Homemade Goldfish.
Better than store-bought homemade Goldfish. Yes, yes, you can make cheesy goldfish crackers at home. It’s way easier than you think. Plus these Goldfish taste so much better than the boxed stuff, so much better…and maybe a bit cheesier too. They’re fun crackers that are extra crunchy, flaky, perfectly salted, and heavy on the (real) cheese). Every bite is roll your eyes back good. These bite-sized crackers are best enjoyed any time of day – warning – they’re rather hard to stop eating. So delicious!
Homemade Goldfish.
Yes, we are making them, and HBH family, I am so excited. These are fun! And delicious.
Of course. It’s probably not a secret at this point, but I’m really having a lot of fun making homemade versions of my favorite childhood foods. Just a couple weeks ago, I made homemade cinnamon toast crunch. Before that, it was homemade frosted brown sugar cinnamon pop tarts. Before those pop tarts I made homemade chocolate fudge pop tarts. And finally, I also made healthy homemade Samoas cookies. So yes, it’s safe to say I love making things “homemade”. And you know what…these Goldfish crackers could possibly be my favorite homemade snack yet.
Well, I take that back. Nothing can beat cinnamon toast crunch for me…that recipe will most likely be my forever favorite. But I think these Goldfish come in second. Because really, who could not love Goldfish crackers? They’re crunchy, cheesy, and perfectly salty too.
You just have to love these!
So, the inspiration…
To be honest, I made these the other week when things were at a heightened stress level for the entire world. Like so many of you, the matters of the world can weigh on me too, but the one thing I find that always brings much-needed happiness and joy? Cooking, baking, and creating new recipes for my family and friends. Food is healing too. I know first hand that stress cooking is a real thing. When I’m stressed or feeling anxious, I cook or bake something for anyone who’s willing to taste test. It’s how I show love, how I show support, and how I cope.
The other thing I tend to fall back on when anxious? Recalling childhood memories…those always make me smile. Enter this Goldfish recipe. I have countless memories eating Goldfish by the handfuls as a kid. My mom would buy either Goldfish or Cheez-It’s, whatever was on sale that week. I’d say eight times out of ten she’d buy the Cheez-It’s because they were always cheaper. But the truth? I had a soft spot for the Goldfish…even though they pretty much taste the same.
Why the soft spot? Ahh, the shape of course! And probably the sole fact that mom would buy them less, so obviously that just made me want them more.
Regardless, I loved Goldfish growing up. My brothers and I would snack on them after school and throughout the summer months. We loved them. So when I had the thought to try my hand at homemade Goldfish, I immediately ordered this cookie cutter. And well, now I have this recipe to share. I’ve been holding onto it for longer than I planned, so I’m overly excited to share.
Here are the steps…
Surprisingly, these are much easier to mix up than you might be thinking. In fact, they’re actually pretty easy. If you’ve made my homemade cinnamon toast crunch, you can certainly make these fun Goldfish crackers too.
First, the shape. If you want a true Goldfish cracker, you’ll need this cookie cutter, which comes in a set of other fish cookie cutters, or one of similar shape and size. You’d could also try this cutter, which is a single goldfish cookie cutter and not apart of a set.
If you don’t want to purchase the cookie cutter or simply just NEED to bake these today (I get that completely), just cut the dough into squares and make “Cheez-It’s” instead. Really, the shape doesn’t matter, it’s all about the cheesy cracker!
Second, the cheese. I used sharp orange cheddar cheese. If you want the true Goldfish look, use orange cheddar. If the color doesn’t matter to you, you can also use white cheddar. I recommend using a cheddar that’s aged and on the drier side. This will bake nicely.
Once you have your shape and your cheese all sorted, it’s time to mix up the dough. I like using the food processor to easily mix the dough and create the flakiest, crunchiest crackers, but you can simply use your hands as well. If you’re using your hands, you’ll want to make sure to finely grate the cheddar cheese instead of using shredded cheddar. This will give you the best consistency.
The dough is a mix of cheese, flour, paprika, onion, and garlic powder, and of course, some butter. It’s SIMPLE.
Once the dough is mixed, it’s time to roll it out, then transfer to a baking sheet, and bake! Yup, these crackers are that simple, quick, and easy to make.
And fun, and well, of course delicious. I mean, they’re cheese crackers, you know. Absolutely nothing not to love.
