Homemade Gourmet Crackers
User Reviews
5
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Prep Time
15 mins
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Cook Time
1 hr 15 mins
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Total Time
1 hr 30 mins
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Servings
40 pieces
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Calories
31 kcal
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Course
Snacks, Baked Goods
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Cuisine
American
Homemade Gourmet Crackers
Description
These Homemade Gourmet Crackers combine dairy ingredients like milk and Greek yogurt with plain and whole wheat flour, brown sugar, dried cranberries, oats, and sunflower seeds. Spices including turmeric, cinnamon, nutmeg, thyme, rosemary, salt, and black pepper contribute aromatic complexity. The batter resembles muffin batter and is baked in a small loaf tin at 350°F until a skewer comes out clean.
After cooling, the loaf is tightly wrapped and frozen for at least two hours, firming it sufficiently to slice into thin rectangles. The slices are then partially thawed and reheated slowly at a lower temperature to dry them crisp without over-browning or burning the cranberries. This process yields crackers with a pleasant crunch and a balance of sweet, fruity, and spicy flavors.
The loaf tin size influences cracker shape, with a smaller tin producing taller, rectangular crackers suitable for breaking into snack-sized pieces. These crackers store well frozen for up to three months. Adjust seasoning or baking times slightly to suit preferences.
Ingredients
- 1 cup / 250 ml milk any fat % cow's milk
- ¼ cup / 50g brown sugar , packed
- ¼ cup yogurt I used Greek, plain unsweetened
- ½ cup / 75g plain flour (all purpose)
- ½ cup / 75g whole wheat flour wholemeal flour
- ½ cup dried cranberries (or other dried fruit of choice)
- 1 tsp baking soda or 3 tsp baking powder, or bi-carb
- ½ cup rolled oats (or 1/3 cup more nuts of choice)
- ¼ cup sunflower seeds (or other seeds or nuts of choice)
Spices:
- ½ tsp Turmeric can omit, ground
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp nutmeg (or All Spice or 1/8 tsp cloves)
- ¼ tsp thyme dried
- 1 tsp rosemary or ½ tsp more thyme, dried
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180C/350F (all oven types). Grease and line a small loaf tin with baking paper (mine is 21 x 11 x 7 cm / 8.5 x 4.5 x 3”) (Note 1).
- Whisk the milk, sugar and yoghurt in a bowl.
- In a separate bowl, add plain flour, wholemeal flour and cranberries. Stir – use fingers to break up cranberries if required.
- Add remaining ingredients, including Spices, plus the milk mixture. It should be a thick batter, like muffin batter (note: batter in video looks slightly thicker because it was standing for a couple of minutes, doesn't affect outcome).
- Scrape/pour into tin. Bake for 25 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean.
- Cool on rack, then wrap in cling wrap and freeze for at least 2 hours, up to 3 months. (Note 2)
- Unwrap loaf and allow to thaw partially so the outside is not rock hard frozen (around 20 minutes).
- Preheat oven to 120C/250F (all oven types). Place one shelf in the middle, and another shelf beneath it.
- Use a serrated bread knife to slice thinly – around 2 mm / 1/12” thick (see video). Place biscuits on 2 large baking trays, you can squeeze them in as they won’t expand or stick.
- Bake for 50 minutes or until they are a light brown, swapping trays halfway.
- Leave biscuits on tray to cool – they will harden so they snap when you break them. (Note 3)
- Store in an airtight container for 4 weeks (probably ok for longer, I’ve only done 4 weeks). Brilliant served with creamy cheeses like brie, camembert, but soft, creamy blue cheeses is the ultimate pairing!
Notes
- Using a smaller loaf tin creates taller crackers that slice into rectangles for easy snapping.
- Freezing the loaf before slicing makes cutting thin crackers easier and cleaner.
- Slow reheating at low temperature crisps crackers without burning cranberries.
- Crackers keep well wrapped and frozen for up to three months; re-crisp in a warm oven if needed.
- The recipe adapts a copycat Trader Joe’s pumpkin cranberry cracker, substituting milk and yogurt for buttermilk and pumpkin puree.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 40pieces
Amount Per Serving
Calories 31 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 15g | |
| Calories | 31cal | 2% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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