For those seeking a culinary journey through time, the hardtack biscuit stands as a testament to the resilience of our ancestors. These simple, yet enduring biscuits have sustained explorers, soldiers, and pioneers on their arduous journeys. Their humble ingredients belie their remarkable durability, ensuring a source of nourishment in even the most challenging of circumstances. Whether you're an outdoor enthusiast eager to embrace history or a curious cook seeking a taste of the past, this article will guide you through the art of crafting these timeless treats, providing a delightful blend of history, tradition, and culinary expertise.
Here are our top 4 tried and tested recipes!
SWEDISH HARD TACK
Very nice with butter or cheese. Biscuit-like (crunchy) and sweet. Also called knackebrod.
Provided by twistedsister
Categories Appetizers and Snacks Snacks Cracker Recipes
Time 1h
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
- Sift together the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt into a large bowl. Rub in the shortening until the mixture appears sandy. Stir in the buttermilk until the dough holds together. Roll out on a lightly floured surface to 1/8-inch thick. Cut into 4-inch squares, then cut each square diagonally into triangles, and prick with a fork.
- Bake the triangles in preheated oven on ungreased cookie sheets until dry and lightly browned, about 10 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 196.4 calories, Carbohydrate 27 g, Cholesterol 21.2 mg, Fat 8.1 g, Fiber 0.8 g, Protein 3.7 g, SaturatedFat 5 g, Sodium 128.9 mg, Sugar 5.2 g
SIMPLE HARDTACK
The other recipes on here have more ingredients this is a simple basic way to make it. Perfect survival food. I recall when I was younger them having some on a plate at Plymouth Plantation and they said that even though it was hundreds of years old it was still ok to eat. This recipe was found on Survival News Online. http://www.survivalnewsonline.com/index.php/2012/02/hardtack-a-great-survival-food-stock/
Provided by Sica6488
Categories Breads
Time 1h30m
Yield 12-15 biscuits, 12-15 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 3
Steps:
- Mix the flour, water and salt together, and make sure the mixture is fairly dry.
- Then roll it out to about 1/2 inch thickness, and shape it into a rectangle. Cut it into 3×3 inch squares, and poke holes in both sides.
- Place on an un-greased cookie or baking sheet, and cook for 30 minutes per side at 375? (or 350? if you have a convection oven).
- When it's done, you'll want to let it dry and harden for a few days, just out in the open. When it has the consistency of a brick, it's fully cured. Then simply store it in an airtight container or bucket. To prepare for eating, soak it in water or milk for about 15 minutes, and then fry in a buttered skillet. You can eat it with cheese, soup or just plain with a little salt added. Any way you do it, it's delicious!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 151.7, Fat 0.4, SaturatedFat 0.1, Sodium 583.4, Carbohydrate 31.8, Fiber 1.1, Sugar 0.1, Protein 4.3
HOW TO MAKE HARDTACK
Hardtack is a type of hard, dry bread that was eaten by soldiers and sailors throughout history. It is popular among campers and survivalists because it can last for years if stored properly. Fortunately, it's an extremely easy recipe and...
Provided by wikiHow
Categories Flat Breads
Number Of Ingredients 3
Steps:
- Preheat your oven to 375 °F (191 °C). The prep time for hardtack is fast, so preheat your oven first. By the time the oven is ready, you can carry out all the prep work.
- Pour 2 cups (256 g) of white flour into a mixing bowl. Any type of flour will work for this recipe, but hardtack made from white flour lasts the longest. Different flours like whole wheat or rye produce hardtack that won't last as long.Add more if you want a bigger batch of hardtack. Make sure to keep the flour and water at a 2-1 mixture. If you use a different type of flour, keep the amount the same.
- Mix in 1 cup (240 ml) of water into the flour. Take the water cup in one hand and slowly pour it into the flour while using your other hand to knead the dough. Introduce the water gradually by pouring in a little, mixing the dough, and then pouring more. Continue this process until you've used all the water.
