As someone who loves cheese, I have tried all sorts of different crackers and breads to go with it. Recently, I came across the perfect addition to my cheese board — and now my pantry will never be without them.
I’m talking about Effie’s Homemade Gruyère Biscuits. They’re thick, full of flavor, and have a hint of sweetness that pairs so well with salty, savory, and even smoky cheeses. I adore them so much, most of the time, I eat them on their own while standing in front of my pantry.
What’s So Great About Effie’s Homemade Gruyère Biscuits?
Started in 2007, Effie’s Homemade was founded by two friends, one of whom’s mom is Effie — a woman hailing from Nova Scotia who was known for her oatcakes. The brand’s oatcakes as well as biscuits in flavors like almond, corn, and even cocoa were inspired by her. A cross between a buttery cracker and a shortbread, these biscuits are hearty, savory yet slightly sweet, and are perfect on their own or paired with cheese, jam, honey, cured meats, and more.
My favorite flavor of them all is the Gruyère Biscuits, which launched last summer. They contain just nine ingredients: wheat flour, oats, butter, Gruyère cheese, turbinado cane sugar, water, kosher salt, baking soda, and black pepper. You can buy them in bulk at the brand’s website for around $6 per box, depending on the quantity. Or, if you just want to just get a taste for it first, you can get a single box at Amazon for $9.99.
My Honest Review of Effie’s Homemade Gruyère Biscuits
I was very intrigued by these biscuits from the start. They’re twice as thick as butter crackers, or any cracker I typically go for, but still manage to pack in serious flavor. The slightly salty, cheesy flavor truly tastes like someone took the time to grate up Gruyère, lovingly mix it into a dough, and bake it for me.
As if that weren’t enough, what really seals the deal for me is the bold peppery note that so perfectly complements the toasty, subtle oat flavor and the savory cheese.
Most of the time, you’ll find me eating these straight out of the box — they’re that good! They’re phenomenal with cheese, too, though. I like to pair it with smoked Gouda because the sweetness of the biscuit and the smoky, saltiness of the cheese play really well together. I also tried it with an onion chive Gloucester (sort of like a cheddar), and was surprised at how nicely the biscuit complemented those strong onion-y notes. Paired with a salty strip of prosciutto, it was one of the best bites I’ve had in a long time.
I can’t end without giving a shout-out to the oatcakes, too, which are similar in thickness to the Gruyère biscuits, but noticeably sweeter. Picture a slightly salty, buttery shortbread with a little added nuttiness from the oats (I like it more than the classic cookie).
I put both biscuits on a cheese board; the Gruyère is a more savory option, while the oatcakes pack in more sweetness. I can’t wait to try them with all sorts of different jams, starting with a red pepper jelly and a sticky fig jam. That’s if I don’t eat the entire box first …
Buy: Effie’s Homemade Gruyère Biscuits, $39 for 6 boxes at Effie’s Homemade
What’s your favorite cheese board snack? Tell us about it in the comments below.
