Following a healthy diet isn’t easy in general, but it’s even more difficult when the holidays roll around. Some of us might be placed on a strict diet plan by the doctor, while others might be following certain preferences to enhance their lifestyle. They say that eating organic food as much as possible will do wonders for our health, so it’s no surprise that many people are going that way as well.
However, we can’t deny that following an organic diet all the time can be quite bothersome. Organic options aren’t available everywhere; even if they are, their prices are usually much higher than the regular, mainstream options. Even the basic items like crackers could be a challenge, but this doesn’t mean that we can’t make cracker-based snacks or charcuterie boards for our parties anymore. Regular crackers might contain a lot of processed ingredients and refined sugar, so sticking with homemade and organic options is the healthiest option.
What Are Organic Crackers?
Organic crackers are thin, crunchy biscuit-like snack items that are made with only read, whole food ingredients. This means that there are no preservatives, refined sugars, additives, artificial flavoring, or processed grains inside. Ideally, such crackers should have as few ingredients as possible. There may also be some healthy toppings or mix-ins, such as seeds, herbs, etc.
Whether it’s the holidays or any other special occasion, there’s always a way to whip up some organic snacks at home. If organic crackers are hard to find or you just prefer homemade options, here are some ways to make them at home:
1. Three-Ingredient Crackers
Organic homemade snack recipes don’t have to be complicated, but having just three ingredients will make things even simpler. You can add herbs or seeds to this recipe and make the perfect healthy snack for both adults and kids. Pair them with creamy dips, hummus, jam, cheese, etc.:
Ingredients:
- Whole grain flour
- Water
- Salt
Procedure:
The amounts of the ingredients will depend on how much dough you want to make. For instance, make two cups of flour and put in a pinch of salt. Then, add just enough water to make a dough.
Knead the dough until the consistency is correct–not too sticky, not too dry. Now, roll out the dough on the back of a large baking sheet. You can vary the thickness according to your preference. If you’re using the crackers as a base for party snacks, it’s best to keep them on the thick side.
After rolling it out, you’d score this dough using a knife and pick holes using a fork. Finally, bake the crackers on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Keep an eye on them to ensure that they don’t burn. The exact temperature and baking time will depend on the thickness of the crackers, so you’ll have to eyeball it until you get them just right.
2. Using a Food Processor
You can use a food processor for prepping your homemade organic crackers. This might be preferable for people who don’t want to eyeball their ingredients or want to skip the kneading part:
Time Required:
- Prepping: 15 minutes
- Cooking: 30 minutes
Yield:
Around 25 to 30 crackers.
Ingredients:
- Cooked brown rice: 1 cup
- Quinoa: 1 cup
- Sesame seeds: ¼ cup
- Flax seeds: ¼ cup
- Chia seeds: ¼ cup
- Salt: to taste
- Herbs: (dried sage, basil, oregano, thyme, or parsley) optional, one teaspoon
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
- Use a food processor to combine the rice and quinoa until they’re mushy
- Add the salt and seeds with a little water and pulse until the dough become a ball (the consistency will still be mushy)
- Roll out half of the ball on a parchment paper sheet (baking sheet sized). Put some plastic wrap between the dough and the rolling pin to prevent sticking
- Roll the dough as thin as you like
- Lift the parchment paper with the dough and transfer it on a baking sheet.
- Use the same process for the other half of the ball.
- Bake the crackers for 15 minutes, then flip them and let them bake for an additional 12 minutes
- When done, break the crackers into pieces (bite-sized or whatever you prefer)
- Bake again for the minutes or until the crackers are as crispy as desired.
3. Gluten Free Crackers
Many people might also look for gluten-free options when they make organic crackers. Fortunately, there are ways to make your crackers without using grains. Here’s one recipe that uses almond flour instead:
Time Required:
- Prepping: 15 minutes
- Cooking: 15 minutes
Yield:
60 crackers, around 1.5 inches each.
Ingredients:
- Almond flour: 1.5 cups
- Sesame seeds: Optional, half a cup
- Salt: ⅗ teaspoon
- Butter, olive oil, or any other kind of healthy, organic fat: 1 tablespoon
- Egg: 1 large
- Optional add-ins: dried herbs, cracked pepper, garlic powder, onion powder.
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
- Mix the almond flour, seeds, and salt in a bowl
- Add the fat (in liquid form) and the egg (after beating first)
- Mix until you get a dough consistency.
- Knead the dough and form it into a ball
- Roll this dough onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Achieve the desired thickness with your rolling pin
- Cut the unbaked dough into the shapes you like. A pizza cutter will be convenient for this purpose
- Bake the crackers for 13 to 15 minutes
- Remove when the crackers are light golden
After the cool, store the crackers in an airtight jar. They should last for around two weeks. You can also make some gluten-free snacks with these.
A Few Tips For Making Organic Crackers at Home
If you’re a beginner, it might help to get some tips on making organic snacks at home. Here are some guidelines that might help you get the best results for your homemade crackers:
- You might want to consume the crackers shortly after they come out of the oven. Keep in mind that the crunch might go away just two hours after they’re done. If you find this happening and want to retain the crunch, put the crackers in an airtight jar and let them be for a day or two.
- Whole-grain flour might make the best organic crackers, but you can also experiment with different types of flour. It might be best to combine a new flour with the wholegrain flour if you want to ensure a decent result.
- You can top the crackers with some additional ingredients before baking. One teaspoon of dried herbs will probably be enough for one baking sheet of crackers. Other flavors and topping ideas include rosemary, sea salt, oregano, chives, thyme, cumin seeds, and sesame seeds. Dried basil leaves, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and so on.
- When you’re rolling out the dough, get it to the thickness you want and then roll it out again. This will help to hold everything together better.
- The ideal thickness range for your cracker dough is from one-sixteenth of an inch to one-eighth of an inch.
- When you’re adjusting the flour and water measurements, only add a teaspoon or each at a time. The final result should have a stiff dough that easily rolls out instead of pouring onto a surface.
- Start with less water, as it’s always possible to add more.
Conclusion
Making organic snacks at home can be challenging at first, especially if you’re not really used to cooking or baking. You might mess up the first batch, but it’s best to keep on practicing. Once you get the hang of it, it’ll be fairly easy to whip up a lot of crackers for your parties, lunches, or just genre snacking. Look up some recipes to make organic homemade snacks for even more convenience while you’re following your healthy diet.