Alright, so I was in the mood for some crackers the other day, and I wanted to try making my own. I figured, why not go with whole wheat saltine crackers? Sounds healthy and tasty, right? I started by searching for some brands just to get an idea. I saw names like Nabisco’s Premium Saltine, Keebler’s Zesta, and even Walmart’s Great Value brand. There were others too, like Signature Kitchen and Kroger.
But I was determined to make my own. I looked up a bunch of recipes online, and they all seemed pretty similar. I gathered my ingredients: whole wheat flour, some yeast, a bit of sugar, salt, butter, and water. Simple stuff, really.
First, I mixed the yeast, sugar, and warm water in a big bowl. I let that sit for a few minutes until it got all bubbly. Then, I added the flour and salt. I kneaded the dough for a good while until it was smooth and not too sticky. After that, I let the dough rest, covered, for about an hour. It didn’t rise much, which I expected since it’s a cracker dough.
Next, I preheated my oven and got to work rolling out the dough. I aimed for a really thin sheet, like, paper-thin. I used a rolling pin, and it took some elbow grease, let me tell you. Once it was thin enough, I brushed it with melted butter and sprinkled some coarse salt on top.
Making the Cracker Shapes
- I used a pizza cutter to slice the dough into little squares.
- Then I poked holes in each square with a fork.
- I did not want them to puff up too much in the oven.
I placed them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and popped them in the oven. They baked for about 15 minutes, I kept a close eye on them to make sure they didn’t burn. They turned a nice golden brown. I let them cool completely on a wire rack, It was so satisfying to see them come out all crispy.
Honestly, they turned out pretty good for a first try! They were crispy, had a nice whole wheat flavor, and the salt on top was just right. They weren’t exactly like the store-bought ones, but I liked that they were a bit heartier. Plus, I knew exactly what went into them. I’d say it was a fun little baking experiment. I might try tweaking the recipe next time, maybe add some herbs or spices. Overall, I was happy with my homemade whole wheat saltine crackers, I felt a real sense of accomplishment.
