Have you ever made your own crackers? Why, you might ask, when there are so many varieties at the grocery store? Because you get to decide what’s in them and besides, it’s fun!

If you’re trying to eat less processed food and you love crackers, this recipe is for you. Crackers aren’t hard to make at all. You mainly need flour, water, leavening (optional), and flavorings like herbs and spices. A little paprika or chili powder will spice up your cracker game. Seeds add flavor and texture; typical seeds for crackers include sesame, poppy, and caraway. You can even add a sprinkle of cheese, such as parmesan.

You roll out cracker dough like cookies. And, like cookies, you can cut crackers in different shapes—squares, triangles, circles, or whatever you like. The secret is to roll them out thin, so the crackers will be crisp, but don’t make them too small or they will burn.

Another option is to leave out the leavening. Omitting baking powder (or another leavening agent, like baking soda) will produce a flatter, crispier cracker. This method works well with our recipe, but feel free to keep the baking soda in. In fact, try it both ways and see which one you like better. In either case, store the crackers in an airtight container to retain their freshness and crunch.

These wholesome crackers taste great by themselves, but they’d pair deliciously with a healthy white bean dip, topped with low-fat cottage cheese and half a cherry tomato, or your favorite cheese. Serve them at your next drinks party or at family movie night, and not only will you hear compliments, but you’ll know you’re serving a healthful, nutritious snack.

Whole Wheat Sesame Crackers

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Customize these wholesome, delicious crackers with your favorite seed flavors. Then serve them to family or company—they’ll gobble them up!

• Author: Norann Oleson
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: Serves 4 (36 1 1/2-inch crackers) 1x
• Category: Appetizers

Ingredients

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• 1 cup whole wheat flour, plus more for kneading/rolling
• 1 1/2 teaspoons sesame seeds (or fennel, celery seed, caraway seeds, or a mix)
• 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt, such as sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder (optional)*
• 4 teaspoons olive oil
• 1/2 cup water

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Instructions

1. Set oven to 325 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment or a Silpat.
2. Combine flour, 1 teaspoon sesame seeds, salt, and baking powder in a medium bowl. (*Note:Omit the baking powder for a thinner, crispier cracker.)
3. Drizzle in the oil and combine with a rubber spatula until the mixture looks like small bits, with some dry flour remaining. Add about half the water and mix. Add more water, a little at a time, until the dough holds together.
4. On a lightly floured surface, knead dough for about 2 minutes until smooth. Roll out very thin: about a 1/4 inch. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 teaspoon seeds and a large pinch of salt. Gently press toppings into the surface. Cut into squares or rectangles with a sharp knife or pizza cutter. Transfer to baking sheet.
5. Bake 25 minutes until crisp.

Have you tried this recipe? It’s definitely worth the time taken to make these crackers—please tell us how they turned out for you.