My little addition to these? A sprinkle of flaky sea salt on top just before baking. No, it’s not what you might find on the classic Goldfish crackers from the box, but it’s so darn good.
So…do they taste like the original?
In my honest opinion, these taste better. They have flavor, real cheese, and yeah, that little addition of flaky sea salt too.
They’re flaky, extra cheesy, and have just the perfect crunch. Truly so good. And I’m warning you now, these are hard to stop eating. It’s the cheese, the crunch, and that last sprinkle of salt. You will not be able to stop…
Which is just fine. You made homemade Goldfish. Eat them all and enjoy every last one.
And with that, I’ll leave you all to it. Hoping these bring a smile to your face today. And as cheesy as this sounds…makes your tastebuds happy too!
Oh and lastly, if you feel generous, bake a double batch and gift these to your neighbor, your friend, or someone who might just enjoy a homemade cracker.
Looking for other snack recipes? Here are some oldies, but goodies…
Sweet ‘n’ Savory Roasted Nuts and Pretzels
Lastly, if you make this homemade Goldfish, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Homemade Goldfish
Better than store-bought and way easier than you'd think to make...Delish!
Ingredients
- 3 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese (about 8 ounces)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 6 tablespoons cold salted butter, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
- 1-2 tablespoons cold water
- flaky sea salt (optional)
Instructions
-
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a food processor, combine the cheese, flour, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, and salt. Pulse until the cheese mixes into the flour. Add the butter and pulse until the mix clumps together to form pea-size balls. Add the water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the dough comes together and forms a ball.
4. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and form into a ball. Divide the dough in half. Working with one section of dough at a time. Roll the dough as thin as you can, about a 1/4-inch thick. Cut into "goldfish" or cut into 1/2-inch squares. Repeat with the remaining dough.
5. Carefully transfer the cut outs to the prepared baking sheet, spacing them a 1/2 inch apart. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt, if desired.
6. Bake 15-16 minutes, until golden. Let cool completely, then store in an airtight container for up to 1 week. Enjoy...by the handful.
Recipe Notes
Cookie Cutter: If you want a true Goldfish cracker, you'll need this cookie cutter, which comes in a set of other fish cookie cutters, or one of similar shape and size. You'd could also try this cutter, which is a single goldfish cookie cutter and not apart of a set.
To Make Gluten Free: Use an equal amount of your favorite gluten free flour blend in place of the all-purpose flour. I recommend Cup4Cup gluten free flour.
If you don't have a Food Processor: Grate the cheese into fine shavings instead of shredding it. Then, you can use your fingers to mix the butter with the cheese/flour mix until the butter is pea sized. Slowly drizzle in the cold water as directed.
Our Favorite Recipes
Cajun Pepper Shrimp with Creamed Corn Orzo.
The link that you posted for the goldfish cookie cutter is for the 3 ” one, not the mini . But I did find several minis on Amazon .
Thank you for letting me know, Robin! I hope you love these! xTieghan
Can’t wait to try!! My daughter misses goldfish so much with being unable to eat gluten! Ps- I think your link is wrong because that cutter is 3 inches.
Thank you so much Krista! I hope she loves this! The link is fixed! xTieghan
Yep, it was easy to find the minis!
This is going to be so much fun, and I’ll actually be able to give my grandchildren “goldfish” crackers! I can’t wait until the cookie cutter comes 😉
And thanks for the photos you include of the process of making and baking – those help so much!
Mary
I cannot wait for you to try these, Mary!! Thank you so much! xTieghan
What size are these crackers? The link you provided for the cutter is 3”. Thanks!
Hi Deb! So sorry about that! I fixed the link and will add it below for you as well!! xTieghan
https://www.amazon.com/Ann-Clark-Cookie-Cutters-Goldfish/dp/B07NLZBKM5?tag=halfbakedharvest-ssc-780196-20&ascsubtag=4577200190
These are going to be so much fun to make – looking forward to the weekend when I have time to make them…. And – I already have a fish cookie cutter to use! Yay! Thanks for sharing – Goldfish are my favorite snack.
So perfect!! I hope you love these Amanda! xTieghan
This looks AMAZING!!!! My 7 year old brother will love them!!
Aw so sweet of you to make these for him! I hope he does love them! xTieghan
Does anyone have the link for the mini goldfish cookie cutter? Thanks!
