Cheese Nips Copycat

Directions

1. 1
   Sift together 1 cup flour, baking soda, baking powder, and cheese powder in a large bowl.
2. 2
   Cut in the shortening with a fork and knife with a crosswise motion until dough is broken down into rice size pieces.
3. 3
   Mixture will still be very dry.
4. 4
   Stir in buttermilk with a fork until dough becomes very moist and sticky.
5. 5
   Sprinkle a couple tablespoons of the reserved flour over the dough and work it in until the dough can be handled without sticking, then turn it out onto a floured board, being sure to keep 1/4 cup of the reserve flour for later.
6. 6
   Knead the dough well for 60 to 90 seconds, until the flour is well incorporated.
7. 7
   Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill for at least one hour.
8. 8
   Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
9. 9
   Spray a light coating of cooking spray on a baking sheet.
10. 10
    Remove the dough from the refrigerator and use the remaining reserve flour to dust a rolling surface.
11. 11
    Roll about one third of the dough to just under 1/16 th of inch thick.
12. 12
    Trim the edges square (a pizza cutter or wheel works great for this), then transfer the dough to a lightly greased baking sheet.
13. 13
    Use the rolling pin to transfer the dough.
14. 14
    Simply pick up one end of the dough onto a rolling pin, and roll the dough around the rolling pin.
15. 15
    Reverse the process onto the baking sheet to transfer the dough.
16. 16
    Use a pizza cutter to cut across and down the dough, creating 1 inch square pieces.
17. 17
    Use the blunt end of a skewer or broken toothpick to poke a hole in the center of each piece.
18. 18
    Sprinkle a very light coating of salt over the top of the crackers (crackers will already be quite salty) and bake for 8 to 10 minutes.
19. 19
    Mix the crackers around (so those on the edge don't burn) and bake for another 3 to 5 minutes, or until some are just barely turning a light brown.
20. 20
    Repeat the rolling and baking process with the remaining dough.
21. 21
    Makes approximately 300 crackers.
22. 22
    Note - Prep time includes resting/refrigeration time.