Poppy Cheddar Moon Crackers

Ingredients for Poppy Cheddar Moon Crackers

• 90g plain flour

• 30g yellow cornmeal

• 1 tablespoon poppy seeds

• 1/4 teaspoons salt

• 1/4 teaspoons baking powder

• 1/2 stick cold unsalted butter, cut into bits

• 240ml coarsely grated extra-sharp Cheddar (preferably orange)

• 4 to 80ml cold water

• 1 large egg

• 1 tablespoon warm water

• Coarse sea salt for sprinkling

• Equipment: a 2 3/4-inch crescent biscuit cutter

How to make Poppy Cheddar Moon Crackers

Whisk together flour, cornmeal, poppy seeds, salt, and baking powder in a large bowl. Blend in butter with a pastry blender or your fingertips (or pulse in a food processor) just until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add cheese and 60ml cold water and mix with a fork (or pulse) until incorporated. If mixture is still dry, add enough of remaining tablespoon cold water until mixture holds together to form a soft dough.

Turn out dough onto a work surface. With heel of your hand, smear dough 3 or 4 times in a forward motion to help distribute fat. Gather dough together, with a pastry scraper if you have one, then divide dough in half. Press each half into a disk, then chill, wrapped in plastic wrap, until firm, about 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 204°C with racks in upper and lower thirds. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.

Roll out 1 disk of dough on a lightly floured surface (keep remaining disk chilled until ready to use) with a lightly floured rolling pin into a 12-inch round and cut out as many crescent moons as possible with cutter. Transfer to baking sheets, arranging them 1/2 inch apart. Gather scraps, then reroll and cut out.

Lightly beat egg with warm water in a small bowl for egg wash. Lightly brush crescents with egg wash and prick all over with a fork, then sprinkle with sea salt. Bake, switching position of sheets halfway through, until golden, 12 to 14 minutes. Cool completely on sheets on racks. Make more crackers with remaining dough (cool baking sheets between batches).

Clause de non-responsabilité

While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate and up to date, individual needs may vary and dietary requirements can differ based on personal health conditions. Always check food labels and allergen information before preparing or consuming any recipe. If you have specific health concerns, allergies, intolerances, or are following a medically prescribed diet, seek advice from your GP, pharmacist, or a registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle.