These vegan crunchy flax & pepita crackers with sundried tomato spread make the perfect plant-powered snack. A combination of flax and chia seeds binds the cracker base together, pepitas add an extra crunch, and an array of dried spices creates a cracker that you won't be able to stop eating. These crackers are wonderful all on their own, but if you're looking for a flavor-forward snack, be sure to whip up the simple + slather-worthy sundried tomato spread to pair with them.

As a school psychologist, I spend a lot of time talking to students about the value of meandering outside of their comfort zones. This is far easier said than done, and I'm sure the students I work with wonder why I'm always tooting the step-outside-your-comfort-zone horn. As someone who was often described as "shy" and "quiet" growing up, I know firsthand just how uncomfortable it can be outside the bounds of comfort. So uncomfortable, in fact, that it took me until my mid-twenties to realize that pushing myself to a place of vulnerability and discomfort actually inspired positive, enduring, and awesome changes.

After spending much of my life inhibited by the fear that risk-taking might lead to failure or result in an outcome that wasn't perfect, I did something in a single moment of fearlessness that transformed my entire perspective on risk-taking: I started this blog.

My inhibition returned shortly after clicking "Publish" on my grand entrance into the blogosphere, and I didn't tell a single person—not even Dan—that I had started a blog until my third post. I might not eat chicken, but I have certainly acted like one at times. However, something about that third post felt right, so I cautiously began sharing my novel risk-taking adventure with others. Since that time, each consecutive click of the "publish" button has chipped away at my doubts and fears.

Although my initial reaction toward opportunities that are outside of my comfort zone still trends toward chicken-like, as soon as I identify that I'm about to pass up an opportunity simply because I'm afraid that I might fail, I remind myself of the value in saying "yes." My fears aren't making the decisions anymore, my heart is. The most awesome thing I've learned throughout this ever-evolving discomfort-zone-seeking process is that each of us already possesses everything we need to be our greatest, happiest, and most-inspired selves; it's just a matter of unveiling the things that challenge us and allowing them to teach us how to flourish. I've encountered my personal challenges in the form of people, places, seasons, self-doubt, health scares, and even the yoga studio, but it's often the greatest challenges that are the most profound teachers of life, love, and happiness.

QUESTION | What have you learned from your greatest challenges and biggest out-of-your-comfort-zone wanderings?

This is seriously the most tangential introduction to a cracker recipe; however, I did have a point. If only I could remember it...

Just kidding, I remember it. Making crackers, period, let alone creating a cracker recipe of my own was completely outside of my comfort zone as recently as this past Saturday morning. However, after considering the validity of my cracker-making fears, I decided they were ridiculous and unfounded, and I went for it.

This crunchy leap of faith was totally worth it, because these crackers are crazy good. They're simple to make, packed to their ultra-crispy edges with nutrition, and incredibly flavorful.

The combination of flax and chia seeds binds the cracker base together, pepitas add an extra crunch, and an array of dried spices creates a cracker that you won't be able to stop eating.

These crackers are wonderful all on their own, but if you're looking for a flavor-packed snack, you can whip up this simple + slather-worthy sundried tomato spread. Snacking heaven.

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Crunchy Flax & Pepita Crackers with Sundried Tomato Spread

Course Snack

Cuisine Gluten-Free, Grain-Free, plant-based, Vegan

Prep Time 1 hour 10 minutes

Cook Time 2 hours 30 minutes

Total Time 3 hours 40 minutes

Servings -75 crackers

Ingredients

1 cup raw, whole flax seeds
¼ cup chia seeds
1 cup water
¼ cup pepitas
1 to 1 ½ teaspoons sea salt or to taste
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon dried basil
½ teaspoon dried oregano
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes or to taste
Optional, for the sundried tomato spread: ¾ cup loosely-packed sundried tomatoes, ¼ cup fresh basil, 2 tablespoons olive oil

Instructions

Add the flax seeds, chia seeds, and water to a bowl. Stir, refrigerate, and let them soak for at least 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
Remove the seed mixture from the refrigerator, stir in pepitas, salt, garlic powder, basil, oregano, and red pepper flakes.
Line a baking pan with parchment paper or a silpat.
Pour the cracker mixture into the pan and, using a fork or spatula, spread the mixture evenly and thinly across the pan. This takes some work, so be patient and be sure to get it as thin as possible without any gaps or holes.
Bake for 1 ½ hours, flip the giant cracker over and bake another hour. If your cracker wasn't spread thinly enough, you may need to bake an additional 15 minutes or more.
Break into pieces of desired size and store in a glass container to keep the crackers crisp. If you store the crackers in a plastic container or bag, they will soften with time.
If you opt to pair the crackers with the sundried tomato spread, simply toss the sundried tomatoes, basil, and olive oil into a food processor. Process for 3-4 minutes, scoop into a bowl, and spread over your crackers.