Print

Homemade Gourmet Crackers Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 101 reviews

This recipe for Homemade Gourmet Crackers combines wholesome ingredients like whole wheat flour, rolled oats, dried cranberries, and a blend of warm spices to create a crunchy, flavorful snack. Baked twice—first as a loaf and then sliced thin and baked again—the result is perfectly crisp crackers ideal for pairing with creamy cheeses such as brie, camembert, or soft blue cheeses. These crackers store well for weeks and offer a delicious homemade alternative to store-bought varieties.

Ingredients

Scale

Wet Ingredients

  • 1 cup / 250 ml milk (any fat % cow’s milk)
  • ¼ cup / 50 g brown sugar, packed
  • ¼ cup plain unsweetened yoghurt (Greek yoghurt recommended)

Dry Ingredients

  • ½ cup / 75 g plain flour (all purpose)
  • ½ cup / 75 g whole wheat / wholemeal flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda or 3 tsp baking powder
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 1/8 tsp black pepper

Add-ins and Spices

  • ½ cup dried cranberries (or other dried fruit of choice)
  • ½ cup rolled oats (or 1/3 cup more nuts of choice)
  • ¼ cup sunflower seeds (or other seeds or nuts of choice)
  • ½ tsp ground turmeric (optional)
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp nutmeg (or allspice or 1/8 tsp cloves)
  • ¼ tsp dried thyme
  • 1 tsp dried rosemary (or ½ tsp more thyme)

Instructions

  1. Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F). Grease and line a small loaf tin measuring approximately 21 x 11 x 7 cm (8.5 x 4.5 x 3 inches) with baking paper to prevent sticking.
  2. Mix Wet Ingredients: In a bowl, whisk together the milk, brown sugar, and plain unsweetened yoghurt until smooth and combined.
  3. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate large bowl, stir together the plain flour, wholemeal flour, and dried cranberries. Use your fingers if needed to break up any cranberry clusters.
  4. Add Remaining Ingredients: To the flour mixture, add rolled oats, sunflower seeds, baking soda (or baking powder), spices including turmeric, cinnamon, nutmeg, thyme, rosemary, salt, and black pepper. Pour in the milk mixture and stir to form a thick batter similar to muffin batter consistency.
  5. Bake the Loaf: Scrape the batter into the prepared loaf tin and smooth the surface. Bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
  6. Cool and Freeze: Remove the loaf from the oven and allow it to cool completely on a wire rack. Once cool, wrap the loaf tightly in cling wrap and freeze for at least 2 hours or up to 3 months.
  7. Prepare for Slicing: When ready to make crackers, unwrap the loaf and let it thaw partially for about 20 minutes so it is not rock hard on the outside.
  8. Preheat Oven for Drying: Preheat oven to 120°C (250°F). Position one oven rack in the middle and another underneath it.
  9. Slice and Arrange: Using a serrated bread knife, slice the loaf into thin pieces approximately 2 mm (1/12 inch) thick. Arrange the slices closely but not overlapping on two large baking trays as the crackers will not expand or stick together.
  10. Second Bake to Crisp: Bake the slices for 50 minutes, turning the trays halfway through baking to ensure even crisping and a light brown color.
  11. Cool Completely: Leave the baked crackers on the trays to cool fully. They will harden as they cool, resulting in a firm, snap-able texture.
  12. Store and Serve: Store the crackers in an airtight container for up to 4 weeks. These gourmet crackers pair beautifully with creamy cheeses like brie, camembert, and soft blue cheeses, making them perfect for an elegant snack or appetizer.

Notes

  • Use any fat percentage milk according to preference; whole milk adds richness.
  • Freezing the loaf before slicing helps achieve thin, manageable slices for crisp crackers.
  • The second baking at a low temperature ensures maximum crispness without burning.
  • The cracker thickness can be adjusted slightly but thinner slices will be crisper.
  • Flavor variations can be made by swapping dried cranberries with other dried fruits or changing the seeds and nuts.
  • Store crackers in an airtight container to maintain freshness and crunch.

Keywords: gourmet crackers, homemade crackers, crunchy snack, dried cranberry crackers, spiced crackers, healthy snack, easy baking recipe

Find it online: https://kitchenbyclara.com/homemade-gourmet-crackers-recipe/