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Home » Recipes » Quick Bread Recipes

Saltine Cracker Recipe

Published: Jun 11, 2025 by Marye

Buttery, crisp, and made with just 5 pantry staples, these easy homemade saltine crackers are ready in under 30 minutes—no yeast, no fuss, just old-school snack magic.
Total time for the recipe to be finished.Total Time 25 minutes minutes
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Hero image of homemade crackers
Fingers picking up a cracker. Title text overlay for pinning to Pinterest.
A collage of saltine crackers images with text overlay for Pinterest.

These homemade saltine crackers are buttery, crisp, and done in under 30 minutes—no yeast, no weird stuff, no store run required. Just five basic ingredients, an easy recipe, and a smug sense of superiority you can taste.

Someone getting a cracker out of a bowl
Table of Contents
  • 💁‍♀️ Why these homemade crackers just make sense
  • 🧾 What you’ll need to make homemade saltine crackers
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 🔪 How to make this saltine crackers recipe
  • 📚 Related recipes
  • 💬 Comments

Whether you call them soda crackers or saltines, you've got to admit that a crispy cracker is the best accompaniment to homemade soup ever created! Learn how to make your own!

5 star rating
5 star rating
5 star rating
5 star rating
5 star rating
Made a double recipe of these Saturday. Excellent. Will trash Mark Bitman's crackers recipe. This is our new go-to recipe for saltines. Thanks.
Ed

These homemade saltine crackers are everything—crisp, buttery, and ready in under 30 minutes with no yeast or weird ingredients required. They're my go-to with creamy tomato soup (or any soup, really), and I love that I can cut them into any shape I want. Beyond being ridiculously easy and delicious, they give me that smug little thrill of self-sufficiency—because if another toilet paper/cracker/bread crisis hits or the zombies roll in, guess who still gets to have soup with crackers?

Yep. This girl.

💁‍♀️ Why these homemade crackers just make sense

  • 5 everyday ingredients you already have in the pantry—because we’re not playing “Chopped: Apocalypse Edition.”
  • No yeast required so there’s zero waiting, proofing, or praying involved.
  • Ready in under 30 minutes—quicker than your grocery delivery window and way more satisfying.
  • Crispy, buttery, and customizable—cut ‘em into hearts, stars, or whatever passive-aggressive shape suits your mood.
  • Freezer-friendly dough for those “Oh no, the book club’s actually coming over” moments.

🧾 What you’ll need to make homemade saltine crackers

Labeled ingredients for saltine cracker recipe.
  • All purpose flour has just the right amount of gluten to hold everything together without turning your crackers into chewy regrets.
  • Egg helps the cracker crisp in the oven and also holds the salt on. If you have an egg allergy try this: Mix 1 tablespoon cornstarch and ⅓ cup water in a small pan and bring to a boil. Simmer until thick. Brush thinly on the crackers in place of the egg.
  • Butter adds richness and helps create those perfectly crisp, golden edges we’re all a little too proud of.
  • Milk moistens the dough and gives it just enough structure without making it heavy—because dense crackers are just sad.
  • Baking powder adds a touch of lift keeps the texture light and snappy, not flat and cardboard-like.
  • Coarse salt adds the final salty sparkle that hits your tastebuds like a mic drop—don’t skip it unless you hate joy.

Get tips, faqs, and more on this downloadable Saltine Cracker Kitchen Cheat Sheet pdf. It's free and you don't even need your email to get it.

📖 Recipe

Hero image of homemade crackers

Homemade Saltine Crackers

4.64 from 356 votes
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Buttery, crisp, and made with just 5 pantry staples, these easy homemade saltine crackers are ready in under 30 minutes—no yeast, no fuss, just old-school snack magic.
Course Bread
Cuisine American
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes minutes
Servings:36
Calories:68
Author:Marye Audet-White

Ingredients

  • 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter
  • 1 ⅓ cup milk, you can substitute non dairy milk if you need to
  • coarse salt, for sprinkling
  • 1 egg white, OR egg yolk. The whites make them crisper.
  • 1 tablespoon water

Instructions

  • Blend the egg white with the water to make an egg wash. Set aside.
  • Mix together the flour and baking powder.
  • If you are adding seasonings mix those in with the dry ingredients.
  • Cut butter into flour mixture until it forms coarse crumbs.
  • Add the milk and knead gently to form a ball.
  • Divide in 4 parts and roll out paper thin on a floured surface. The thinner they are the crisper they will be.
  • Cut the dough into squares or desired shapes. (a pizza wheel works great for that!)
  • Place on an ungreased cookie sheet and prick all over with a fork.
  • Brush with the egg wash and sprinkle with salt (or cracked pepper ..or..)
  • Bake at 325 until golden brown..about 15- 20 minutes. (check after 10 minutes)
  • Let cool before serving. They crisp as they cool.

Notes

The yield of this recipe is largely dependent on how you cut the crackers. The nutrition information is based on cutting them into 36 large crackers.
Storage
Homemade saltine crackers will last a week or more in an airtight container in the pantry. If they do lose some crispness you can pop them in the oven on 375F for a few minutes. 
The unbaked dough freezes well for up to 3 months.
Tips:
  • Throw away the scraps of dough after cutting - they will be tough if you re-roll them. Or, bake them for little snacks.
  • Cut saltine crackers into uniform shapes so that they cook evenly.
  • Leave a little room between each cracker when you bake to keep them crispy all over.
  • Once the crackers begin to brown watch them carefully!

