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What if these crackers stole the show with their delightful, buttery, parmesan flavor and crisp seeded texture? Oh, and if they cost a fraction of the price of the fancy store-bought gourmet crackers? Wouldn't you feel like a smarty-darty? Maybe the hostess (host) with the mostest? How about "proud as punch"? I thought so, that's precisely why I created these yummy crackers! 🙂
Seriously, these are delicious and will go well with just about any cheese or spread that you choose to pair them with. I love serving them with a block of cream cheese smothered in my Pineapple Habenero Pepper Jelly. Shower it with pomegranate arils (seeds) and finely chopped cilantro, and you've got one of the prettiest appetizers you'll ever lay eyes on!
Have you noticed the price for a small box of gourmet crackers? Oh my, it's crazy when you think about the cost of the ingredients; mainly flour, seasonings and perhaps a bit of butter. When you make your own, you not only get to control the ingredients, but a whole batch will cost you a fraction of the price of just one small box of purchased crackers! Do you need any more reasons to fire up your mixer and get that rolling pin a-rollin'? I didn't think so.
Seeded Whole Grain Parmesan Crackers 
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons sesame seeds
2 tablespoons flax seeds
2 tablespoons nigella seeds, if unavailable, substitute poppy seeds or black sesame seeds
6 ounces butter, 1 ½ sticks
1 cup parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
⅔ cup whole wheat or multi-grain flour *
½ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
sesame seeds (for topping)
Instructions:
1. Combine butter, Parmesan, seeds and brown sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer. Mix on medium speed till smooth and fluffy, about two minutes.
2. Add the two flours, baking soda and salt and continue mixing until a soft dough forms. Don't give up if the mixture seems dry and crumbly at first.
3. Place dough on one half of a large piece of plastic wrap and form into a ball. Fold extra plastic wrap over dough and flatten the ball with the palm of your hand. With a rolling pin, roll plastic-covered dough into a larger, approximately 8-inch flat circle. Tuck extra plastic wrap under the flattened dough and place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
4. Preheat the oven to 350˚F and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
5. Dust a work surface generously with flour. Roll dough to a ⅓-1/2-inch thickness. Cut shapes with a cookie cutter and arrange them on the sheet pans, spaced about an inch apart. Sprinkle with extra sesame seeds and press the seeds down gently with fingers to adhere to each cracker. Scraps can be either baked as is, for fun irregular shaped crackers or re-rolled and cut with cutters. (For a pretty presentation, and also to allow for different size appetites, I like to use different sizes of the same shaped cutter.)
6. Bake for 12-14 minutes or until golden brown. Transfer to a cooling rack and allow to cool completely before storing or serving, Can be stored in an airtight container for several days or frozen indefinitely.
Notes:
* ~ If you don't have whole wheat flour, you can use all regular (all-purpose flour). Just omit the whole wheat/ multigrain flour and use a total of 1⅔ cups of the all-purpose flour.
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Your crackers look like perfection Chris! They are perfect for entertaining and that lovely jam as well! And I am going to have to pick up some of those nigella seeds, lovely!
France, it's 1 cup all-purpose flour plus 2/3 cup whole wheat OR 1 2/3 cup all-purpose. Sorry for the confusion.
I love homemade crackers. I want to give these a go. I just wanted to make sure that I read the recipe right. Use 2/3 cup of whole wheat flour (or 1 2/3 of all purpose)? THese will be perfect for our guests this week.
Your parmesan crackers look so pretty and I loved how you served them. Just a note that I'm still not getting emails for your new posts. Hopefully it is just a glitch.
chris, i will be so happy if these crackers are on my table now! These look fantastic and the sound cheese in crackers ..just soooo good!
I need to start making my own crackers. I'm now wanting my own Nigella seeds. Actually, I just want a plate of yours-these look lovely:)
I never make my own crackers, which is silly because I if I do I can avoid all sorts of ingredients I'd really rather now ingest. I love Parmesan, and your toppings sound so good. Such a great cracker! Thanks so much.
Cheese, crackers and fresh fruit and I won't ask for anything else (well maybe for some chocolate).
It's one of my favorite late night snacks and the perfect party-pleaser.
Beautiful Chris, love them!
What gorgeous crackers. I have tried making a couple crackers at home, and they are amazingly easy. These look wonderful for any holiday party!
