Golden Raisin and Pecan Thins Recipe (2024)

Recipe from Genevieve Ko

Adapted by Melissa Clark

Golden Raisin and Pecan Thins Recipe (1)

Total Time
1 hour plus freezing
Rating
5(117)
Notes
Read community notes

These slightly sweet, extremely simple crackers, adapted from "Better Baking" by Genevieve Ko, can be stirred together in minutes in one bowl, no electric mixer required. They are then baked twice – once in loaf pans and once after freezing and slicing – making them crisp all the way through. Serve them with cheese or pâté, or even on their own as a snack. And feel free to personalize these by substituting other dried fruits and nuts for the raisins and pecans. Chopped dried figs and hazelnuts make another wonderful combination. —Melissa Clark

Featured in: The Year’s Best Baking Cookbooks

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Ingredients

Yield:About 8 dozen crackers

  • Butter for pans
  • ½cup/71 grams unbleached all-purpose flour
  • ½cup/67 grams whole-wheat pastry flour
  • cup/69 grams granulated sugar
  • 1teaspoon minced fresh tarragon or crushed fennel seeds
  • 1teaspoon baking soda
  • ½teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1cup/245 grams buttermilk
  • 1cup/109 grams pecans
  • ¾cup/125 grams golden raisins

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (96 servings)

21 calories; 1 gram fat; 0 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 0 grams monounsaturated fat; 0 grams polyunsaturated fat; 3 grams carbohydrates; 0 grams dietary fiber; 2 grams sugars; 0 grams protein; 17 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Golden Raisin and Pecan Thins Recipe (2)

Preparation

  1. Step

    1

    Place a baking sheet on center rack of oven and heat to 350 degrees. Butter three 5¾- by 2¼-inch or four 4¼- by 2½-inch mini loaf pans. Line the bottoms with parchment paper and butter the paper.

  2. Step

    2

    In a large bowl, whisk both flours, sugar, tarragon or fennel seeds, baking soda and salt Add buttermilk and stir until smooth. Fold in pecans and raisins until evenly distributed. Divide among prepared pans, filling ¼-inch from the top (batter will rise slightly in the oven), and smooth tops.

  3. Step

    3

    Place pans on baking sheet and bake until loaves are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of one comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Slide a thin-bladed knife around the pan edges. Carefully invert the loaves onto a wire rack, and discard the parchment. Cool completely, right side up on the rack.

  4. Step

    4

    Freeze loaves on a pan until very firm, at least 1 hour or up to 5 days.

  5. Step

    5

    Heat oven to 300 degrees. Line two half-sheet pans with parchment paper.

  6. Step

    6

    Working with one frozen loaf at a time, cut ⅛-inch-thick slices with a sharp serrated bread knife. Arrange slices on prepared pan, spacing them ¼-inch apart. Bake one pan at a time until crackers are browned and crisp, about 20 minutes. Use a metal spatula to transfer crackers to wire racks and let cool completely.

Ratings

5

out of 5

117

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

Bekka R

These are soooo good. I’ve made these many times, both as written and with variations.A few notes:1) you don’t need the parchment paper at all. I butter my pans lightly and the loaves slide right out.2) these work with almost any combination of nuts, a heart herb, and dried fruit. Same with changing up flours. So far my favorite is rosemary/pistachio/dried cherry. Yum!3) I generally cut down on the sugar, to keep them feeling a bit healthier—more like 1/4 cup works just fine.

KCWS

I bake in one 9x5 loaf pan and then cut it in half before freezing.

Carolina P

Following suggestions on subbing plain yogurt thinned with milk for the buttermilk, and reducing sugar. I am using pecans, and am soaking dried cranberries in a bit of rum while I prepare everything. I have a misc assortment of small loaf pans, so I am going to experiment with the spice/herb component - this should be fun!

TAZ

Delicious! Agree with other bakers about cutting the sugar in half to make it less cookie-like.