Hi Rachel! The link is updated and I will leave it here as well! So sorry about that! xTieghan
https://www.amazon.com/Ann-Clark-Cookie-Cutters-Goldfish/dp/B07NLZBKM5?tag=halfbakedharvest-ssc-780196-20&ascsubtag=4577200190
What do you think about substituting almond flour for the regular flour? Trying to avoid carbs at the moment….
Hi Linda,
I would recommend using gluten free flour as I have not tested this with almond flour. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
The gluten-free note says something about whole wheat flour, but I only see all-purpose flour in the recipe. Is something missing?
Hey Liz, the whole wheat flour was just a typo, recipe fixed. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you!! xTieghan
We made these this morning, my son had such fun – we only had a small star cutter but they came out very cute & tasty!
Thank you Lee! xTieghan
Love this! Tieghan, we don’t have the orange sharp cheddar here in the UK, we only have the white super sharp kind which is more crumbly. Do you think it would work? It’s less waxy than the orange stuff, so maybe more butter? p.s. have been an avid follower since 2013, LOVE everything you do!
Hi Kim,
I think that would be totally fine to use! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Could I use margarine or does it need to be butter just thinking what i have on hand.
Hi Stephanie,
You can use margarine just make sure that it is super cold. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Suggestions please on how I can make these without a food processor. Thank you.
Hi Sylvia,
You can do this by hand, just make sure the butter is super cold! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
These were so easy to make a delicious! Thank you!
Thank you so much Nicole! xTieghan
Love watching you cook!! Looks beautiful where you live too!!
Thank you so much Carol! xTieghan
I made these with my daughters today. I subbed 2oz Gouda because i didn’t have enough cheddar and they still turned out wonderful. I also used my kids play-dough cookie cutter because I didn’t have a baking one small enough. The girls approve! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Thank you so much Laura! I am really glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
Hi, I can’t wait to try this! Which blade do you use on the food processor, the metal or plastic one? Also, can you use already-shredded cheese or do you recommend shredding it from a brick for freshness?
Hi Harriet,
I used a metal blade for this recipe and you can absolutely use pre-shredded cheese. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
I made these today! Nice!!!! 🥰🥰
Thank you Meghan! xTieghan
OK whaaaaat these are so fun and so cute and best of all so delicious! I had a great time making them with my little sister:) We didn’t have a fish cookie cutter so we cut them out by hand and they came out all funky and adorable!
Aw that is too sweet!! I am so glad you both enjoyed these, Anya! xTieghan
These look amazing!! I live in the UK and can’t buy goldfish so I can’t wait to make these. What size is the cookie cutter you used? I ordered a mini fish cutter that is 1.5 inches long x .5 inch wide. It looks really tiny…do these puff up? Thank you
Hi Helen,
That size will work great! They do puff up:) I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
You were right when you said “You have to make these goldfish.” I am not a goldfish fan, but I love cheese and crackers, so I went for it! I made the crackers in my food processor-I needed about 4T water (not 2) and I cut them into about 200 rectangles. I LOVE them! They puffed up as they cooked even with GF flour! So good! This recipe is a keeper!
Wow I am so glad these turned out so well for you, Mickey!! Thank you so much! xTieghan
OMG SO GOOD! better than the boxed stuff! Would definitely make again! I cannot stop eating them by the handful!! I cut mine into squares/rectangles because I didn’t have a fish shaped cookie cutter, turned out great. the smaller pieces were extra crispy!
Thank you so much! I am really glad these turned out so amazing for you Samantha!! And just as good not in fishy shapes haha. xTieghan
These taste SO GOOD!! I couldn’t stop eating them!! I have a question about the texture. They reminded me more of cheese straws instead of goldfish. Any tips on making them crunchy without overcooking??
Hi Becca,
Thanks so much for trying the recipe! I would recommend making sure they are rolled thin enough and then just extend your baking time by 1-2 minutes. I hope this helps! xTieghan
I made these half cheez-its and half with the 3″ goldfish cracker and they both came out great! Just obviously larger goldfish… but for anyone who can only find that size it works fine (same baking time). I’ll share the pic on Instagram stories!
Hi Laura! Thank you for trying these! I am really glad they turned out so well for you!! xTieghan
Can’t say you ate the whole box if they aren’t in a box! These are so good (and addicting!) made them in a square shape and were better than cheese-it’s!
