Veggie Snacks Recipe
At around 4PM every afternoon, I snack. I can’t help it! I’m an afternoon snacker, while my husband is a late-night snacker, and our kids are all day snackers (lol). Instead of reaching for potato chips, I grab some of these kale crackers, kale chips or spinach chips for a guilt free snack! Kale is one of the most nutritious vegetables in existence! It is loaded with antioxidants, brimming with Vitamin C and K, and is high in minerals like calcium, magnesium, and potassium. Now, imagine getting all these in the form of delicious, crunchy crackers! How amazing is that? They are easy to make using simple pantry staples like flour, eggs, sugar, salt, flaxseeds, and oil. And it is such a great way to use up an entire bunch of kale, especially when you have a lot of them growing in your garden or sitting in the refrigerator waiting to be used.
Ingredients Needed
No need to run to the nearest store to make these kale crackers! I bet most of the ingredients are in your pantry right now! Here’s when you need:
Kale- I used one bunch, which is approximately 7-8 oz. Remove the leaves from the stems and rip them again into small pieces. Olive oil- this will help make the kale easier to blend and process into a smooth puree. Flour- will make the dough base for the crackers. You can use plain or all-purpose flour for this recipe. Flax seeds– give the crackers a nice texture and multi-grain flavor while also boosting the health benefits as well. You can also use chia or sesame seeds. Salt and Sugar- to add flavor to the crackers. Egg- is used to bind all the ingredients together to form a sticky dough. Water- to thin out the flour mixture.
How to make Homemade Kale Crackers
Just blend and bake! Here’s how to do it: Make the Kale Puree. Tear the leaves off the stem and rip them into smaller pieces. Place the torn leaves into the food processor and pour the olive oil. Then process for about 15 seconds until you have a smooth puree.
Make the cracker dough. Add the flour, flax seeds, salt, sugar, egg, and water into the food processor and pulse for another 15 seconds or until a sticky dough forms. Flatten and shape. Place the dough on the prepared baking sheet sprinkled with a bit of flour. Dust the top with a bit more flour and place another layer of parchment paper on top. Then, flatten the dough out to about 1/4 inch thick using a rolling pin. Remove the parchment paper on top. Using the blunt end of a knife, gently cut halfway through the dough horizontally and vertically. This will help you break them into crackers easily once baked.
Bake. Sprinkle salt on top of the flattened dough and bake for 25-30 minutes. Check the crackers at 15 minutes and every 5 minutes after that until the surface turns dark brownish-green. Remove from the oven and let it cool for 15 minutes.
Break into pieces and eat!
Tips when Making Kale Crackers
Some flour absorbs liquid better than others, so if the dough is too dry, add some water to make it thinner. Make sure to roll the dough evenly as much as possible, so they bake uniformly. The baking time will depend on the size of the baking sheet you use, how thick your dough is, and the type of oven you are using. Start checking on the 15-minute mark and keep a close eye on them onwards. Do not remove the whole cracker from the baking sheet after baking. It will still be a bit pliant but will crisp up as it cools.
Amp Your Kale Crackers Up!
I like simple, salted snacks as much as the next person. But why settle for just one variation when there are multiple ways to enjoy these crackers, right? Here are some ways to better shake up your snack time!
Cheesify your crackers! Instead of sprinkling with salt, use parmesan cheese instead! You can also leave it as it is and serve your crackers with thin slices of your fave cheese instead. If you want some garlic action, you can add a clove or two with the kale leaves or use garlic powder instead. Add your fave herbs! You can use basil, rosemary, thyme, or any herb that you fancy! If you like your snacks a bit on the fiery side, a dash of chili powder or paprika will do the trick nicely! Serve them with your dip of choice like Mexican Cheese Dip, Onion Dip, or White Bean Lentil Dip!
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