TAZ

Cut sugar in half to make it less like a cookie and more like a cracker. Delicious!

Louisa

I love these crackers! I used an 8x4 pan--not a problem--and I lowered the sugar to 1/4 cup. Fennel and golden raisins are perfect together. I have served with a mild goat cheese which was delicious. I also consider them a cookie of sorts and often have them for dessert.I have tried other fruit and nut combos and flours and have yet to come up with anything that rivals the original, but I will keep trying. It's a fun challenge to do 2 batches simultaneously with different flavor profiles.

Karen

Fingers crossed! I just finished the first baking and it smells amazing. I subbed freshly cushed cardamom for the spice and homemade keifr for the buttermilk I did not have on hand. Oh, and I didn't have while wheat pastry flour.

bachelorette

Here are changes for those of us with nothing special around the pantry who only want a 1/2 batch. 3/8 cup all-purpose flour1/8 cup corn starch1/6 cup sugar1/2 tsp crushed herb (I used crushed rosemary from the spice rack)1/2 tsp baking soda1/4 tsp salt1/2 cup milk plus 2 Tbsp lemon juice (from 1/2 lemon)1/2 cup whole nuts (I picked pistachios from a trail mix) 1/2 cup raisins (also found in trail mix)Do everything else the same but only use one tiny glass terrine pan.

christina

Also cut the sugar to 1/8 cup and didn’t do second bake. Really really good.

Leslie

Absolutely delicious! I used all-purpose flour and a local foisy whole wheat flour. My husband can't do pecans or walnuts, so used local hazelnuts and, lacking raisins, used dates. Must like the Raincoast Crips, the possibilities for changing this recipe up are plentiful. I may never buy crackers again!

Leslie Suelter

I could not find any "whole wheat pastry flour" nor did I really want to buy any for only 1/2 cup. But I did have whole wheat flour and regular pastry flour. So, I simply swapped the flours...I used 1/2 cup of whole wheat flour instead of whole wheat pastry flour, and I used 1/2 cup pastry flour instead of all-purpose flour. The result was just great. Easy peasy!!! Good luck. This is an easy recipe to make.

jddunning

These are so much better than Rainforest Toast. Pairs so well with St. Angel, a soft buttery cheese

Jeanne

These remind me of Leslie Stowe crackers. So easy! Used figs instead of raisins. Didn’t have mini loaf pans so used an 8x8. They don’t rise much so they ended up long and thin, biscotti like. I will try a regular loaf pan next time. And there will be a next time!

Bekka R

These are soooo good. I’ve made these many times, both as written and with variations.A few notes:1) you don’t need the parchment paper at all. I butter my pans lightly and the loaves slide right out.2) these work with almost any combination of nuts, a heart herb, and dried fruit. Same with changing up flours. So far my favorite is rosemary/pistachio/dried cherry. Yum!3) I generally cut down on the sugar, to keep them feeling a bit healthier—more like 1/4 cup works just fine.

Marge

Great recipe! Thank you!Wonderful alone or with cheese,...Roquefort anyone?

Susan

Delicious. Could reduce sugar - a little too sweet for my taste. Made with pecans, dried cherries and 1/2 c rye flour instead of whole wheat.

Julie

Followed the recipe as written. So delicious!

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Golden Raisin and Pecan Thins Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Should you plump raisins before baking? ›

They should be plump and ready to add to any recipe. Speaking of raisins, we often get the question about raisins sinking to the bottom of a cake or bread. To prevent this, cut the raisins into small pieces to help keep them suspended in the batter.

Should you soak raisins for cookies? ›

Raisins: Soak your raisins in warm water for 10 minutes before using (blot very well to dry them) – this makes them nice and plump for your cookies.

How long to soak raisins? ›

Cover the raisins with room temperature liquid and soak for 30 minutes. After that time has passed, they're ready to use!

How to plump raisins in alcohol? ›

Place the raisins in a mixing bowl or glass jar and add water so that it covers the raisins by at least 1/2-inch. Stir in the rum or flavored alcohol. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for 24 hours. It is even better to allow the raisins to hydrate for 2 to 3 days.

