Homemade Crackers

How to make Homemade Crackers Recipe - "Crackers" are named that way because they crack. Other ethnic groups define them as a crisp, hard, thin, or flat bread. Although the name "crackers" is American, the idea is rooted in the baking tradition of every country whose people settled in the United States.

Makes 60 (2-1/2-inch-square) crackers

Ingredients:
4 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup firm butter
About 1 cup milk

Method:
Preheat oven to 425F (220C). In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar and salt.

Cut in butter with a pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in enough milk to make a stiff dough. On an ungreased baking sheet, roll out half of dough at a time until about 1/4 inch thick.

Cut into 2-1/2-inch squares, leaving crackers in place. Prick surface with a fork and brush lightly with milk. Bake 15 to 18 minutes or until light golden in color.

Variations:
Whole-Wheat Crackers: Substitute whole-wheat flour for all-purpose flour. Substitute dark-brown sugar for granulated sugar. Bake as above.

Sesame-Wheat Crackers: Substitute 2 cups whole-wheat flour for 2 cups all-purpose flour. Add 1/4 cup sesame seeds to mixture. Substitute honey for white sugar. Sprinkle crackers with sesame seeds after brushing with milk. Bake as above.

Caraway-Rye Crackers:
Substitute 2 cups light or rye flour for 2 cups all-purpose flour. Substitute dark molasses for sugar. Add 1 teaspoon caraway seeds to mixture. Sprinkle crackers with caraway seeds after brushing with milk. Bake as above.