- Knead the dough into a ball. Using both hands, work the dough with your hands until it reaches a uniform consistency. It will feel like playdough when it's mixed. If the dough gets flaky, add a few more drops of water. You can use a mixing spoon for this step, but the dough might be too tough to mix completely with a spoon. Your hands work best. Use plastic cooking gloves if you don't want your hands to get messy. You can also add 2 tsp (11.38 g) of salt, but this is optional.
- Roll the dough until it's 1⁄4 inch (0.64 cm) thick. Sprinkle some more flour down so the dough doesn't stick to your rolling surface. Then use a rolling pin to flatten out the dough. Keep rolling until the dough is about 1⁄4 inch (0.64 cm) thick. You could also use a plastic tube or a longer glass if you don't have a rolling pin.
- Cut the dough into 3 in (7.6 cm) x 3 in (7.6 cm) squares. Hardtack was traditionally made into large square crackers, so use this shape for authentic hardtack. Use either a knife or a pizza cutter to slice the dough into even squares. This size is just a suggestion. You can cut the dough into any shape or size you want. Some people use cookie cutters to make smaller, more portable crackers. Don't get rid of leftover pieces. Cook them along with the other pieces too.
- Poke evenly-spaced holes in straight lines in each cracker. Holes allow the air and moisture to escape while the hardtack bakes. Use a knife or fork to poke a series of evenly-spaced holes through the dough. Keep the holes in a straight line so the hardtack cracker is easier to break when you eat it. There is no set number of holes, but more is better. This releases more air and moisture and makes the cracker last even longer. The holes must be all the way through the cracker. Flip each one over to make sure you've pierced the dough all the way.
4-INGREDIENT HARDTACK
Wow, I can't believe that there's no recipe for this posted yet! Hardtack is a cracker-like food which keeps indefinitely and was used in the American Civil War for army rations. This is an easy history project, indispensible for a Civil War unit study, or for any time you are going hiking and need a nonperishable snack. It's...well, hard, but I think it's actually pretty good!
Provided by A Messy Cook
Categories Lunch/Snacks
Time 1h10m
Yield 12 crackers
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Stir together dry ingredients in bowl.
- Add water gradually and stir until combined; knead in bowl for 5 minutes.
- Let rest for 10 minutes.
- Roll out to 1/2 inch thickness on greased baking sheet: score into sections at 3 inch intervals, and prick liberally with a fork.
- Bake at 325 degrees for 50 minutes, break into pieces along scored lines, and let cool on rack.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 143.6, Fat 0.6, SaturatedFat 0.1, Sodium 98.9, Carbohydrate 30.4, Fiber 3, Sugar 0.1, Protein 4.9
Tips:
- When measuring the flour, spoon it into the measuring cup and level it off with a knife or straight edge. Do not scoop the flour directly from the bag, as this can result in too much flour being used.
- Use cold butter or shortening. This will help to keep the biscuits flaky.
- Do not overwork the dough. Overworking the dough will make the biscuits tough.
- Roll out the dough to a thickness of about 1/2 inch. If the dough is too thick, the biscuits will not cook evenly.
- Cut the biscuits out with a sharp knife or biscuit cutter. A dull knife will tear the dough and make the biscuits uneven.
- Place the biscuits on a lightly greased baking sheet. Do not crowd the biscuits on the baking sheet, or they will not cook evenly.
- Bake the biscuits in a preheated oven at 450 degrees Fahrenheit for 10-12 minutes, or until they are golden brown.
Conclusion:
Hardtack biscuits are a simple, yet delicious and versatile food that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. They can be eaten plain, or they can be used as a base for other dishes, such as sandwiches, soups, and stews. Hardtack biscuits are also a great way to use up leftover ingredients, and they can be stored for long periods of time. With a little planning and effort, you can easily make your own hardtack biscuits at home.
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