How to Make Swedish Crispbread (Knäckebröd)

How many of us enjoy snacking? If you’re in Sweden, the perfect time to enjoy a snack is during what the Swedish people call fika. If you don’t already know, fika is the concept of taking a break sometime during your day to wind down. Many take this time to enjoy a traditional Swedish snack, such as a pastry and a cup of coffee. Anyway, what I have for you today are some recipes for how to make Swedish crispbread, which many people in Sweden enjoy eating as snacks. Actually, you many Swedes eat crispbread for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, too. Keep reading below to learn more!

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What Is Swedish Crispbread?

This is a large, dry, flat cracker that’s made primarily from rye flour. Knäckebröd, or Swedish crispbread, is derived from a similar bread that’s thicker called spisbröd.

Swedes enjoy eating crispbread as they would any other kind of bread. They commonly eat it as a snack, or as mentioned above, for breakfast, lunch, or dinner with savory toppings and spreads.

Also, many people enjoy making this bread because it’s an easy Scandinavian bread recipe and it keeps well, too.

Traditional Swedish rye crispbreads consist of a round flat loaf with a hole in the middle. Why the hole, you may ask? Well, that’s to make it easier for storage! These loaves of bread would be hung on a long pole, leaving more space in the kitchen.

To get a better understanding of what I mean, please take a look at this EXCELLENT video below by ScandinavianToday. In this video, they show you just how easy it is to make this popular Scandinavian snack from Sweden.

Wasa Crispbread

By the way, you may have seen Swedish crisp bread at your local grocery store and you may not have known it!

A very popular brand of these Swedish flatbreads that you can find at the grocery store is Wasa.

These are the different types of crispbread you can buy either at your local grocery store or through Amazon:

Rye
Sourdough
Multigrain
Wholegrain

Eat them with a jam spread and butter!

Ingredients for Swedish Crisp Bread

If you want to make these Swedish cracker recipes from home, these are some of the most basic ingredients that many Swedish crisp rye bread (or Swedish flatbread) recipes require:

Rye flour
Salt
Olive oil
Water
Seeds

How to Make Swedish Crispbread

Although each family makes them differently, these are the basic steps for producing some of the best Swedish crispbread recipes.

Preheat the oven to 400F.
In a bowl, combine the flour, salt, and seeds.
Mix.
Add water and oil.
Mix and knead the newly formed dough with your hands.
Tear off a 2-inch piece of dough and roll it into a ball.
Flatten the dough into a flat disk shape using two pieces of parchment paper and your hands (one under the dough and the other on top of the dough).
Sprinkle the dough with some flour and use a rolling pin to flatten the dough even more.
Use a Swedish Notched Rolling Pin to make dimples into the dough (or you can use a fork to make little holes in the dough).
Use a dough cutter to cut a small circular hole in the center of the dough disk.
Transfer the dough, with the parchment paper underneath, onto a baking sheet.
Bake the dough for 15 to 20 minutes or until the bread is golden brown.
Take it out of the oven and repeat with the remaining dough.
Once it’s cooled, eat and enjoy!

Swedish Crisp Bread Recipe #1

If you’re looking for an easy knackebrod recipe (crispbread recipe), I recommend you check this one out by YouTuber My German Recipes.

This Youtube video explains that although knackerbrot (Swedish crisp bread or Swedish rye crackers) is originally from Sweden, they’re actually very common in Germany, too. In fact, she used to eat them all the time when she was a young girl living in Germany.

Now, keep in mind that what makes this recipe different from other ones you’ll find on the web is that you’ll be freezing the dough.

Why?

You’ll have to watch the video to find out. It’s actually QUITE INTERESTING!

FYI, these are the ingredients you’ll need for this easy Swedish crispbread recipe:

Rye flour
Sesame seeds
Salt
Water
Baking Powder

Now for the video:

By the way, if you’re interested in checking out the webpage for this recipe so you can print it, you can do so by clicking here.

Easy Swedish Knäckebröd Recipe #2

Ok, so this is a SUPER, DUPER easy Swedish knackebrod recipe that most everyone should be able to do.

This is seriously one of the easiest recipes I’ve found for this addicting Swedish flatbread.

The only ingredients you’ll need for this recipe include the following:

300 ml wholemeal rye flour
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon honey
30 grams of butter
175 ml water

To learn more, please check out this YouTube video for how to make Swedish crispbread by Cypress Bayt.

What to Serve With Swedish Crispbread

Swedish crisp bread, or Swedish rye crackers, go well with any of the following foods or spreads:

Butter & jam
Honey
Hard-boiled egg
Peppers
Cucumbers
Liver pate
Smoked salmon
Ham and cheese

Frequently Asked Questions for Swedish Crispbread

Here are some FAQs and answers related to Swedish crispbread.

How do you eat Swedish crispbread?

Many people enjoy eating Swedish crispbread with butter spread on top. Others enjoy spreading jam or honey, too. Still, there are those who enjoy eating crispbread with cheese, smoked salmon, or ham, among other foods.

How do you store Swedish crispbread?

You should store knäckebröd in a dry, sealed container. You can place this container on the kitchen countertop or on top of your kitchen table for easy access for snacking.

Why is crispbread good for you?

Swedish knäckebröd has a lot of dietary fiber. This makes crispbread very good for you since it helps maintain bowel health, lowers cholesterol levels, and helps maintain blood sugar levels, thus helping you to live longer (Mayo Clinic). You can find out more about this on the Mayo Clinic’s website.

Final Thoughts on Swedish Crispbread

I seriously hope you consider making one of these delicious Swedish rye flatbread recipes. They’re super delicious and addicting and go well with just about any spread you can think of.

What are your thoughts on these rye crackers? Have you ever had them? Please let me know in the comments below!