If you’re vegan, you might be wondering if Christie Premium Plus Salted Tops Crackers are vegan. In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at the ingredient list for this cracker and dive into different ways that you can eat it. Stay tuned!
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Yes, Christie Premium Plus Salted Tops Crackers are vegan-friendly. The ingredients do not contain dairy products, eggs, or any other animal products.
In this article, we explore:
- The Christie Brand
- Ingredient Breakdown: Christie Premium Plus Salted Tops Crackers
- Vegan Recipes with Christie Premium Plus Salted Tops Crackers
- The Bottom Line
1. The Christie Brand
The Christie brand has been around for over 150 years and is best known for its cookies and crackers. The brand was founded by William Christie in 1853 and became part of Nabisco in 1928. The Christie name and trademark triangle are still used on Nabisco’s cookies and crackers in Canada.
Today, The Christie brand is part of Mondelēz International, which owns snacking brands such as Oreo, belVita, Cadbury Dairy Milk, Sour Patch Kids candy, and Trident gum.
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2. Ingredient Breakdown: Christie Premium Plus Salted Tops Crackers
The ingredients in this product are typical baking ingredients used for crackers. Let’s take a deeper look into the role of each one below.
Ingredients: Wheat flour, Shortening (Vegetable, Modified palm), Sea salt, Salt, Malted barley flour, Baking soda, Yeast, Pentosanase, Potassium chloride.
Wheat flour is the primary ingredient for most baking recipes. The gluten proteins in wheat provide the structure and bulk of the cracker.
Shortening is a type of fat that helps moisten the dough and make it easier to handle. Shortening also helps create a crisp, flaky texture in the crackers.
Sea salt imparts a salty flavor to the cracker, and salt also enhances the flavor of all other ingredients.
Malted barley flour is a type of flour that is commonly used as a dough conditioner in the production of crackers. Unlike wheat flour, which has a high gluten content, malted barley flour has a lower gluten content, resulting in a softer dough texture. In addition to its impact on dough consistency, malted barley flour also aids in yeast fermentation. This is because malted barley flour contains enzymes that convert the starches in wheat flour into simple sugars, which can then be consumed by yeast during the fermentation process.
The baking soda helps leaven the dough and prevents it from becoming too dense. The yeast also allows the dough to rise and gives the crackers a lighter texture.
Pentosanase is an enzyme that improves the texture of crackers by breaking down gluten and pentosans which can toughen the dough. This makes the crackers more malleable, resulting in a lighter and more crispy texture. Pentosanase can also improve the shelf life of crackers by preventing staleness.
Potassium chloride is a salt used in baking as a dough conditioner, as it helps regulate moisture levels and prevent the dough from becoming too sticky.
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3. Vegan Recipes with Christie Premium Plus Salted Tops Crackers
When it comes to salted crackers, there are endless possibilities for snack time or meal time. Here are some ideas on how to consume these salty little bites.
One way to enjoy salted crackers is to simply eat them as is, right out of the box. Another option is to pair them with a variety of dips and spreads. Crackers and dip make a great appetizer or snack item.
But did you realize you can also add crackers to recipes to make them even more interesting? Here are a few suggestions.
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3.1. Salted Cracker Brittle
Ingredients:
-1 sleeve of Christie Premium Plus Salted Tops Crackers
-1/2 cup sugar
-1/4 cup corn syrup
-1 teaspoon baking soda
-1/4 cup vegan margarine
Instructions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside.
2. In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, corn syrup, and vegan margarine. Heat over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the mixture comes to a boil.
3. Add the sleeve of crackers to the boiling mixture and stir until evenly coated. Be careful not to break the crackers.
4. Stir in the baking soda. The mixture will foam up.
5. Quickly pour the cracker mixture onto the prepared baking sheet and spread it into an even layer.
6. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until golden brown. Allow to cool completely before breaking into pieces. Enjoy!
3.2. Vegan Macaroni and Cheese with Cracker Breadcrumbs
Ingredients:
-1 package of elbow macaroni noodles
-1/4 cup vegan margarine
-1/4 cup all-purpose flour
-2 cups unsweetened non-dairy milk
-1 teaspoon salt
-1/4 teaspoon black pepper
-2 cups shredded vegan cheddar cheese
-1 sleeve of Christie Premium Plus Salted Tops Crackers, crushed into crumbs
Instructions:
1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Cook the macaroni noodles according to the package instructions. Drain and set aside.
2. In a large saucepan, melt the vegan margarine over medium heat. Stir in the flour and continue cooking for one minute.
3. Pour in the non-dairy milk and whisk until smooth. Add the salt and black pepper, and continue cooking until the mixture comes to a boil and thickens.
4. Remove from heat and stir in the vegan cheddar cheese until melted.
5. In a large bowl, combine the cooked macaroni noodles with the cheese sauce. Pour into a baking dish.
6. Sprinkle the crushed crackers over top. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until heated through and bubbly. Enjoy!
4. The Bottom Line
The bottom line is that not only is Christie Premium Plus Salted Tops Crackers vegan but they are a versatile food that can be enjoyed in many different ways. Whether you eat them straight out of the box or use them as an ingredient in a recipe, they’re sure to add some flavor to your meal.