. Space them out on the baking sheet.
        • Bake for 8-10 minutes, until cookies look set. Let them rest on the sheet a couple minutes, then transfer them to a rack to fully cool. Store in a sealed container.

        OM NOM NOM!

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          Now on Kickstarter: Thrilling Adventure Yarns 2026

          Posted by on Nov 17, 2025 in anthology:story, Blog, kickstarter | 0 comments

          I’m honored to be part of a new book that funding on Kickstarter: Thrilling Adventure Yarns 2026. This is an established series with veteran authors, and this is my first time joining in the fun. My story is a science fiction detective tale with Golden Age influences.

          The Kickstarter just began this past weekend and is about half funded! Please contribute. $15 will get you an ebook of this book, and the tiers go up from there. There is one spot at the $100 level that’ll get a male name tuckerized in my story! (If you don’t know what that means, Wikipedia has a full write-up on this phenomena.)

          The campaign wraps up December 14th, but some of the rewards (like my tuckerization) have only one spot available.

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