Homemade Artisan Crackers Recipes

HOW TO MAKE CRACKERS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 450ºF. Line two large sheet pans with parchment paper. In a large bowl, sift flour, sugar, and salt. If using any additions, add them at this time. Add fat and water to flour mixture. Mix until combined; the dough will be tacky. Flour a cool work surface. Divide dough in two. Roll the dough halves to rectangles 1/8 inch thick. Brush dough lightly with olive oil. Cut dough into desired cracker shapes using a sharp knife or biscuit cutter. Prick the crackers with a fork. Using a spatula or pastry scraper, transfer the crackers to the prepared sheet pans. Be careful not to crowd the crackers. Bake in the oven 12-15 minutes or until golden brown. If the crackers along the edges bake faster, transfer them to a cooling rack and allow the remaining crackers to bake. Transfer crackers to cooling rack. Crackers will crisp as they cool. Serve crackers immediately or store in an airtight container on the counter for up to a week.

COMMON CRACKERS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Put the crushed crackers in a bowl, add the oil and melted butter, and toss to coat the crackers with the fat. Spread on a baking sheet and bake until crisp and lightly browned, about 10 minutes.

HOMEMADE WHOLE GRAIN CRACKERS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees with the racks positioned in the middle and upper third. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Mix together the flour, sesame seeds and salt in a mixing bowl, in the bowl of a stand mixer, or in a food processor fitted with a steel blade. If using a mixing bowl, add the oil and cut in with a fork. If using a stand mixer, mix at medium speed. In a food processor, pulse until the mixture is crumbly. Add the water, and mix with your hands, or at medium speed in a mixer or in the food processor, until you can gather the dough into a ball.
• Lightly dust your work surface and roll out the dough, or roll out between pieces of parchment, plastic or wax paper. Cut into desired shapes -- squares, diamonds or cookie-cutter shapes -- and place on the baking sheet, close together but not touching.
• Bake 15 to 20 minutes until lightly browned, switching the sheet trays front to back and top to middle halfway through. Remove from the heat, and allow to cool on racks.

SIMPLE WHITE CRACKERS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In the bowl of a food processor, pulse flour, salt, and sugar until combined. Add butter pieces, and pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal. With the machine running, gradually add milk; process until dough comes together. Cover dough with plastic wrap, and allow to relax at room temperature for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Unwrap dough, and transfer it to a lightly floured surface. Roll into 17 1/2-by-17 1/2-inch square, 1/16 inch thick (if dough continues to spring back, allow to relax again, covered with plastic wrap, for another 10 minutes). Sprinkle dough lightly with coarse salt. Gently press salt into dough with the rolling pin.
• Using a knife or pizza cutter, cut dough into 2 1/2-inch squares. With a thin spatula, transfer to ungreased baking sheets. Liberally pierce with fork. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until lightly browned and crisp, rotating baking sheets if needed for even cooking. Let cool on wire rack. Keep crackers in an airtight container, at room temperature, about 1 week.

HOMEMADE CRISP CRACKERS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the first 7 ingredients; cut in butter until crumbly. Stir in cheese. Gradually add water and vinegar, tossing with a fork until dough forms a ball. Wrap securely in waxed paper and refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm., Divide into 6 portions. On a lightly floured surface, roll each portion into an 8-in. circle. Cut into 8 wedges and place on greased baking sheets., Bake at 375° for 17-20 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool on wire racks. Store in an airtight container.