Haha YES LOVE THAT! I am really glad you enjoyed this recipe, Paige! Thank you! xTieghan
Just made this for a small outdoor party. It was the hit of the party! Due to Covid I placed 2 goldfish (I used 3 inch goldfish cutter) in paper cupcake holders on a tray. Delicious!
Aw so cute! I am really glad these turned out so well for you, Karen! xTieghan
Tieghan! These are so delicious!! I made them with my granddaughter and she loved them, my 96 year old mom loved them, and we can’t wait to make them again!
Your recipe is soooo much better than the store bought version – the cheese flavor and garlic/onion taste is wonderful!
If you make them for toddlers, as I did, you could cut down or leave out the paprika, but for both kids and adults, these are a big hit ;-)))
Love that!! Thank you so much for trying this one, Mary!! xTieghan
I have been OBSESSED with your recipes since quarantine began! Basically make something of yours everyday so thank you 🙂 I wanted to make these to bring to my dad’s house for father’s day this weekend but I don’t have any onion powder (I do have actual onion and just about every other spice there is), is there anything I could substitute?
Hi Michelle,
I would just omit the onion powder. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
looks amazing! i had commented on this recipe before asking if it’s alright to use aluminum foil instead of parchment paper, but i can’t find my original comment. could i use foil instead? thanks!
OMG. Delicious!!!
Thank you Rebecca! xTieghan
Thank you so much for sharing! I made them for Father’s day and they were a huge success. I just need to figure out why they were not crunchy (my family never even noticed!)
Hi Gina,
Thanks so much for trying the recipe! It would help if I knew more information, did you adjust the recipe at all? I am wondering if you rolled them out thin enough or maybe if they needed to bake a little longer. I hope this helps! xTieghan
I made these with some gluten-free flour (I’m allergic to wheat) and they were D E L I C I O U S. I love having whole, homemade, fun snacks like these! I didn’t have the goldfish cookie cutter, so I made cheeze-its. But I did take a smaller knife to make my own goldfish cut out…even added the smile. Love this recipe! I’ll continue making it and highly recommend, especially for gluten/wheat-free!
I am so glad you could finally eat some goldfish haha! Thank you so much Michelle! xTieghan
How much is in a serving?
Hi Laura,
70 crackers is 1 serving. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Made the crackers today with my niece and nephew and they were delicious. Thanks for fun and yummy activity!
Aw so fun! I am glad you all enjoyed these, Melissa! Thank you for trying them! xTieghan
As per your reply on June 14 to my query about cookie cutter size…went ahead and made these goldfish with my grandson. They are AMAZING! So cute and tasty…maybe too tasty😂
Love all your recipes FYI…just made (for the third time) ‘one skillet sun-dried tomato chicken and orzo today…
Love that these turned out well for you, Helen! Thank you so much for trying them! xTieghan
I made these and you’re right: you cannot stop eating them. I wanted to immediately make another batch!
I am so glad you loved these, Anne! Thank you! xTieghan
Thanks for the recipe. I’m out of parchment paper, and my crackers burned in 15 minutes. Do you think it was the lack of parchment? I’m going to make another batch and watch closely instead of waiting for the timer.
However, even the over cooked crackers were pretty good!
Hey!
So sorry about this! I am wondering if you used anything on the pan? I think the parchment paper definitely helps. I hope they turn out for you next time! xTieghan
Hi Tieghan! Thank you so much for this goldfish recipe. I just made a batch for my 17 month old son. He didn’t like them because they’re square. I haven’t bought the fish cookie cutters yet. But, I think they’re amazing! Soo much better than the original Pepperidge Farm ones and so much less salt. I’m crossing my fingers these last a few days.
I am really glad thee turned out so well for you, Kelli! Thank you so much for trying them! xTieghan
I. LOVE. THESE!!!
These crackers are amazing. I stopped buying goldfish crackers at the store and have been making these on demand for the last couple of months. I have the 3” cutter and it’s perfect for my kids
Thank you so much for this amazing recipe!
Thank you Michelle!! I am so glad these turned out so well for you all!! xTieghan
This is definitely a keeper! Salty and SO cheesy! I was also shocked at how long these stayed fresh on the counter. Perfect little snack!
