Healthy Seed and Salt Crackers: Part 1 of the July 2012 Challenge
In January 2009, I joined Daring Bakers with the best of intentions. I was not able to find the recipe and then didn’t manage to get one done. As I follow a few of the apparently 9000 members within their data base and have immensely enjoyed reading about the individual takes on each challenge, I have taken the plunge again and am delighted with our first challenge. Our July 2012 Daring Bakers’ Host is Dana McFarland and she challenged us to make homemade crackers! Dana showed us some techniques for making crackers and encouraged to use our creativity to make each cracker our own by using ingredients we love. However, there was a caveat: two different crackers recipes must be prepared using two different methods of forming. I did everything and all done well before the deadline, but then life happened and I didn’t get the post up. So, I am posting my cracker recipes separately, for my files and your enjoyment.
This recipe is really tasty and good for you. It is nothing like my second cracker for this challenge which is a disc of rich and crispy cheesy glory. These crackers actually taste like they are good for you. That may be off-putting to some, but I love them and they age well. I still had some in a zip lock bag in the cupboard two months later, and they were still yummy with not a hint of staleness.
I will add that these are not crispy crackers. You can roll them very thin and get a crispy cracker, but it doesn’t taste good. There were meant to be as they look; 1/8th inch thick and more like a substantial biscuit cracker than a thin crisp.
Dana suggested using a pasta maker to roll out the dough for crackers which I thought was brilliant; however, it didn’t work for me and if you know me, you know that I tried and tried and tried. The dough just kept crumbling and I tried to use the pasta maker with four different cracker doughs. I was on a mission. If anyone has a tip for me to help me with making that work, I would love to hear it!
Healthy Seed and Salt Crackers: Making and Rolling the Dough
Healthy Seed and Salt Crackers: Cutting the Crackers
I rolled out portions of the dough, portioned the squares and trimmed the edges, using the trimmed dough for the next rolled batch.
Healthy Seed and Salt Crackers: Adding the Topping
There was a suggestion to turn the crackers over and bake a little longer to “crisp them up” which I tried for one tray, and would not recommend it. They lost some toppings and were no tastier. I tried these crackers without salt and with a variety of salts. My favourite was with the two colours of sesame seeds (black and white) and the Hawaiian orange salt shown below. The Hawaiian black salt was just as tasty, but not as “purdy”.
Healthy Salt and Seed Crackers
Ingredients
- 3 cups 720 ml, 240 gm, 8½ oz rolled oats
- 2 cups 480 ml, 280 gm, 10 oz plain (all-purpose) flour (I will use stone ground next time)
- 1 cup 240 ml, 80 gm, 2¾ oz wheat germ
- 3 tablespoons 45 ml, 40 gm, 1½ oz sugar
- 1 teaspoon 5 ml, 6 gm salt
- ¾ cup 180 ml vegetable oil
- 1 cup 240 ml water
- 1 large egg white
- cracker topping ideas: sesame seeds poppy seeds, nigella (onion) seeds, salt
Instructions
- Mix oats, flour, wheat germ, sugar and salt together in a large bowl
- Combine water and oil; stir into oat mixture until a dough forms; my dough was very stiff
- Form dough into disk, wrap in plastic: set aside in fridge for 20 minutes or up to a day
- Preheat oven to moderate 325°F (160°C/gas mark 3)
- Divide dough into quarters, working one piece at a time (remaining pieces in the fridge)
- On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/16 inch (1½ mm) and transfer to parchment lined baking sheet by carefully wrapping around rolling pin
- Brush dough with egg white mixed with a tablespoon of water; sprinkle with seeds and salt of your choice
- Cut dough with pizza wheel; bake for 15-18 minutes until brown
- Store in an airtight container and eat within two weeks
Notes
The lovely Cheese Cracker will be up next!
Homemade crackers sound excellent – I’ve never made crackers myself and would love to try!
I like this idea very much. I have been contemplating making a wholesome snack bar i.e. granola bar but using chia seeds, nuts, other seeds and perhaps some dried fruit. I would like it to be chewy, yet not fall apart or be too dry and crunchy. I would appreciate any ideas on a matrix that would hold it together. (baked or cold pressed.
HI, LarryG
I have made many such bars with my students when teaching foods classes at Edmonton Public Schools. I didn’t bring home any of my recipes – but will see what I can find. Mainly, honey (just a bit), oil (just a bit), flour and eggs help the bar “stick” together. Eggs are not necessary, but help. The temperature and other ingredients will determine the chewiness – but the more chewy, the more sugar, really.
🙂
Valerie
Thanks Valerie,
Coincidentally my neighbour & brother-in-law have honey bees. One produces honey with a prominent Clover flavour and the other has a very distinct Lingonberry flavour. Both are pure and have a very pleasing taste. I was also considering fig and or prune as part of the mix. I can’t wait to try all the wonderful layers of flavours with a little homemade cheese.
HI, again Larry
You are SO lucky to have honey neighbours!!! Dried fruit will definitely add a chew – but I think so locally, that fig or prune never entered my head. They would be perfect additions to the bar – expecially dried plum – and we grow them here!
And, I love cheese with honey – especially Pecorino!
🙂
V
These look very nice. Reminded me of an alternate grain cracker recipe I’ve wanted to try … using barley flour with sesame and poppy seeds in the mix.