Looking back, I can’t believe we got this far without this recipe. I humbly present …
AMISH FRIENDSHIP BREAD CRACKERS!
This recipe is super simple and let’s you make a ton of crackers in any shape you want. This recipe is for an herb and sea salt cracker, but here are other variations you can try (you may need to tweak it to get the balance of add-ins you prefer):
- Rosemary and Olive Oil Crackers: replace the butter with olive oil, replace the mixed herbs with chopped dried rosemary
- Cheddar Cheese Crackers: replace 1 tablespoon butter with 1 tablespoon cream cheese (softened), replace dried herbs with ½ cup cheddar cheese (grated) and 1 tablespoon chives
- Sesame Crackers: replace dried herbs with a mixture of black and white sesame seeds, replace butter with sesame oil or vegetable oil
- Parmesan Garlic Crackers: add ½ cup parmesan cheese, eliminate butter, add 2 tablespoons olive oil, reduce dried herbs to 1 tablespoon, replace salt with garlic salt
- Graham Crackers: replace dried herbs with 1 tablespoon cinnamon and 1 tablespoon sugar, replace butter with a equal mixture of vegetable oil and honey, top with cinnamon sugar
- Animal Crackers: replace dried herbs with 2 tablespoons sugar and ½ teaspoon vanilla extract. Reduce salt to ¼ teaspoon. Instead of topping with olive oil and sea salt, make a drizzle with 1 cup confectioners’ sugar and 5 drops of red food coloring to form a thick pink icing. Top with rainbow sprinkles
This is a one-bowl recipe (you know I’m a fan of that). Throw everything into a mixing bowl (if you have a stand mixer or a bread machine, let that do the work) until a dough ball is formed.
Divide the dough ball into two parts and shape into rectangular slabs. Roll them out to a 1/16″ thickness. If you have no idea what this is, just roll it until it’s thin but not paper thin–you want it to hold its shape and not rip or burn too quickly in the oven.
If you are making square or rectangular crackers, trim the ends of the dough to form a rectangle. Then measure columns and rows to the size you’d like your crackers. I did 1¼”. Use a pizza cutter and a clean ruler to help you cut straight lines.
If you have kids, have them help. This is a super rewarding recipe and they’re ecstatic when it comes out of the oven.
If you feel like symmetrical crackers are too boring, use mini cookie cutters of your choice (you won’t need to trim the dough to a rectangle). This is great for kids and adults who like a little whimsy with their Amish Friendship Bread crackers!
Next, brush the tops with olive oil and sprinkle with coarse sea salt. Prick each cracker with the tines of a fork.
Bake for 20 minutes or until the crackers start to brown around the edges. The darker they are, the more crispy they will be, but you want to be careful not to burn them. Keep an eagle eye on your oven and remove before they get too dark.
Transfer parchment paper to a cooling rack. It’ll crisp up as it cools.
Serve with your favorite dip or spread. ENJOY!
Amish Friendship Bread Crackers
Ingredients
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients until a dough ball is formed.
- Divide the dough in half and shape each into a rectangle. Cover with plastic wrap and place in refrigerator until dough is firm, about 2 hours.
- Preheat over to 400° F (205° C).
- Flour a sheet of parchment paper and roll out one of the rectangular dough slabs to a thickness of 1/16″. Thin but not paper thin (paper thin will burn too easily).
- Trim off the edges to create a rectangle. Divide the dough into columns and rows to form 1¼” squares. Use a ruler to help, and cut with a pizza wheel. You can also use cookie cutters in any shape you’d like.
- Prick the tops of each square with a fork.
- Transfer dough on parchment paper to baking sheet.
- Brush the top of the dough with olive oil and sprinkle with coarse sea salt.
- Bake for 20 minutes or until crackers start to brown around the edges. The darker they are, the more crispy they will be, but you want to be careful not to burn them.
- Transfer parchment paper to a cooling rack.
- ENJOY!
Notes
- Rosemary and Olive Oil Crackers: replace the butter with olive oil, replace the mixed herbs with chopped dried rosemary
- Cheddar Cheese Crackers: replace 1 tablespoon butter with 1 tablespoon cream cheese (softened), replace dried herbs with ½ cup cheddar cheese (grated) and 1 tablespoon chives
- Sesame Crackers: replace dried herbs with a mixture of black and white sesame seeds, replace butter with sesame oil or vegetable oil
- Parmesan Garlic Crackers: add ½ cup parmesan cheese, eliminate butter, add 2 tablespoons olive oil, reduce dried herbs to 1 tablespoon, replace salt with garlic salt
- Graham Crackers: replace dried herbs with 1 tablespoon cinnamon and 1 tablespoon sugar, replace butter with a equal mixture of vegetable oil and honey, top with cinnamon sugar
- Animal Crackers: replace dried herbs with 2 tablespoons sugar and ½ teaspoon vanilla extract. Reduce salt to ¼ teaspoon. Instead of topping with olive oil and sea salt, make a drizzle with 1 cup confectioners’ sugar and 5 drops of red food coloring to form a thick pink icing. Top with rainbow sprinkles
>> Have you tried this? Share your best pic with us or leave a comment below and let us know how it worked for you!
Can the dough be made the night before? I’m on Day 10 of my AFB starter but I don’t have time today to bake. I really don’t want this to go to waste