Cheese and charcuterie boards are all the rage on social media with their intricately placed specialty cheeses, nuts, fruit and crackers. However, what these cheese boards are missing are my homemade crackers. Unlike those store bought crackers, my homemade crackers are packed with flavor, crunch and nutritional ingredients.

What would my cheese board look like?

If you plan to make a cheese board for upcoming celebrations, a fun weekend activity, or just a weeknight dinner, here are some tips:

1. Prep and bake the homemade crackers (recipe steps below)
2. Choose 3-4 cheeses. Chevre, sharp cheddar, brie, gruyere and smoked gouda all pair well with the homemade crackers.
3. Choose some 1 or 2 types of fruit to include. Grapes, apples or pomegranate seeds are all great options!
4. Choose 2 additional types of crackers for a total of 3 types of crackers including the homemade crackers. I recommend a whole wheat buttery cracker and a whole wheat pita chip.
5. Choose 1 type of nut, my go-to to include are walnuts, however, pistachios, cashews and almonds are great too!

Then, using a wooden board or designated cheese board, place each of these ingredients in a design of your liking!

Other serving options

Not only can these homemade crackers be used on the party pleasing cheese board, but they are great to have around as a snack paired with hummus and salsa. Or, who are we kidding, they’re absolutely delicious on their own. These homemade crackers are the perfect snack to curb that salty food craving. 

Making the homemade crackers

Okay, so you must be wondering how to make the star of the show – these delicious homemade crackers. Let’s get to it!

To start, preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Grab your food processor, a small bowl, a whisk, measuring cups and spoons, a dish towel and baking sheets lined with parchment paper. In the food processor, add the flour and spices and pulse. In the small bowl, whisk the oil, water and honey together. Then, with the food processor on a low speed, slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients until a dough forms.

Once the dough is formed, split the dough in half, and cover it with a dish towel. Let the dough rest for 10 to 15 minutes. After the dough has rested, dust a flat surface with flour, and begin to roll out the dough. Aim to roll the dough out to ¼ inch thickness. From there, you can cut the dough into squares or use small cookie cutters to get your desired shape. Once cut, place the dough onto the baking sheets and bake for 15 minutes, flipping halfway through. As always keep an eye on the crackers as they bake, as time may vary depending on your oven. 

Finally, let the homemade crackers cool, then serve! Leftovers can be kept in an airtight container with the lid slightly ajar.

Health benefits of the homemade crackers

These homemade crackers are bursting with nutritional benefits. Their main ingredient, whole wheat flour, is where most of the nutritional benefits come from. 

Whole wheat versus whole grain

Whole wheat is a type of whole grain, but the term “whole grain” encompasses more than just wheat. Other whole grains include rice, barley, farro, and oats. However, when the term “whole” is used to describe wheat or a grain, it means that the bran, germ and endosperm are fully intact.1 Alternatively, when you hear the term “refined grain,” there have been alterations to the grain, resulting in the removal of some of the grain kernel.2 Refined grains are products like white flour, white bread and white rice. 

What the whole grains contain are vitamins, protein and fiber.1 The vitamins found in whole grains are B vitamins, which are needed for energy metabolism, or in other words, help the body access energy from the food we consume.3 

Whole grains also contain protein.1 Protein is one of the three main macronutrients, which means it is necessary that we consume it. This also means that protein helps the body with a variety of different processes. These processes include wound healing, and metabolism.4

The last, and equally as important, nutrient found in whole grains is fiber.1 Fiber is an indigestible carbohydrate found in plant foods.5 It has been shown to reduce heart disease risk, as well as the risk of developing diabetes.5 Additionally, fiber assists in promoting gastrointestinal health, and lowering “bad” cholesterol.5 Current recommendations for fiber are 28 to 35 grams per day.6 So, whenever faced with grains, always choose the whole grain option (alongside veggies and fruits – also fiber-containing)!

Similar pages

If you loved these homemade crackers, check out some other snack recipes such as my Air Fryer Pizza Rolls, my Roasted Red Pepper Hummus, and my Cheese Crisps!

Resources

1. What is a whole grain?. The Whole Grains Council. https://wholegrainscouncil.org/what-whole-grain. Accessed December 5, 2020.
2. What’s a whole grain? A refined grain?. The Whole Grains Council. https://wholegrainscouncil.org/whole-grains-101/whats-whole-grain-refined-grain. Accessed December 5, 2020.
3. B vitamins. The Nutrition Source. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/vitamins/vitamin-b/. Published August 11, 2020. Accessed December 5, 2020.
4. Van De Walle G. 9 important functions of protein in your body. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/functions-of-protein#TOC_TITLE_HDR_11. Published June 20, 2018. Accessed December 5, 2020.
5. Newman T. Dietary fiber: Why do we need it? Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/146935. Accessed December 5, 2020.
6. Larson H. Easy Ways to Boost Fiber in Your Daily Diet. EatRight. https://www.eatright.org/food/vitamins-and-supplements/types-of-vitamins-and-nutrients/easy-ways-to-boost-fiber-in-your-daily-diet. Published November 19, 2019. Accessed December 5, 2020.

Homemade crackers

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Course: Appetizer, bread, Snack

Keyword: crackers

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes

Resting time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes minutes

Servings: 10 servings

Author: Chef Abbie Gellman RD

Ingredients

• 2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne
• 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/8 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
• ½ cup water
• 1 tablespoon honey

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• In a food processor, pulse flour, cayenne, garlic powder, onion powder, pepper, and salt.
• In a small bowl, whisk together oil, water, and honey.
• Turn on food processor and slowly drizzle in oil mixture until a ball of dough forms.
• Remove the dough and split into two balls. Cover with a towel and allow to sit for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Lightly flour the counter and, using a rolling pin, roll out a thin oval or rectangle. The thinner you roll out the dough, the crispier the cracker! Each ball should roll out to roughly 10-12 inches by 12-14 inches. Transfer the dough rectangle to a baking sheet and cut into crackers using a pizza cutter or a sharp knife. You can make squares, rectangles, or triangles.
• Repeat with second ball of dough.
• Place baking sheets in the oven and cook for 15-16 minutes, rotating halfway through, until golden brown.
• Allow to cool then serve or store in a container for 1 week. Leave the top loose or slightly off to maintain crispiness.

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