Why do you soak raisins in water before baking? ›

First, it plumps up the raisins, making them softer and juicier, improving their mouthfeel.

How do you keep raisins from sinking to the bottom of a cake? ›

You can reduce the liklihood of dried fruits such as cranberries or raisins sinking by lightly dusting them in flour before adding them to your cake mixture. Simply toss the fruit in a small bowl with a small scoop of flour and add the lightly covered fruit to your cake mix and follow the rest of the recipe as normal.

What kind of raisins are best for baking cookies? ›

Although I like to use dark raisins in these cookies you could also use golden raisins. Both dark and golden raisins are simply dried Thompson seedless grapes.

How to make raisins plump for cookies? ›

Combine 1 cup (250 mL) of raisins and 1 tbsp (15 mL) of water. Microwave for 30 to 60 seconds or put on the stove over high heat until the liquid starts to boil. Remove the raisins from the heat source, cover them with a lid, and let them stand for 5 minutes. Drain the liquid and add the raisins to your meal.

What does soaking raisins in milk do? ›

The throat: Raisins with milk or water can relieve thirst. The bowel: Raisins soaked overnight and taken in the morning support bowel movements. The Council suggests a healthy raisin recipe: Combine 50% raw milk and 50% cool water. Eat two handfuls of soaked raisins twice a day, and sip two glasses of this water.

Should I soak raisins in hot or cold water? ›

To get started, bring 2 cups (475 mL) of water to a boil in a saucepan or pot. Next, remove it from the heat and add 1 cup (145 grams) of raisins to the water. Let the raisins soak overnight, or for at least 8 hours, before straining out the fruit using a colander or sieve.

Are baking raisins better than regular raisins? ›

When it comes to baking, golden raisins are often preferred over regular raisins due to their sweetness and softer texture. They are also a great addition to oatmeal, yogurt, and other breakfast dishes. On the other hand, regular raisins are better suited for savory dishes such as salads, curries, and stir-fries.

How many raisins should I eat a day? ›

Overall, incorporating an 80–90 g portion of raisins (half a cup) into the daily diet may be favorable for human health.

What is the best liquid to soak raisins in? ›

Weigh out the required amount of raisins or sultanas, place them in a ziplock bag and add about half a cup of hot liquid. Close the bag and leave them to soak for at least an hour and overnight if you can. Even plain water will make a difference, but fruit juice or liquor works better.

What alcohol is made from raisins? ›

Carefully selected and fermented raisins are distilled to create a clear, flavorful arak with an alcohol content of 40%. Arak Saggi can be enjoyed neat but also features prominently in co*cktails and other mixed drinks. Popular in the Middle East, it's gaining recognition throughout Europe.

How do you rehydrate golden raisins? ›

Rehydrate them to plump them up before eating. Place the raisins in a bowl and pour boiling water to cover. They'll soften in minutes.

How do you soften hard raisins for baking? ›

The Easiest Way to Soften Any Dried Fruit

This is very simple, and works on any kind of dried fruit. Put your dried fruit in a small bowl and cover with boiling water. Let it steep for 10 to 15 minutes, and then strain the fruit and discard the water. The fruit will be plumper, juicier, and softer.

Should you soak raisins before baking muffins? ›

Don't skip the step where you soak the raisins. This plumps them up and helps prevent burning as they bake. The plump raisins will also add moisture to the muffin.

What type of raisins are best for baking? ›

No competition. You should only use golden raisins, as far as we're concerned. (And, to really make sure they're plump and flavorful, soak them in a nice vinegar before adding them to a recipe.)

How do you plump dried fruit for baking? ›

To plump fruit, place it in a bowl, add enough liquid to cover, and allow it to stand until rehydrated and softened. Soaking time will depend on the fruit, its age, and the particular drying process used. However, overnight is usually sufficient.

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