Beef Free Classic Saltine Crackers
There is something deeply satisfying about making your own crackers from scratch, and these classic saltines deliver that perfect thin, salty crunch you know and love. The ingredient list is refreshingly simple — just flour, a little fat, water, and a touch of salt — so you always know exactly what's going into the batch. Rolling the dough as thin as possible is the real secret here, getting it nearly translucent before cutting so every cracker bakes up light and crisp rather than bready or dense. Docking each square all the way through to the parchment is a small step that makes a big difference, giving you those signature holes and keeping the surface flat and even. A brush of melted butter and a scatter of flaky sea salt right before baking adds just enough richness and sparkle to make these feel genuinely special. They crisp up even further as they cool on the rack, so patience pays off. Serve them with soup, cheese, or just straight from the pan — they disappear fast either way.
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Learn more →Ingredients
8 servings
- 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp fine salt
- ½ tsp granulated sugar
- 3 tbsp vegetable shortening or unsalted butter, cold and cut into small pieces
- ½ cup cold water
For brushing
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
For topping
- ½ tsp flaky sea salt or coarse salt
Instructions
- 1
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, fine salt, and sugar until evenly combined.
- 2
Add the cold shortening (or butter pieces) to the flour mixture and work it in with your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse, slightly sandy crumbs with no large pieces remaining.
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