In the case of Dr. Kracker, “seedy” is a delicious thing— and even better when combined with “crunchy” and “nutritious.”

Going Krackers With Dr. Kracker We were delighted to find these organic crackers and flatbreads at the Winter Fancy Food Show. After aisles and aisles of candy, preserves, barbecue sauce, and cheeses, Dr. Kracker's “organic bread of distinction” was a welcome respite. Rolled by hand, these artisan flatbreads are long on flavor and unique in their appearance: each cracker is topped a generous number of attractive—and healthy—seeds, sesame, sunflower, and/or pumpkin.  The line, which originated in Germany and began U.S. production in Dallas a year ago, aimed to bridge the gap between the more simple-flavored Swedish-type flatbreads and multi-seeded, flavorful specialty breads. Mission accomplished!  These crackers are so flavorful that they add zing to any foods you pair them with.  They're also high in nutrition and made from organic ingredients—key differentiators from their very distant cousin, the Lavasch line of Middle Eastern flatbreads.

Overview

Dr. Kracker starts with organic whole wheat or spelt*; then adds organic flax, sunflower, sesame and/or pumpkin seeds. Each mouthful delivers crunch and the delectable flavors of toasted seeds. The seeds are storehouses of nutrition, providing omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, minerals and trace elements, and lots of soluble and insoluble fiber. Your nutritionist would be happy to have you consume on a daily basis. The crackers are also a low carbohydrate food compared to breads and other crackers, with 9-11 grams of carb per serving. Your nutritionist would be happy to have you consume these on a daily basis.

*Spelt is a cereal grain with a mild, nutty flavor. It has slightly more protein than wheat. It is milled into flour form and it is excellent for bread baking. While spelt has gluten, the type of gluten is more easily tolerated by people who are sensitive to wheat gluten.

There are also two subtly sweet versions: spelt-based Muesli and an old-fashioned graham cracker. If you’re not familiar with spelt, don’t let its association with health food enthusiasts and gluten-free diets obscure the image it deserves as a delicious grain for gourmets. Spelt’s natural qualities also yield a crisper cracker than wheat. Plus, spelt adds another layer of flavor complexity with a hint of caramelization and a sprightly spelt quality that differentiates it from wheat.  It's a winner. Except for the muesli sticks and graham crackers, the line comes in both “Snacker Cracker” and flatbread sizes, in both whole wheat and spelt versions. Snacker Krackers are bite-sized, approximately 1½" x 1¾" and great for dipping; Flatbread Krackers are about 3½" x 4½" and would fit nicely into a bread basket. All can be eaten plain “from the box” and can be paired with milder snack cheeses like Swiss or cheddar (the layers of flavor from the seeds are too complex to pair well with artisanal cheeses).

Krackers and cheese.

Kracker Flavors

Dr. Kracker varieties include:

• Klassic 3 Seed (whole wheat): A mix of flaxseeds, sunflower seeds and sesame seeds (a classic German mix for crusty breakfast rolls), emphasizing the nutty flavor of the flaxseeds.  Suggested pairings: hummos, peanut nut butters or almond butter, cheeses, avocado, prosciutto, smoked salmon.
• Seeded Spelt (spelt): A spelt variation of the Klassic, this cracker emphasizes the buttery sunflower seeds and nutty sesame seeds with undertones of spelt flour and bran.  Suggested pairings: peanut butter, almond butter, any jam or marmalade.
• Pumpkin Seed Cheese (whole wheat): If you liked toasted pumpkin seeds, this is your cracker.  Organic cheddar cheese creates a new kind of “cheese cracker.”  Suggested pairings: tomato soup, plain yogurt, yogurt-based dips.
• Spelt Sunflower Cheese (spelt): A variation of Pumpkin Seed Cheese with spelt instead of whole wheat. Great for straight snacking, and the same pairings as Pumpkin Seed Cheese.
• Seedlander (spelt): Pumpkin seeds with whole millet grains and poppy seeds with the sweetness of molasses. For snacking, fresh cheeses, cottage cheese, yogurt and jam.
• Muesli Sticks (spelt): A tad of sweetness from organic dried mangoes, apples, currants and honey.  Suggested pairings: Swiss cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt, tea.
• Krispy Grahams (spelt and rolled oats): Old-fashioned graham goodness with honey, cinnamon, vanilla, maple syrup and molasses. Very different from any mass-marketed graham cracker you may be familiar with. Pairings: yogurt, ice cream, coffee, tea, milk or cocoa.

One onlooker, scanning the handsomely seeded tops of dozens of crackers and flatbreads on display, said, “This looks like bird food.”  It would be a lucky bird indeed who got hold of any of these. Keep them for yourself and all the human Pollys who want a cracker.

—Karen Hochman

FORWARD THIS NIBBLE to your crunch-loving friends and to anyone on a gluten-free diet.

Updated September 2006

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