Jigsaw Crackers
Last Updated on May 6, 2024 by Heather Reseck
Belief Bakery #17
This recipe was published in the March 9, 2024 issue of Guide magazine, a publication for children ages 10-14. It is the number 17 in a series of 28 installments called “Belief Bakery,” which uses a hands-on cooking project to illustrate the 28 fundamental beliefs of Seventh-day Adventists.
This project is in collaboration with my husband, Greg Reseck, a retired educator specializing in project-based learning.
We emphasize the love of God and Biblical concepts and tie them into fun cooking projects with healthy plant-based recipes.
Gifts from God
Finding–and using–your special gift is an exciting experience!
God has given you special gifts that make you uniquely you. It might be singing, drawing, leading, organizing, helping, or speaking to a group. Maybe you’re good at math, spelling, writing, or playing an instrument.
What are some other gifts? Teaching, explaining concepts, encouraging, giving, generosity, hospitality, and listening.
God gives different gifts to each person to reveal different aspects of His love and to bless people. No gift is superior. Each plays an important part, just like your hands, mouth, and liver have special functions. They all work together to form a complete body. Similarly, each person in the body of Christ functions together to portray a beautiful picture of God’s love.
“God has given each of you a gift from His great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.” I Peter 4:10 NLT.
Whatever gifts God gives you, He wants you to use them to bless others. He wants you to keep improving your gifts and talents. (See the parable of the talents in Matthew 25.)
If you are not sure what your gifts are, pray for God to show you. Ask an adult to help you. Think of it like a jigsaw puzzle. Each piece is different, yet all the pieces fit together to form a complete picture.
In this cooking project, you’ll discover how simple it is to make whole-grain crackers. And how fun it is to create a jigsaw puzzle that illustrates how each person’s spiritual gifts are different yet all work together.
Jigsaw Crackers
Adult supervision is recommended for inexperienced junior chefs.
Before you begin
- Read through the recipe, variations, and tips.
- Arrange to buy any ingredients that you need.
Steps to get ready to cook
- Wash your hands with soap and water.
- Gather the equipment.
- Gather the ingredients.
Equipment
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Liquid measure
- Blender or food processor
- Mixing bowl
- Spoon for stirring
- Rimmed baking sheet
- Parchment paper
- Cookie cutters
- Pizza cutter or paring knife
- Rolling pin
Ingredients
- 1½ cups old-fashioned or quick-cooking rolled oats
- ½ cup whole wheat flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons oil
- ½ cup water
- Salt for sprinkling
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350°F.
- Process oats in a blender or food processor until finely ground.
- Pour into a mixing bowl. Stir in whole wheat flour and salt.
- Stir in oil. (It will look lumpy.)
- Pour in water. Stir until mixed.
- Set a timer for 5 minutes and wait to allow the flour to absorb moisture.
- Get a large, rimmed baking sheet ready. Get two large sheets of parchment paper ready. (They should be about the same size as the baking sheet.)
- When the timer goes off, remove the dough from the bowl and use your hands to form it into a ball.
- Place in the center of one sheet of parchment paper. Cover the dough with the other sheet of parchment.
- Use a rolling pin to roll the dough as evenly as possible to about ⅛-inch thick. (It should nearly fill the baking sheet.)
- Remove the top sheet of parchment paper. Use a variety of cookie cutters to create one of each shape.
- Use a pizza cutter or small sharp knife to cut the remainder into unique-shaped crackers.
- Sprinkle with salt.
- Lift the parchment paper to transfer to the baking sheet.
- Bake for 30 minutes.
- Tap the center crackers with your finger. If they feel firm to the touch, they are done.
- If not firm, bake for another 5 minutes.
- Let cool.
- Wash the dishes and clean up after yourself.
- Store in a covered container for up to 2-3 weeks. Refrigerate or freeze for longer storage.
Variation
- Gluten-Free Crackers: Substitute gluten-free flour containing xanthan gum for whole wheat flour.
Tips
- If available, use a liquid measuring cup to measure the water. A liquid measure is usually glass or clear plastic with a pour spout and measurement increments marked on the side. View the water from the side at eye level to measure it accurately.
Health Bite
The complex carbohydrates in grains fuel your body with energy. Whole grains such as oats, whole wheat, and brown rice contain fiber and other health-promoting nutrients that refined and processed grains don’t contain.
Recipe Video
Jigsaw Crackers
Equipment
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Liquid measure
- Blender or food processor
- Mixing bowl
- Spoon for stirring
- Rimmed baking sheet
- Parchment paper
- Cookie cutters
- Pizza cutter or paring knife
- Rolling Pin
Ingredients
- 1½ cups old-fashioned or quick-cooking rolled oats
- ½ cup whole wheat flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons oil
- ½ cup water
- Salt for sprinkling
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350°F.
- Process oats in a blender or food processor until finely ground.
- Pour into a mixing bowl. Stir in whole wheat flour and salt.
- Stir in oil. (It will look lumpy.)
- Pour in water. Stir until mixed.
- Set a timer for 5 minutes and wait to allow the flour to absorb moisture.
- Get a large, rimmed baking sheet ready. Get two large sheets of parchment paper ready. (They should be about the same size as the baking sheet.)
- When the timer goes off, remove the dough from the bowl and use your hands to form it into a ball.
- Place in the center of one sheet of parchment paper. Cover the dough with the other sheet of parchment.
- Use a rolling pin to roll the dough as evenly as possible to about ⅛-inch thick. (It should nearly fill the baking sheet.)
- Remove the top sheet of parchment paper. Use a variety of cookie cutters to create one of each shape.
- Use a pizza cutter or small sharp knife to cut the remainder into unique-shaped crackers.
- Sprinkle with salt.
- Lift the parchment paper to transfer to the baking sheet.
- Bake for 30 minutes.
- Tap the center crackers with your finger. If they feel firm to the touch, they are done.
- If not firm, bake for another 5 minutes.
- Let cool.
- Wash the dishes and clean up after yourself.
- Store in a covered container for up to 2-3 weeks. Refrigerate or freeze for longer storage.
Notes
- Gluten-Free Jigsaw Crackers: Substitute gluten-free flour containing xanthan gum for whole wheat flour.
- If available, use a liquid measuring cup to measure the water. A liquid measure is usually glass or clear plastic with a pour spout and measurement increments marked on the side. View the water from the side at eye level to measure it accurately.
