A cream cracker is a flat, usually square, savoury biscuit. The name "cream crackers" refers to the method in which the mixture is creamed during manufacture. The cream cracker is traditionally prepared using fermented dough.
They are made from wheat flour, vegetable oil and yeast, and are commonly served with cheese,
History
The cream cracker was invented by Joseph Haughton at his home in
Dublin,
Ireland, and then manufactured by William Jacob in a small bakery around 1885.
Distribution
Cream crackers are popular in the
United Kingdom, Ireland,
Argentina (brands include Traviata, manufactured by
Grupo Arcor, and Express, manufactured by Mondelez),
Taiwan,
Peru,
Chile,
Brazil,
Southeast Asia,
South Asia and
South Africa. The most widely known cream cracker brand is Jacob's. The Jacob's brand in Ireland is owned by Jacob Fruitfield Food Group, part of the Valeo Foods Group, and in the UK, Europe and North America, it is owned by
United Biscuits. Manufacturers in Southeast Asia include Khong Guan, Hup Seng, Hwa Tai, and Jacob's (manufactured by
Kraft Malaysia). Manufacturers in South Asia include Ceylon Biscuits Limited, Maliban Biscuit Manufactories Limited (
Sri Lanka) and Britannia Industries (India), and in
South Africa,
Bakers is one of the most prominent manufacturers.
Purity Factories manufactures cream crackers with
lard in
Newfoundland, Canada.
Cream crackers are known for their distinctive "dock and prick" pattern, which consists of small holes and perforations on the surface. These holes are made to prevent the crackers from puffing up too much during baking, resulting in their characteristic crisp and flat texture.
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