Now I want to find Nigella seeds! Love these crackers. I will take that whole delicious set-up you have there and enjoy it all by myself-with maybe a glass of wine;)
These look outstanding, Chris. I'd be embarrassed by how many I could eat in one sitting!!! YUM!
Nothing better than a homemade cracker. Savory and delicious! Love it with your pepper jelly. Happy Holiday!!
Purchased savory crackers are so expensive and I love your recipe to make them at home. They are so pretty on a holiday cheese tray and the sprinkle of seeds makes them extra special.
You are right about nigella seeds, these are a little bit oniony! Love your crackers, looks perfect... Think I'm gonna prepare these for Christmas!
I have just the party
to bring these to!
Imagine anyone who
receives these as a
hostess gift is really
blessed by you, as
they sound amazing!
Off to pin these to my
Food Gifts board on
Pinterest! Thanks for
the inspiration....
xo Suzanne
Great, great, great idea! I want to try this for one of the holiday parties we''ll be going to in the next few weeks! Perfect hors d'oeuvres that will surely impress any discriminating guest!
I love homemade crackers. I've made a few but I love to collect new recipes. Yours sound wonderful and they look just perfect!
These look perfect! I've never made homemade crackers, but I'm saving this recipe. I saw a really nice seed topping mix in Marshall's tonight that I may have to go back and buy for these. 🙂
They look fabulous Chris, I love all kinds of "salty" crackers and these are actually good for you! Well done my friend, enjoy the holiday season!
These sound delicious! I've always thought about making my own crackers but I haven't done it yet. They'd be perfect for my book group.
Nothing compares to homemade crackers! They look delicious! (Yes, I would feel like a smarty-darty if I pulled off this recipe.) 😀
I love that you've made your own crackers. My MIL used to make crackers, but I've lost her recipe. Thanks because now I have yours.
I'll keep my eye out for Nigella seeds. They sound very interesting.
Sam
I can’t wait to try these. I have made so many horrible crackers. They sounded good, but turn out to be flat and flavorless. With your assurance I going to go for it.
I love these wholewheat cheese crackers! They are perfect for the holidays or everyday!
I would love to come to your house for homemade crackers and cheese-they look so perfect;-)
Never made homemade crackers, but they are on my list. Yours look AMAZING!!!
I love homemade crackers and I am itching to make these!!! I am going to look for those seeds too I love onion flavor on just about everything.
Savory snacks are what resonate the most with me. Forget the cookies and chocolate...just give me chips, crackers, or cheese.
I will definitely be making these. Thanks so much for sharing the recipe, as cracker recipes aren't generally readily included in cookbooks. Wonder why?
Sandra, I think the crackers would be just fine without the seeds, no adjustment necessary. I've actually made them this way and they're wonderful with just the butter and parmesan flavors coming through.
These sound right up my street. Yum Have a good weekend Diane
really delicious!!!
Oh, see, there you go. Cheese and crackers speak straight to my heart. Nope, I've never heard of nigella seeds before, but there's an Indian market right next to tae Kwon do so I'm going to seek them out.
I can see these in a pretty tin nestled on tissue and presented as a hostess gift. Would any adjustments have to be made if I left out the seeds? My granddaughter has a nut allergy and seeds sometimes cause a reaction.
You know I've been waiting on this one Chris - thank you thank you! I will make these ASAP!
I just never imagined making my own crackers and you make them seem so easy! I hope they are, because you've convinced me that they're -- along with jalapeno jelly -- my stash of Christmas gifts for all those occasions I forget about!
Hi Chris, your parmesan crackers look awesome. Soooo tempting, feel like grabbing a few pieces from the screen.LOL Nice to go with coffee, YUMMY!
Thanks for sharing the recipe. Excellent click. 🙂
Have a lovely week ahead,regards.
I love these crackers, Chris! So perfect to use for holiday appetizers!
Sounds perfect for Christmas Eve.
Fondly,
Glenda
ok... I'm here in few minutes ! ^-^
I have been waiting for this recipe!! I am making it this weekend! I am kind of a cracker addict, along with cookies!! I just finished the pepper jelly last night, so I guess I need to make more of that too!! Ohhhh, fun weekend!! Have a great one!
These look beautiful! Can't wait to try.