Every so often, I’ll go through a phase where I want to subsist on nothing but my favorite vegan cheese and crackers. This week has brought on one of those phases. I love a plain sea salt cracker that can stand on its own in terms of flavor, but also does not compete with whatever I am dipping into. That’s where these homemade whole wheat crackers come in. One day a few weeks ago when I was really crawling up my house’s walls, I was desperate for cheese and crackers but not quite desperate enough to brave the grocery store. Using what I already had in my cabinets, these crackers were the solution.
Sometimes I am able to tell myself that the world will go back to normal soon. I can get up and I can shower and function like a relatively normal human. Then there are these weeks. The weeks where waking up feels more of a chore than anything else and there is not enough caffein in the world. I think to myself, maybe you can go out for a little while– you are crawling the walls, but then it rains and rains and rains so I stay stuck inside.
These, my friends, are the crackers and cheese weeks.
Why Make Your Own Whole Wheat Crackers?
- They store really well. You’re probably thinking, but Mel, if you are feeling down and out this week how on EARTH do you have the energy to make your own crackers?
Honestly? I don’t. But I had the energy to make them a week ago! When stored in an airtight container, these whole wheat crackers will keep for up to two weeks. Make them know for when you don’t want to make them later. - They require minimal ingredients. These crackers only use four basic ingredients: flour, salt, water, and olive oil. I do a mix of white whole wheat and all-purpose flour, but you can use all of one or the other if you prefer.
- They are easily customizable. If you want to get crazy and jazz up the flavors, you can add any other seasonings you like. Personally, I prefer my crackers plain so they do not compete with any cheese I’m eating (this line of soft cheese has been my most recent favorite.) But you do you.
- They go with everything. You know the joke about how soup isn’t a meal unless you crumble some crackers into it? Try these crackers with one of my other recipes:
Creamy Tomato Basil Soup
The Ultimate Vegan Chili
Simple Whole Wheat Crackers with Flaky Sea Salt
Equipment
- Stand Mixer with dough hook attachment
- Half sheet baking pan
- Parchment paper
Ingredients
- 175 grams all-purpose flour (~1.5 cups)
- 175 grams white whole wheat flour (~1.5 cups)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 70 grams olive oil extra virgin
- 225 grams water (~1 cup)
- ½ teaspoon flaky sea salt optional, for sprinkling
Instructions
- In the bowl of the stand mixer fitted with a dough hook attachment, whisk both kinds of flour and kosher salt together with a fork. Add the olive oil and turn on the mixer, set to medium speed.
- As the dough begins to mix, slowly add in the water and knead until the dough form a cohesive ball, approximately 5-7 minutes. It should not become too sticky, so you might not need to add the entire cup of water.
- Once the dough has finished kneading, divide the dough into several smaller balls (they do not need to be even), and let rest for 30 minutes. This will give the gluten strands an opportunity to relax and make the dough easier to roll out.
- Preheat the oven to 450°
- Working with one dough ball at a time, roll the dough on a well floured surface until it is less than 1/4" thick. I continued to roll until it was as thin as I could get it without it breaking or splitting.
- Using a sharp knife, cut the rolled dough into individual crackers. Cut them relatively even to ensure even and consistent baking, but do not worry about making them absolutely identical or neat.
- Transfer the crackers to a parchment lined making sheet and poke each cracker several times with a fork to help prevent the crackers from bubbling during baking.
- If using, sprinkle the crackers with as much flaky sea salt as you desire. Gently pat the salt into the surface of the crackers with your fingertips to make sure some of it sticks.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes, until the crackers turn golden brown around the edges.
What are your favorite comfort snacks? Favorite go-to stress foods? Let me know the comments!
And I truly hope you all are staying safe and well, and filling your bellies with the foods that also fill up your hearts.
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