Homemade wheat thins. I jumped at the idea of re-creating them at home. They are thin, crisp, salty, wheaty, and everything you'd want in a homemade cracker. Simply irresistible.
I don't know if I ever mentioned that I lived in Mountain View, CA for two years when I was a teenager. Went to school and everything.
Those two years led me to a string of food awakenings: wheat thins, along with fig newtons and Golden Grahams cereal.
Years later, they're probably my favorite crackers in the world. Highly, highly irresistible, and one of those things I'm happy not to be able to buy here as I can down the whole box in a couple of days.
But then this homemade version came along. And with it went my willpower.
The idea of making these homemade salty crackers had been floating in my mind.
And an adaptation of a sesame cracker I did led me to this recipe today.
I can even say I rolled them too thin and hopelessly burned my first batch. The second was almost burned.
The third time's a charm, they say and it was true.
I lowered the oven a bit and watched them like a hawk. Waited for the 5 to 7 minutes they took to bake in front of the oven door.
Just so that you understand, if you decide to make these, don't suddenly decide to go find a scarf you misplaced or answer an e-mail that's been sitting in your inbox for an hour as you put these crackers in the oven.
Just a warning. He who warns is not a traitor.
These homemade wheat thins together with the eggplant hummus is a flavor wonder.
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Homemade Wheat Thins Crackers
Homemade wheat thins. I jumped at the idea of re-creating them at home. They are thin, crisp, salty, wheaty, and everything you'd want in a homemade cracker. Simply irresistible.
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cups whole wheat flour, finely ground
- 1 ½ tablespoons sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt, plus additional for topping
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold
- ¼ cup cold water
Instructions
- Combine the flour, sugar, salt, paprika and butter in a large mixing bowl.
- Using a pastry blender or your fingertips, work the butter into the dry ingredients until it resembles coarse cornmeal.
- Add the cold water, and stir with a wooden spoon or spatula until combined.
- Transfer to the counter and knead a few times until it comes together. Don't overdo it.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F/200°C.
- Lightly grease baking sheets or line them with parchment paper.
- Roll the dough (half at a time for easier handling) into a very thin rectangle on a well-floured counter. They really need to be rolled thin so they bake crisp. Check frequently to make sure the dough isn’t sticking. If it is, gently scrape a spatula underneath to lift it, then flour the counter again.
- Using a pastry wheel or large kitchen knife, cut squares of about 1 ½ inches. You can make indentations in the crackers with the end of a brochette stick or something similar to resemble store-bought ones. This is optional and will not alter the flavor, but it will make them flatter when they bake.
- Transfer crackers to baking sheets. They don’t spread much so no need to space them a lot.
- Sprinkle with additional kosher salt if you’d like to mimic the salty exteriors of commercial crackers.
- Bake the crackers until crisp and bronzed, about 5 to 7 minutes, always keeping an eye on them as they are thin and can brown quickly.
- Cool on wire racks.
- Store in an airtight container for about a week or more. Or freeze them in an airtight container between sheets of waxed or freezer paper for a month.
Guyla says
Oh Paula, your homemade crackers look delicious! And now I'm sorry I didn't add red peppers to my hummus. Guess I'll have to make it again. I can't even imagine your experience as a teenager in school in a foreign country. Hope your weekend has been a good one.
Laura says
Growing up I didn't like Wheat Thins. Then I tried them with cheese. Oh my. Yours look fantastic!
Cher Rockwell says
Wow, I can't even imagine what school must have been like during those two years. Kathy is right - your English is impeccable!
Love the homemade crackers 🙂
yummychunklet says
Ooh, I like the look of the crackers. Tasty!
Guru Uru says
Your crackers look absolutely perfect with the hummus my friend, great job 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Marissa | Pinch & Swirl says
I bookmarked that Smitten Kitchen post too - I love Wheat Thins, but don't like the ingredient label much. 🙂 Yours turned out beautifully.
wp_vknotes_admin says
They're so easy Marissa, do try them.
Cathleen says
I need to give hummus a try as well as these crackers. They are a favorite of ours as well - we have gone through many, many boxes in the past. Your crackers look absolutely perfect!!
Matt mmWine Horbund says
I have still never made Hummus - but i like the idea. I think I'd add sun dried tomatoes and garlic!!
Carol | a cup of mascarpone says
Paula, adored this post reading you talk about coming to school here in the US. I love getting to know people through their lovely stories of themselves! What a wonderful experience for you! You are so lucky to be fluent in two languages. I love these crackers and the hummus! Red Pepper Hummus is my favorite, and I can't wait to try the wheat thins! Have a great weekend!
Kathy says
Paula, I always suspected you had an English education….your English is impeccable! Spending 2 years as a teenager in a foreign country had to be hard! At the same time, I’m sure it was a wonderful experience to live in another country and observe another culture. I have always wanted to do that!
Your crackers look so perfect…and so delicious! I often add roasted red peppers to my hummus. So very good! Have a wonderful weekend!