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Traditional Soda Crackers

Reggie Dwork <reggie@jeff-and-reggie.com>
Sun, 16 Aug 2020 22:33:46 -0700
v120.n031.5
* Exported from MasterCook *

                         Crackers, Traditional Soda

Recipe By     :
Serving Size  : 10    Preparation Time :0:00
Categories    : Bread-Bakers Mailing List       Crackers/Crisps/Pretzels
                 Low Fat                         Posted

   Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
   1 1/2           cups  Unbleached All-Purpose Flour -- (177g)
   2          teaspoons  instant yeast
      1/4      teaspoon  salt
      1/4      teaspoon  baking soda
      1/4      teaspoon  cream of tartar
      2/3           cup  hot water -- (120F to 130F), (156g)
      1/2      teaspoon  barley malt syrup -- or 1 teaspoon sugar
   2        tablespoons  vegetable shortening -- (21g)
                         sea salt -- caraway, sesame, poppy or other 
seeds, for topping, optional
   2        tablespoons  butter -- melted, optional, (28g)

Crackers and milk. Crackers and soup. Cheese and crackers. Crackers 
and peanut butter. We may not give much thought to these crisp, 
bite-sized bits of baked dough we eat in so many different guises, 
but they truly are a staple of every nibbler's pantry.

While it's easy enough to go to the store and buy crackers, it's 
really quite simple to make your own. The dough gains flavor by 
resting overnight, so it's a long process, but not really very 
involved. The basic dough can be augmented with herbs or spices, 
sprinkled with seeds, or brushed with butter as you make your own 
customized crackers.

This recipe makes lots of crackers - enough to fill two half-sheet 
(13" x 18") pans.

PREP: 30 mins
BAKE: 10 to 20 mins
TOTAL: 9 hrs
YIELD: two 13" x 18" pans worth; size varies

In a large mixing bowl, combine 1 cup flour, yeast, salt, baking soda 
and cream of tartar. Stir in hot water, malt extract (or sugar) and 
shortening. Mix well to combine.

Add remaining 1/2 cup flour to form a workable dough. Transfer the 
dough to lightly floured work surface and knead until soft and 
elastic - about 5 minutes by hand, 3 to 4 minutes in an electric 
mixer equipped with dough hook, or 30 seconds in a food processor.

Form the dough into ball and place in a large, clean, well-greased 
bowl, turning to coat all sides. Cover with plastic wrap and 
refrigerate overnight or up to 18 hours (the longer the better).

Preheat the oven to 425F. Lightly grease (or line with parchment) 
several baking sheets.

Deflate the dough and transfer to a lightly floured work surface. Use 
a rolling pin to roll the dough into a large rectangle about 1/16" 
thick. If the dough seems too elastic and fights being rolled thin, 
let it rest for 5 minutes, then roll again.

Fold the dough in from the short ends to make three layers (like 
folding a letter). Roll out again, no more than 1/16" thick. Make 
sure surface under dough is well-floured to prevent sticking.

Prick the dough all over with a fork. Cut into squares, circles, or 
whatever shape you'd like. A rolling pizza cutter and yardstick makes 
short work of this part.

Transfer the crackers to the baking sheets; don't allow them to touch 
one another, but you don't have to leave much room between one 
cracker and the next, either.

Sprinkle crackers lightly with salt, and seeds (sesame, poppy, 
caraway...) if desired. Press salt/seeds lightly into dough with your fingers.

Bake the crackers for 10 to 20 minutes, depending on the thickness of 
the crackers. Crackers will be lightly browned.

Remove crackers from oven and brush with melted butter. Remove from 
baking sheet and allow to cool completely on a wire rack.

Store in an airtight container for several weeks.

Source:
   "Bernard Clayton's New Complete Book of Bread"
S(Internet address):
   https://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/traditional-soda-crackers-recipe
                                     - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 115 Calories; 5g Fat (40.1% 
calories from fat); 2g Protein; 15g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; 
6mg Cholesterol; 109mg Sodium.  Exchanges: 1 Grain(Starch); 0 Lean 
Meat; 0 Fruit; 1 Fat; 0 Other Carbohydrates.

NOTES : 2019 - 0819