Thank you so much Irena!! xTieghan
Made these with my kids today; and they are SO good! Even my husband can’t stop eating them! I had more dough than I did baking sheets, so I put the extra dough in the fridge. Is there any reason I couldn’t use it to make more in the next day or two? Just bring it up to room temp, roll out, cut, and bake?
Hey Andrea,
I am so glad your family enjoyed the recipe! Yes keep the dough in the fridge and making them the next day would be totally fine to do! Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
No goldfish cookie cutter but had a Scottish terrier one! Absolutely darling and yummy! So pleased and can’t wait to share with my little grandsons!
Oh my goodness! SO CUTE! I hope your grandsons love these, Jeri! xTieghan
Made them this afternoon for football, and the house smelled so good — then they came out of the oven all puffy and crisp and perfect, and I’m eating them as fast as I produce them. So much better than the store-bought goldfish, they’re really in a class by themselves. Can imagine some of these floating in the perfect bowl of tomato soup. A+ recipe!
Thank you so much Beth! I am really glad this recipe turned out so well for you! xTieghan
https://www.amazon.com/Actual-Cracker-Cookie-Cutter-Multi/dp/B076DXFQLD/ref=pd_aw_sbs_79_1/139-4181427-3863352?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B076DXFQLD&pd_rd_r=a2647ea8-2992-4167-ab89-c055633267a8&pd_rd_w=DiUtZ&pd_rd_wg=ZJphF&pf_rd_p=408b641a-bb24-42ea-a6df-5ef48089cda2&pf_rd_r=ZZRQE26VP1WKPKT2BS3J&psc=1&refRID=ZZRQE26VP1WKPKT2BS3J
This is a better mold 🙂
Thank you for sharing, Olivia! xTieghan
These are so good! And so fun to make with the kids. Didn’t bother with the fish shape. Cheezit-style squares were good enough for us!
Love that! Thank you so much Karima! xTieghan
Hi, I wanna try to make, but where I live I cannot find the sharp cheese, the dried that you recommend. I was only able to find mild cheddar and it’s not really dry. Can I still use it? Or should I add more flour? Thanks!
Hey Olga,
Mild cheddar cheese will work just fine. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
These were amazing and tasted just like goldfish. I used the finishing salt and a small flower cookie cutter for mine. I also made half as the recipe calls for and half “flavor blasted”. Sprinkled an extra spice mixture on before baking: garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, cayenne, and Trinidad lemon garlic blend (the Spice House). My personal favorite is the flavor blasted version.
Hey Olivia,
I am so glad you enjoyed the recipe, thanks so much for giving this a try! Happy Holidays! xTieghan
These are awesome! It’s crazy how the taste is exactly the same as the big box ones but the texture with this recipe is way better! Light, airy and most importantly cheesy!! I wanted to add some savory treats in with sweet treats for Christmas gifts and these are the perfect addition. Keeping this recipe forever.
Hey Alexandria,
I am so glad you enjoyed the recipe, thank you so much for giving it a try! Happy Holidays! xTieghan
These crackers were so easy to make and tasted fairly like goldfish. Could be different because I reside out of the country and I notice a difference in everything I bake. I don’t have a goldfish cutter and it would be too expensive to get here, so I just cut into squares with the pizza cutter. These are an easy perfect snack for when my son is let out of classes.
Hey Christine,
I am so thrilled that you enjoyed the recipe, thanks so much for making it! Happy Friday! xTieghan
Made these for my son and he and I loved them! Do you have a recipe for original (the plain, not cheddar) goldfish crackers? Those and the pizza flavors are my fave and I’d love to be able to make them at home. Thanks!
Hey Mary,
Thanks a bunch for giving the recipe a try, I am so glad it was enjoyed! Sorry, this is the only goldfish cracker recipe that I have. xTieghan
Can this work with almond or coconut flour for a lower carb option?
Hey Nadin,
I would recommend using an equal amount of GF flour. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Omgosh.. thank you x 100.. we made these as a family and we had so much fun. Did I mention easy and Delicious? What a great memory maker. Because of all the cheddar do you think we should refrigerate if we plan to save them for a few day?
Hey there,
Fantastic!! I am thrilled that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it! Happy Friday:) xTieghan
Curious about the calories – is it 35 calories per serving or per 70? If per serving, how many are in a serving? I was browsing through the recipes and confused about servings vs calories per servings