Learn how to make the best whole grain cracker from scratch, aka Spelt Crackers! These quick and easy vegan crackers are made with whole spelt flour, flax meal, protein-rich seeds, and applesauce. The dough doubles as flatbread, perfect for appetizers and snacks!
Baking crackers is almost as simple as grabbing a box from the store. With these easy-to-follow instructions, you can make homemade spelt crackers for all of your vegan snacking and appetizer needs.
This straightforward recipe makes dairy-free and egg-free crackers with a slight outer crisp and soft, chewy centers.
The dough can be cut into bite-sized crackers or flatbread.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- This spelt cracker recipe is perfect for beginners because it’s quick and easy to make.
- It’s egg-free, dairy-free, refined sugar-free, and 100% vegan.
- These homemade crackers make a great healthy snack and appetizer.
- It doubles as a vegan flatbread recipe.
- The recipe is easy to customize with fun flavors.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Flaxseed Meal & Whole Flax Seeds: The recipe calls for flaxseed meal AND whole flax seeds. Instead of buying both ingredients, you can grind a half cup of whole flax seeds into a flaxseed meal.
- Whole Spelt Flour: This whole grain flour is similar to whole wheat flour in flavor and texture but with more protein. It’s made from both the outer bran and the grain’s germ.
- Seeds: To make seeded spelt crackers, you’ll need sesame seeds and poppy seeds. You can also add chia seeds here.
- Salt: Sea salt helps strengthen the cracker dough and adds flavor.
- Applesauce: Unsweetened applesauce adds moisture and subtle sweetness, eliminating the need for heavy fats and added sugar.
How To Make Spelt Crackers
- Prepare for baking: Preheat your oven to 400F. Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside.
- Grind the flax seeds: Add the flax seeds to a grinder and grind into a flour-like consistency (skip this step if you’re using a flaxseed meal).
- Whisk the dry ingredients: Whisk the ground flax seeds, spelt flour, whole flax seeds, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, and salt together in a large bowl.
- Add the applesauce: Add the applesauce and mix until a sticky dough forms.
- Shape the dough: Transfer the dough to the middle of your prepared baking sheet and flatten it a bit with your hands. Then, place another sheet of parchment paper on top. Use a rolling pin and roll the dough into a 1/8″ thick rectangle. Discard the top sheet of parchment paper and cut the dough into squares.
- Bake: Transfer to the oven and bake for 20 minutes.
- Cool and store: Let the crackers cool for about 10 minutes on the baking sheet before separating the squares and transferring them to a cooling rack. Keep the crackers in an airtight glass container in the fridge once they’ve cooled completely.
Recipe Tips
Make sure to roll the dough out as thin and evenly as possible.
The easiest way to cut the dough into squares is with a pizza cutter.
Keep an eye on your oven as baking times will differ from one oven to the next. The crackers should be firm to the touch and sturdy but tender all the way through.
It’s important to note that the texture of these spelt crackers is closer to flatbread rather than a crunchy cracker. If you’d like some crunch, sprinkle a layer of seeds over the top before baking (chia, flaxseed, pepitas, wild sunflower seeds, poppy seeds, etc.).
Variations
The simplicity of this dough leaves plenty of room for flavor. See below for ideas:
- Everything Crackers – Sprinkle a liberal amount of everything bagel seasoning over the top of the sheet of dough before baking. Feel free to mix some into the dough as well.
- Garlic & Herb Crackers – Whisk about 1-1/2 to 2 teaspoons of garlic powder and 1 to 2 tablespoons of fresh herbs into the dough.
- Rosemary & Sea Salt – Whisk 1 to 2 tablespoons of fresh rosemary into the dough. As soon as the crackers finish baking, sprinkle the tops with flaky sea salt.
Serving
These spelt crackers are perfect for your favorite dips, soups, and sauces. I like serving them with these dishes:
Storing & Freezing
- Storing: To maximize the freshness, refrigerate crackers in a glass container with a tight-fitting lid for up to a week.
- Freezing: You can also freeze your crackers in an airtight bag or container for up to 3 months—Thaw in the fridge before serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are spelt crackers gluten-free?
No. Spelt crackers contain spelt flour that is not gluten-free.
Is spelt or wheat better for you?
Nutritionally, the two are very similar, but spelt is considered an ancient grain with more protein and nutrients.
Can I substitute whole spelt flour for whole wheat flour?
I have only tested these crackers with whole spelt flour. However, the baking properties are similar enough that you should be able to use the two interchangeably.
More Spelt Flour Recipes You’ll Love:
- Spelt Flour Pancakes
- Healthy Raspberry Muffins
- Spelt Flour Oatmeal Cookies
- Spelt Flour Banana Bread
- Healthy Savoury Muffins
Healthy Spelt Crackers
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Ingredients
- ½ cup + 2 Tbsp flax seeds (or ¾ cup flaxseed meal and 2 Tbsp flax seeds)
- 1¼ cup whole spelt flour
- 2 Tbsp sesame seeds
- 2 Tbsp poppy seeds
- 1 tsp salt
- ¾ cup applesauce
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400F.
- Grind ½ cup of the flax seeds in a grinder. Skip this step if you are using flaxseed meal.
- Place the ground flax seeds, spelt flour, whole flax seeds, sesame seeds, poppy seeds and salt into a mixing bowl and mix to combine.
- Add the applesauce and mix until you get a sticky dough. You will have to knead the dough at the end to incorporate all the flour.
- Cover a baking sheet with a piece of parchment paper. Place the dough in the middle of the sheet and flatten it a bit with your hands. Then cover it with another piece of parchment paper and roll it into a rectangle about ⅛-inch thick.
- Remove the top piece of parchment and cut the dough into cracker or flatbread-sized pieces. (I cut them into 1.5-inch X 1.5-inch squares). A pizza cutter works great for this.
- Place the baking sheet into the oven and bake the crackers for 20 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and let the crackers cool on the baking sheet for about 10 minutes. Once the crackers are cool enough to handle, break them apart and transfer to a cooling rack.
- Keep the crackers in a sealed glass container.
The nutrition facts are an estimate. Variations in ingredient brands, portion sizes, or substitutions can affect the final nutritional values. For the most accurate information, please use a nutrition calculator or consult with a healthcare provider. Always ensure that each of the ingredients is allowed in your diet.
Meet Maria
Maria Ushakova is a holistic nutritionist and food blogger. She focuses on developing easy recipes using real food ingredients. She believes that healthy food is delicious and anyone can learn how to cook it. Maria’s work has appeared on numerous popular websites as well as in print.
