Raw Food Appetizers: Walnut Cranberry Crackers
What do you get when you put together walnuts, cranberries, oranges and flax seeds? Super healthy raw food crackers that are festive and full of flavor! These beauties are packed with nutrients and are perfect for your raw holiday table. Pair them with the Cranberry Orange Spread and you have a healthy, raw food holiday treat that is great for entertaining or just family snacking.
Walnuts are considered to be one of the healthiest nuts available to us. They are loaded with omega 3’s. More benefits include protection of your cardiovascular system, support of your cognitive function, and immune system. They are anti-inflammatory, and also have many cancer preventing properties.
Cranberries are off the charts with the benefits they provide. Scientific studies have shown that they are good for your heart, full of anti-oxidant, and can help prevent both urinary infection and yeast infections. But did you know that they can help elevate your HDL (good) cholesterol and lower your bad cholesterol. They are anti bacterial and also help with oral and gastrointestinal health.
You can serve these crackers to your family and guests, knowing that you are not only providing them with great nutrients, but also tons of flavor!
Walnut Cranberry Walnut Crackers
Crackers
- 4 cups walnuts (soaked overnight)
- 1 cup ground flax
- 2 cups fresh cranberries, coarsely chopped
- 1 cup orange juice (from fresh oranges)
- 1/4 cup agave (or liquid sweetener of your choice)
- Place roughly chopped cranberries in bag with orange juice and 1/4 cup raw agave. Marinate for 2 hours.
- Place walnuts in food processor. Process until finely chopped. Add cranberries, agave and orange juice and pulse until cranberries are well combined. Add flax and pulse until combined.
- Spread on non-stick sheets about 1/4 inch. Score. Dehydrate at 145 for 45 minutes then 116 for 3 hours. Peel off sheets and continue to dry until done. (6-8 more hours).
Cranberry Orange Spread
- 1 orange, juice and zest
- 1/2 cup flesh from young coconut
- 1 cup cashews, soaked for 6 hours, drained
- 3 tablespoons agave
- 1 cup fresh cranberries
- Place cranberries in processor and coarsely chop. Remove from processor and set aside.
- Place cashews, coconut flesh, orange juice, orange zest and agave in food processor. Process until very blended.
- Remove and stir in chopped cranberries.
Sheila Bocchine, Pinhole Photographer wrote on March 24, 2010
Can I use dried cranberries? I live in South Korea and we don’t have fresh cranberries here.
Susan wrote on March 24, 2010
Yes…actually you can reconstitute them!
Joyce Holsten wrote on December 4, 2009
haha, sorry, I meant to write this on your most recent post 🙂
Joyce Holsten wrote on December 4, 2009
You are doing an rawsome job Susan! Always inspiring! Keep it up! I look forward to your e-book!
Cheers!
Joyce from Vermont 🙂
Anne wrote on December 4, 2009
DUH! Didn’t think about that part of it! I’m simply looking for alternate snacks for my daughter as I’m trying to reduce glutamate and eliminate gluten in her diet.
Anne wrote on December 4, 2009
These sound delicious! I don’t have a dehydrator…..is it possible to bake them??
Susan wrote on December 4, 2009
You can bake them at a very low temp. Just know that they will no longer be raw, if that is your desire.
Kelly Parr wrote on December 3, 2009
Oh my! My mouth is already watering – and the photos make ’em look so appetizing!
These recipes are so creative, easy looking and perfect for the Christmas Holidays!
Michal wrote on December 3, 2009
These look amazing! 🙂