Irresistibly Crispy Crackers
Nut-Packed Crisp Crackers You Can’t Stop Eating
We all know nuts are good for us, but sometimes it’s a hassle to eat them separately. That’s why I love adding plenty of nuts to my baking! While you can incorporate nuts into most baked goods, adding too many can overpower the original texture and flavor. That’s how I came up with these crisp crackers. They’re packed with nuts, thinly sliced, and baked to a delightful crisp, making them utterly addictive. The nutty richness combined with a subtle sweetness from the dried fruits creates a wonderfully crisp texture, reminiscent of biscotti, perfect for enjoying with coffee or tea.
Crisp Cracker Dough Ingredients- 150g Whole wheat flour
- 150g All-purpose flour
- 50g Unrefined sugar
- 3g Black pepper
- 3g Baking powder
- 5g Baking soda
- 3g Salt
- 450ml Milk
- 50ml Vinegar
- 100g Pitted dried dates
- 100g Sunflower seeds
- 80g Dried cranberries
- 80g Sliced almonds
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Prepare all your ingredients. For the nuts (sunflower seeds and sliced almonds), it’s highly recommended to toast them lightly in the oven or on a skillet beforehand. This step is crucial to bring out their nutty aroma and prevent them from tasting stale or oily.
Step 2
Since the dried dates can be quite large, chop them into smaller, bite-sized pieces. This ensures they distribute evenly in the batter and don’t interfere when slicing the crackers.
Step 3
In a bowl, combine the milk and vinegar. Give it a gentle stir. This mixture will curdle slightly, acting similarly to buttermilk and helping to create a tender crumb in your crackers.
Step 4
In a large mixing bowl, add all the dry ingredients: whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, unrefined sugar, black pepper, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
Step 5
Using a whisk or spatula, lightly mix the dry ingredients together until they are well combined. This ensures even distribution and makes the next steps easier.
Step 6
Add the toasted nuts (sunflower seeds, sliced almonds), dried cranberries, and chopped dried dates to the bowl with the dry ingredients.
Step 7
Pour the milk and vinegar mixture into the bowl with the other ingredients.
Step 8
Using a spatula, mix everything together until just combined. You want to mix until there are no dry streaks of flour visible and the ingredients form a cohesive dough. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make the crackers tough.
Step 9
Transfer the dough into a prepared loaf pan (e.g., a 25cm x 11cm x 7cm pan). Press the dough evenly into the pan.
Step 10
Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C (350°F) for approximately 50 minutes. You can test for doneness by inserting a skewer into the center; it should come out clean.
Step 11
Once baked, remove the pan from the oven and let the loaf cool inside the pan for about 30 minutes. This allows the bread to set and become easier to handle.
Step 12
After cooling slightly, carefully remove the loaf from the pan. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 8 hours, or preferably overnight. Chilling the loaf makes it firm and much easier to slice thinly without crumbling.
Step 13
Take the chilled, firm loaf out of the refrigerator. It should be solid enough to slice cleanly.
Step 14
Using a sharp serrated knife, slice the loaf as thinly as possible. Aim for a thickness of about 0.5 cm (or less) for the crispiest crackers. The thinner you slice, the crispier they will be.
Step 15
Arrange the thinly sliced cracker pieces on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Ensure they are not overlapping to allow for even baking.
Step 16
Bake in a preheated oven at 150°C (300°F) for about 20 minutes. Flip the crackers halfway through to ensure they brown evenly on both sides. Continue baking until they are golden brown and feel firm and crisp to the touch. Keep an eye on them, as baking time can vary depending on your oven.
Step 17
Voilà! Your delicious crisp crackers are ready. Aren’t they tempting? You can see the nuts and dried fruits nestled inside. They are incredibly crunchy, offering a delightful texture, with the rich nuttiness and subtle sweetness of the dried fruits creating a flavor profile similar to biscotti. They pair wonderfully with your favorite coffee or tea.
Step 18
Package your beautifully baked crisp crackers for gifting or storage. Storing them in an airtight container will help maintain their crispness for longer.
