11 homemade crackers
Herbed Tuscan Rosemary Flats
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 2/3 cup warm water
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- Extra sea salt for sprinkling
Directions
- 1
1. Begin by preheating your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and lining two large baking sheets with parchment paper to ensure even heat distribution and prevent sticking.
- 2
2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, finely chopped rosemary, and sea salt until the herbs are evenly dispersed throughout the dry mixture to prevent clumping.
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3. Create a well in the center of the flour and pour in the warm water and olive oil, then use a wooden spoon to stir until a shaggy dough begins to form and the liquid is absorbed.
- 4
4. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead it gently for about 3 to 5 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic, which develops the gluten just enough for a crisp snap.
- 5
5. Divide the dough into four equal portions and let them rest covered with a damp cloth for 15 minutes to relax the gluten, making the rolling process much easier and preventing shrinkage.
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6. Using a heavy rolling pin, roll each portion out as thin as possible, aiming for a thickness of about one-sixteenth of an inch to achieve that signature cracker crunch.
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7. Carefully transfer the rolled dough to the prepared baking sheets and prick the entire surface with a fork to prevent large bubbles from forming during the bake.
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8. Lightly brush the tops with a tiny bit of water or oil and sprinkle with additional sea salt before sliding them into the oven for a professional finish.
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9. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through, until the edges are golden brown and the centers are firm to the touch.
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10. Allow the crackers to cool completely on a wire rack before breaking them into rustic, irregular shards for serving.
Golden Sharp Cheddar Pennies
Ingredients
- 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, grated
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 tablespoons cold water
Directions
- 1
1. Grate the cheddar cheese using the fine holes of a box grater to ensure it integrates seamlessly into the butter without leaving large oily pockets.
- 2
2. In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together the softened butter and grated cheese until the mixture is uniform and bright orange.
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3. Sift the flour, salt, and cayenne pepper together in a separate bowl to remove any lumps and ensure the spice is evenly distributed.
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4. With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the flour mixture to the cheese base until the dough looks like coarse crumbs.
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5. Add the cold water one tablespoon at a time, mixing just until the dough begins to clump together into a cohesive ball.
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6. Turn the dough onto a piece of plastic wrap and shape it into a log about two inches in diameter, then roll it tightly and chill in the refrigerator for at least two hours.
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7. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line your baking sheets with silicone mats or parchment paper.
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8. Using a sharp knife, slice the chilled log into rounds that are roughly one-eighth of an inch thick and place them on the sheets.
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9. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until the edges are slightly browned and the crackers feel firm; they will crisp up further as they cool.
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10. Let the pennies cool on the baking sheet for five minutes before moving them to a rack, as they are very fragile while hot.
Ancient Grain Sesame Lavash
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups bread flour
- 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 teaspoon active dry yeast
- 3/4 cup warm water
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/4 cup toasted sesame seeds
Directions
- 1
1. Dissolve the yeast and honey in warm water and let it sit for about 10 minutes until a foamy head develops, indicating the yeast is active.
- 2
2. Combine the bread flour, whole wheat flour, and a pinch of salt in a large bowl, making a hole in the center for the liquids.
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3. Pour the yeast mixture and olive oil into the well and stir from the center outwards until a soft dough forms.
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4. Knead the dough on a floured surface for 8 minutes until it is very smooth and elastic, then place it in an oiled bowl to rise for one hour.
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5. Punch down the risen dough and divide it into six small balls, allowing them to rest for 10 minutes to make rolling easier.
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6. Roll each ball out on a piece of parchment paper until it is paper-thin and almost translucent, forming long oval or rectangular shapes.
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7. Brush the surface lightly with water and sprinkle generously with toasted sesame seeds, pressing them lightly into the dough so they stick.
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8. Transfer the parchment directly onto a preheated baking stone or inverted baking sheet in a 425-degree oven.
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9. Bake for 5 to 8 minutes, watching closely as the thin dough can go from golden to burnt very quickly.
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10. Remove the sheets from the oven when they are speckled with brown and let them cool completely before snapping into large shards.
Artisan Sourdough Herb Crisps
Ingredients
- 1 cup sourdough starter discard
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 tablespoon dried herbes de Provence
- Coarse salt for topping
Directions
- 1
1. In a medium bowl, combine your sourdough discard with the melted butter, stirring until the fat is fully emulsified into the starter.
- 2
2. Add the flour, salt, and dried herbs to the bowl and mix with a spatula until a stiff, slightly tacky dough forms.
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3. Divide the dough into two equal halves and wrap them in plastic, then refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flour to fully hydrate.
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4. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and prepare two sheets of parchment paper the size of your baking sheets.
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5. Place one piece of dough on the parchment and cover with another piece of parchment, then roll it out until it covers the entire area of the paper.
