Sorry, Cheese Nips and Better Cheddars, but when it comes to cheesy snack crackers, Cheez-It is king. The small, square crackers are crispy-crunchy, perfectly salty, and imbued with a deep, toasty cheese flavor that’s as satisfying as it is nostalgic. Basically, Cheez-It really could’ve rested on its laurels until the end of time (which, sadly, seems to be right around the corner), but the brand must suffer from low self-esteem, because it just keeps churning out new varieties. You can now buy Cheez-Its that are all puffy like Cheetos, Cheez-Its that are thin like chips, and Cheez-Its that are crunchy like, er, even crunchier crackers, but if you’re like me and think they nailed the form factor the first time around, then new Cheez-It flavors are the most interesting releases.
And we have good news because two new Cheez-Its just dropped: Cheez-It Smoked Cheddar and Cheez-It Smoked Gouda. I know the saying is smoke ‘em if you got ‘em, but did Cheez-It nail it? We tasted both new flavors to find out.
- Smoked Cheddar Cheez-It
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If you like classic Cheez-Its—naked cheese crackers with a tasteful sprinkle of salt—these might be a bit much for you. As soon as you open the box, you can see they’re very coated in flavor dust—which, hey, some people probably love!
Pros: If someone handed me an unlabeled box of these, I would guess they are bacon-cheddar Cheez-Its. That flavor profile already exists in Duoz form and while I didn’t taste these head-to-head with those, I think it’s safe to say these have a similar vibe.
Cons: As I mentioned, these are very flavor blasted. That might be a pro for some people (lookin’ at you, Jordan Myrick and Mythical Chef Josh), but for me it’s a bit much. I love the flavor of Cheez-It crackers and all that powder makes it tough to taste the cracker itself. These have a very powerful fake cheese flavor that settles a little as you eat. Sure, they taste like smoked cheddar, but they taste like that really fakey, squishy smoked cheddar you get in a Hickory Farms box that can inexplicably be stored at room temperature.
- Smoked Gouda Cheez-It
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These new Cheez-Its are also coated in flavor powder, but it’s a much more manageable amount. They’re a more subdued version of a smoked cheese Cheez-It—and they’re good.
Pros: These really taste like smoked gouda! The combo of the deep, cheesy flavor of the cracker with the dusting of flavor powder is absolutely addictive. They’re smoky, they’re a little funky. They would taste really good with some sliced-up summer sausage. The smoke is more restrained, but it’s definitely there. I had a friend over and we absolutely plowed through this box of crackers while we watched junk on TV. Oh, and the box we got had a lot of overcooked crackers (dream scenario!), which made them taste even more delicious.
Cons: If you’re a Cheez-It purist who does like flavor powder or the addition of smoke flavoring, these will probably be too weird for you. But if you like to mix things up, give these a shot.
