Citric Acid Free Classic Saltine Crackers
Store-bought crackers are a minefield when you're avoiding citric acid, since it hides in ingredient lists under various names and shows up in more packaged snacks than you'd ever expect. Making your own from scratch is the cleanest solution, and this recipe keeps things beautifully simple — just flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, cold fat, and water. The technique of rolling the dough as thin as possible is the real secret here, giving you that satisfying, paper-crisp snap that makes a great cracker so craveable. Docking each square all the way through to the parchment isn't just for looks — it keeps the crackers flat and evenly baked, with those signature little holes throughout. A light brush of melted butter and a pinch of flaky sea salt on top adds just enough richness and crunch to make these genuinely hard to stop eating. They crisp up even further as they cool, so resist the urge to grab one straight off the pan. Pair them with cheese, soup, or just eat them plain — either way, you know exactly what went into every single one.
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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 butter or unsalted butter, cold butter 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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