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6. Remove the top layer of parchment and use a pizza cutter or sharp knife to score the dough into 1-inch squares or rectangles.
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7. Prick each square with a fork to ensure even rising and sprinkle with a little extra coarse salt for texture.
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8. Slide the parchment onto a baking sheet and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the crackers are deeply golden and hard.
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9. If the outer crackers brown faster than the inner ones, remove the brown ones and return the rest to the oven for a few more minutes.
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10. Cool the crackers completely on the pan; they will snap perfectly along the score lines once they have reached room temperature.
Classic British Digestive Rounds
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 cup rolled oats, pulsed in a blender
- 1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cubed
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup milk
Directions
- 1
1. Pulse your rolled oats in a blender or food processor until they reach the consistency of a coarse flour, but still retain some visible texture.
- 2
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the processed oats, whole wheat flour, brown sugar, baking powder, and salt.
- 3
3. Add the cold, cubed butter to the dry ingredients and use your fingertips or a pastry cutter to rub it in until the mixture resembles wet sand.
- 4
4. Slowly drizzle in the milk while tossing the mixture with a fork until a firm dough begins to come together.
- 5
5. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and pat it into a disk, then wrap it and chill for 30 minutes to firm up the butter.
- 6
6. Roll the dough out to a quarter-inch thickness; these should be slightly thicker than a standard cracker for that traditional bite.
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7. Use a 3-inch circular cookie cutter to stamp out rounds and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
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8. Use a skewer or fork to prick a pattern of holes into the top of each round, which is the traditional look for a digestive.
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9. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 to 18 minutes until the edges are firm and the color has darkened slightly to a rich tan.
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10. Cool on the tray for 10 minutes to allow the structure to set before transferring to a wire rack to finish cooling.
Fire-Roasted Jalapeno Corn Crackers
Ingredients
- 1 cup yellow cornmeal
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 large jalapeno, seeded and minced
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup boiling water
Directions
- 1
1. In a heat-proof bowl, combine the cornmeal, flour, baking soda, and salt, whisking to ensure the leavening agent is fully incorporated.
- 2
2. Add the finely minced jalapeno to the dry mixture, ensuring the pieces are small enough not to tear the dough during the rolling process.
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3. Pour the boiling water and vegetable oil into the dry ingredients and stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until a thick, pliable dough forms.
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4. Let the dough sit for 10 minutes; the heat from the water will partially cook the cornmeal, making the dough more elastic and easier to work with.
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5. Divide the dough into two balls and roll each one between two sheets of parchment paper until it is nearly transparent.
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6. Peel off the top layer of parchment and use a fluted pastry wheel to cut the dough into triangles or squares for a decorative edge.
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7. Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the edges are golden and the centers no longer feel soft.
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8. If you prefer a smokier flavor, char the jalapeno over a gas flame before mincing and adding it to the dough.
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9. Ensure the crackers are completely dry and brittle before removing them from the oven to prevent them from becoming chewy later.
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10. Store in an airtight container immediately once cooled to preserve the crunch of the cornmeal grain.
New York Everything Deli Thins
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2/3 cup water
- 1 tablespoon each: poppy seeds, sesame seeds, dried minced garlic, dried minced onion
Directions
- 1
1. Whisk the flour, sugar, and salt in a large bowl, then stir in the olive oil and water until a stiff dough forms.
- 2
2. Knead the dough for 5 minutes until it is smooth, then cover and let it rest for 20 minutes to allow the flour to hydrate.
- 3
3. In a small bowl, mix the poppy seeds, sesame seeds, dried garlic, and dried onion to create your 'everything' seasoning blend.
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4. Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface as thin as possible, then brush the entire surface with a light coating of water.
- 5
5. Sprinkle the seasoning blend generously over the dough, then roll over it once more with the rolling pin to press the seeds in firmly.
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6. Cut the dough into rectangles using a knife or pizza cutter and transfer them to a parchment-lined baking sheet.
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7. Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 to 12 minutes, watching carefully to ensure the garlic and onion don't burn, as they can become bitter.
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8. The crackers should be golden brown and the seeds should smell toasted and fragrant.
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9. Allow them to cool completely on the baking sheet to help the toppings set and the cracker to reach maximum crispness.
- 10
10. Serve with a side of scallion cream cheese for the authentic New York Deli experience.
Venetian Garlic and Herb Grissini
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups bread flour
- 1 teaspoon instant yeast
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 3/4 cup warm water
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
Directions
- 1
1. Combine the flour, yeast, salt, garlic powder, and oregano in the bowl of a stand mixer and whisk to combine.
- 2
2. Add the warm water, honey, and olive oil, then knead with the dough hook on medium speed for 7 minutes until the dough is silky and pulls away from the sides.
- 3
3. Cover the bowl and let the dough rise in a warm spot for about an hour until it has doubled in size.
- 4
4. Gently deflate the dough and roll it out into a large rectangle about half an inch thick on a floured surface.
- 5
5. Use a knife to cut the rectangle into thin strips about half an inch wide.
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6. Take each strip and gently stretch it from the center outwards until it is about 10 to 12 inches long and very thin.
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7. Place the strips on a parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving a small space between each one to allow for air circulation.
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8. Let the shaped sticks rest for 15 minutes while you preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
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9. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, turning them once halfway through, until they are golden brown and sound hollow when tapped.
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10. Turn off the oven and crack the door open, leaving the grissini inside for another 10 minutes to ensure they are completely crisp to the core.
Nordic Rye and Caraway Crispbread
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups rye flour
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon caraway seeds
- 1 teaspoon yeast
- 3/4 cup warm milk
- 4 tablespoons melted butter
Directions
- 1
1. Whisk the rye flour, all-purpose flour, salt, sugar, and caraway seeds together in a large mixing bowl.
- 2
2. Stir the yeast into the warm milk and let it bloom for 5 minutes before adding the melted butter to the liquid.
- 3
3. Pour the liquid into the flour mixture and stir until a stiff, dark dough forms; rye dough is naturally stickier than wheat dough.
- 4
4. Knead briefly on a floured surface, then let the dough rest for 30 minutes to allow the rye to absorb the moisture.
- 5
5. Roll the dough out on a floured surface to about an eighth of an inch thickness; use a textured rolling pin if you have one for a traditional look.
- 6
6. Cut the dough into large circles or rectangles and use a small round cutter to remove a hole from the center of each.
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7. Prick the surface heavily with a fork or a 'brödnagg' (a traditional spiked rolling tool) to prevent the dough from rising.
- 8
8. Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 12 to 15 minutes until the edges are dark and the cracker feels rigid.
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9. Transfer to a wire rack immediately to ensure the bottom doesn't steam and soften.
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10. These crackers actually improve in flavor after a day or two and can be stored for weeks in a dry place.
Old-Fashioned Honey Graham Squares
Ingredients
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 tablespoon molasses
- 1/2 cup cold butter, cubed
- 1/4 cup cold water
Directions
- 1
1. In a food processor, pulse the flours, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon until combined.
- 2
2. Add the cold cubed butter and pulse until the mixture looks like coarse meal with no large butter chunks remaining.
- 3
3. In a small bowl, whisk together the honey, molasses, and water until the honey is fully dissolved.
- 4
4. With the processor running, slowly pour in the honey mixture and process just until the dough forms a ball.
- 5
5. Wrap the dough in plastic and chill for at least one hour; this is essential as the dough is quite sticky and needs to firm up.
- 6
6. Roll the dough out between two sheets of parchment paper to about an eighth of an inch thickness.
- 7
7. Use a ruler and a pastry wheel to cut the dough into 2x5 inch rectangles, but do not separate them yet.
- 8
8. Use a fork to prick a series of dots along the center of each rectangle for the classic graham cracker look.
- 9
9. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes, then remove from the oven and carefully re-cut along the lines while the dough is still soft.
- 10
10. Return to the oven for another 5 minutes to crisp the edges, then cool completely on a rack.
Cracked Black Pepper Water Crackers
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- 3/4 cup cold water
- 1 tablespoon melted butter (optional for shine)
Directions
- 1
1. Sift the flour into a chilled bowl and stir in the salt and the coarsest black pepper you can grind to ensure pockets of flavor throughout.
- 2
2. Gradually add the cold water while stirring with a fork until the dough just comes together, being careful not to over-hydrate the mixture.
- 3
3. Knead the dough on a cool surface for exactly two minutes to build minimal structure then wrap in plastic and chill for 30 minutes to firm up.
- 4
4. Roll the dough out until it is translucent and you can see the grain of the wood underneath it to ensure the thinnest possible cracker results.
- 5
5. Use a circular cutter to stamp out rounds and place them on a preheated baking stone or heavy sheet pan to maximize the initial heat.
- 6
6. Dock each cracker multiple times with a docking tool or fork to ensure they stay flat and crisp rather than puffing up like pita bread.
- 7
7. Bake at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for only 5 to 7 minutes until the edges just begin to curl and turn a pale biscuit color.
- 8
8. Remove from the oven and immediately move to a cooling rack where the residual heat will finish the drying process without burning the flour.
- 9
9. If the crackers feel soft after cooling, return them to a 300-degree oven for 5 minutes to fully dehydrate them for a better snap.
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10. Serve these immediately or store in an airtight container with a silica packet to maintain their delicate texture in humid environments.