Not quite a cookie, and almost a cracker, hard tack is a traditional flat bread of the Scandanavian kitchen.  My grandmother served hers with butter and orange marmalade, which I always enjoyed.  These semi-crisp crackers also taste delicious with any good jam (including raspberry rhubarb I can attest), chutney, or cranberry salsa.

I enjoy rolling the dough out with my children, since they can cut out shapes with cookie cutters if they wish.  Also, hard tack is low in sugar and easy to pack.  We enjoy snacking on these all day long!

Some Swedish cooks, like my mother, have a dedicated rolling pin that presses a unique waffle pattern into the flat dough.  In my kitchen we simply use a fork.  Either way, this recipe is authentic, passed down from my grandma to my mom to me.  I have lightly adapted it to include spelt flour and light brown sugar, with great results.   If you are looking for a healthy homemade alternative to store-bought cookies and crackers, this simple recipe is just right.

Recipe for Swedish Hard Tack

{A Swedish-Canadian Family Recipe}

Ingredients:

• 3 cups spelt flour, whole white wheat flour, or unbleached all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup quick oats
• 1 heaping teaspoon aluminum free baking powder
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 2 to 3 tablespoons golden (light brown) sugar, optional
• 1/2 cup coconut oil, vegan margarine, or butter
• 1 cup full fat coconut milk (or dairy cream)

Directions:

Sift together dries and mix in shortening, as for pie crust [I used two butter knives].  Then add cream and milk enough to make it soft, not sticky.  Use a rolling pin to roll dough as thin as possible [on a lightly floured surface], then prick with a fork.  Cut in pieces and bake on a cookie sheet [or baking stone, at 400 degrees F (200 C) for about 10 minutes, until tops are golden but not too dark].

I like to share my recipes at Allergy Free Wednesdays and more.