The invention provides in an improved pressure-baking apparatus for producingpuffed crackers from a starch-containing. cereal or other food materiat,thereby allowing better control of expansion resp. product consistency for anenlarged range of crackers types, materials and shapes. Accordingly theapparatus has a baking mold comprises the combination of a fixed upper dieplate (1,2), a lower punch plate (3,4) directly driven and supported by acylinder/pistion unit (10), and therebetween a peripheral mold plate (6)comprising die holes (7) in registry with said upper dies (2) and lowerpunches (4), said peripheral plate being selectively movable in the verticaldirection between said fixed upper die plate and driven lower punch plate. Anhydraulic power system (11,17) integral with the apparatus is linked withdrive unit (10).
