The Fresh Loaf

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Seeded Cracker Parade

rainbowbrown's picture
rainbowbrown

Seeded Cracker Parade

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Seeded Cracker AnimalsSeeded Cracker Animals321

 

These are the seeded crackers from Reinhart's Whole Grain Breads. They are some of my favorite crackers. I used the Noah's Ark cookie cutters my boyfriend got me last Christmas. I also used a dinosaur one.

 

Here's the recipe from WGB:

 

8 oz (227 g)    whole wheat flour

2 oz (56.5 g) sunflower and/or pumpkin seeds, ground into a flour consistency (I usually use both)

2 oz (56.5g) sesame seeds, whole

1 oz (28.5g) flax seeds, ground

1/4 tsp (2 g) salt

5 oz (142 g) water

1 oz (28.5 g) honey

1 oz (28.5g) vegetable oil

 

1. Combine all ingredients, add flour or water as necessary to achieve a firm dough.

2. Knead for three minutes on a lightly floured surface.  The dough should be should not be soft and sticky or crumbly.  It should feel like modeling clay (the book specifies the modeling clay thing, and take this seriously for it really does feel like clay).

3. Let the dough rest for 20 minutes.  Either put in an oiled bowl, cover and let rest at room temperature for the night (recommended) or roll and bake right away.

4. When you're ready, roll out the dough.  Roll it on a lighty floured surface until about a quarter of an inch thick.  Let it rest for a couple minutes then continue to roll out to about an eighth of an inch thick.  I find it helpful to stop every few strokes and take a bench scraper to the edges and sort of gently lift the sheet an inch or so off the board and give it a little up and down motion (kind of like you would do with a blanket when making the bed, only much more gently) to make sure it isn't sticking to the board.  Be careful with this dough though, what with all the seeds and junk in it there's a hint of fragility to it.  Cut it with cookie cutters (as I enjoy doing) or take a pizza roller to it and cut it into squares (the more practical idea) and tranfer crackers to parchment papered and oiled cookie sheets.  I usually find that it takes about four cookie sheets worth of space and for me that's two batches.  They won't spread so they can be pretty close.

5. Bake at 350f for ten minutes.  Rotate and bake for another ten minutes, but start checking them at like seven minutes as you really don't want them to burn.  Then again you also don't want them to be undercooked or else they won't be at all crispy.  Look for a medium sort of browning color (does that mean anything? Hopefully...) No pale crackers and no really dark brown crackers.  They get crispier as they cool, so you can't judge their doneness that way.  You can cool them in the pans, but I usually don't just because I need to do a second batch.

 

That's all.  They're quite marvelous.  Have fun. 

Thegreenbaker's picture
Thegreenbaker

They're so cute!

Could I be a pain and ask for the recipe please?

They are perfect for my little family!

 

TGB 

rainbowbrown's picture
rainbowbrown

Sure thing, I'll edit the post...

Thegreenbaker's picture
Thegreenbaker

Thanks Rainbowbrown!

Thats awesome! I will have to make these vewry very soon!

 

TGB 

holds99's picture
holds99

Rainbowbrown,

Those look very nice...and healthy. 

HO

Thegreenbaker's picture
Thegreenbaker

I reckon I could make these into savory crackers.  Minus the honey and add more oil or water and a little more salt....or to be healthier minus the salt and extra oil/water and add soy sauce.

hhmmm I dont have the flax in the house and wont be picking up shopping for about a week. I wonder if it will work with out it....I somehow doubt it as the ground flax acts like egg as a binding agent. :S

Thanks again for posting the recipe. I really want to make them as you posted them and now as a savory. :)

 

TGB 

rainbowbrown's picture
rainbowbrown

Those are interesting ideas.  I hope you try it out and let us know.  As for the flax seeds go I imagine you could substitute them with something else, perhaps nuts which might go well with your idea to take out the vegetable oil because of their higher oil content.

 And that reminds me, don't toast any of the seeds (or nuts) before hand as they will toast up plenty when being baked because of the thin dough.

bakerb's picture
bakerb

Hi, TGB...I'd be interested to see your variations for a savory cracker...please keep us posted...thanks! 

Beth