Chicken Free Classic Saltine Crackers
Homemade saltine crackers are one of those deeply satisfying kitchen projects that remind you how good simple food can be. The dough comes together from just flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, and cold fat — nothing complicated, nothing to second-guess. Rolling the dough as thin as possible is the real secret here, because that near-translucent sheet is what gives you that signature crisp snap once the crackers cool on the rack. Docking each square all the way through to the parchment keeps them flat and creates those classic little holes that make a saltine look like a saltine. A brush of melted butter and a pinch of flaky sea salt right before baking adds just enough richness and crunch on top to make these genuinely craveable. Since every ingredient is straightforward pantry staple territory, there's no need to scan labels for hidden poultry-derived additives or broths that sometimes sneak into store-bought versions. Serve them with soup, pile on some cheese, or just eat them straight off the cooling rack — 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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