Turkey Free Classic Saltine Crackers
Homemade crackers feel like a small luxury, and these classic saltines deliver that satisfying, paper-thin crunch that store-bought versions only hint at. The dough comes together from a short list of pantry staples — flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, and cold fat — making this an approachable bake with genuinely impressive results. Rolling the dough as thin as possible is the real secret here, and docking each square thoroughly with a fork keeps them flat and gives them those iconic little holes. A brush of melted butter and a pinch of flaky sea salt before baking adds just enough richness and sparkle to make them feel special. Since the recipe is built entirely around flour, shortening or butter, and water, there's nothing to second-guess about the ingredient list — no hidden poultry-derived additives or ambiguous flavoring agents that can sometimes sneak into packaged crackers. They come out of the oven pale golden at the edges and crisp all the way through once cooled, perfect for cheese boards, soups, or just snacking straight off the rack.
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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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