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 1cracker | Calories: 68kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 4mg | Sodium: 6mg | Potassium: 62mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 54IU | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.

🔪 How to make this saltine crackers recipe

Keep an eye on these as they bake. You don't want them to get too brown.

Step by step images showing how to make saltine crackers
  1. Mix the dry ingredients.
  2. Cut in the butter.
  3. Mixture should look coarse.
  4. Add milk.
  5. Blend.
  6. Knead gently until it holds together.
  7. Roll out thinly.
  8. Prick with fork.
  9. Brush with egg and sprinkle with salt.
  10. Bake.
Homemade saltine crackers cut in heart shapes on a black and white plate.

📚 Related recipes

  • Southern Cheese Straws – are sharp, buttery, and unapologetically extra—these pair perfectly with your homemade saltines on any snack board.
  • Jalapeño Pimento Cheese is spicy, smoky, and wildly addictive. Slather it on a cracker and feel like you’ve got your life together.
  • Old-Fashioned Deviled Ham Spread is the retro sandwich spread you didn’t know you needed. Bonus points if you cut your crackers into tiny shapes like it’s 1957.

P.S. You could serve them with homemade soup… but why would you, when there’s cheese involved?

Once you get this recipe down you will never, I repeat never, want to go back. You can vary the flour, herbs, and other ingredients to create unique flavors.

📌 Pin this recipe so you can impress your future self with homemade crackers and Depression-era competence.

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About Marye

Meet Marye Audet, a wizard in the kitchen and a storyteller at heart. Marye is like your eccentric but fun aunt who knows all the secret recipes and isn't afraid to spill them.

Comments

    4.64 from 356 votes (312 ratings without comment)

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    Love it? Give it 5 stars!




  1. Rana says

    October 27, 2023 at 12:14 pm

    3 stars
    I just made these today and I liked them so much. I had 2 problems though. First one is that the dough was hard to roll out, Second one is that they didn't turn out crispy at all! Idk what might the problem be but they turned out very chewy. Either ways i enjoyed them especially with tea but I'd love to know what went wrong and what should I've done differently.

    Reply
    • Marye says

      November 01, 2023 at 5:39 pm

      it sounds like you either used bread flour or just really overmixed them.

      Reply
  2. cornelia says

    October 20, 2023 at 5:01 am

    5 stars
    Hello, Marye! I love your recipe of saltine crackers and I can”t wait to try it. Can I ask you something? Does the dough need to stay in the fridge before roll out and bake it? Thank you for all your recipes, you are really great!

    Reply
    • Marye says

      October 20, 2023 at 5:02 pm

      No - I usually just roll and bake.

      Reply
  3. Glenda says

    October 08, 2023 at 2:05 pm

    Do you think this dough would hold up to a pasta machine? It could roll it out really thin, just not sure. I may give it a try.

    Reply
    • Marye says

      October 08, 2023 at 2:58 pm

      I don't think so..and I think that the pasta machine would overwork the dough and the crackers would be tough.

      Reply
  4. Ed says

    October 06, 2023 at 5:58 pm

    5 stars
    Lovely! Thanks. Took me 3x the time but, I’m a once in a while cook.

    Reply
  5. Alyssa says

    August 24, 2023 at 8:06 am

    I can't wait to try this saltine crackers recipe. I had no idea you could make your own. My kids will have so much fun helping me make these and we could even make some different shaped ones!

    Reply
  6. Camden Rusincovitch says

    August 12, 2023 at 4:48 pm

    Oh, these soda crackers already have a place on my next charcuterie board. Thank you for this recipe!

    Reply
  7. Kristen Yard says

    August 08, 2023 at 12:49 am

    5 stars
    Do you think a gluten free version of this saltine crackers recipe would work? I am so tired of forking over like $7 for a bag of gluten free soda crackers! Especially when I can get an entire back of gluten free all-purpose flour for that much! I wonder if I could swap out the regular all-purpose flour for gluten free all-purpose flour?

    Reply
    • Marye says

      August 09, 2023 at 6:01 pm

      The crackers don't need gluten so I think gluten free flour would be fine.

      Reply
  8. Brittany says

    August 06, 2023 at 2:58 pm

    I'm so happy to have found this saltine crackers recipe! My go-to ones at the store recently changed ingredients (allergies) and I have been having withdrawals 🤣

    Reply
  9. Cynthia Rusincovitch says

    August 06, 2023 at 1:48 pm

    Wait??! I can make my own soda crackers??! I have never even considered such a thing. But these look so good. I can't wait to try it!

    Reply
    • Marye says

      August 06, 2023 at 1:50 pm

      They're so easy! And it was great during Covid when we couldn't get out and when we did the shelves were empty! Hope you like them!

      Reply
  10. Alisha Marie Gilpin says

    June 12, 2023 at 3:36 am

    5 stars
    I absolutely love this recipe! It’s June 2023 and a box of crackers cost $5-$6 in California. My 4 year old daughter and I love making these crackers together! We use new shapes each time. I pride you, Marye, on not letting anyone get to you. Ads run the world, but it’s delicious chefs like you who offer their recipes and their love that change this world for the better. I recently came back to your recipe and shared it with my sister and I ate your delicious crackers while reading your awesome comment responses and I support you. (There’s a difference between a troll and a strong woman who stands up for herself and believes in herself.) Try these crackers!!

    Reply
    • Marye says

      June 12, 2023 at 6:58 am

      Thank you so much for your kind words!

      Reply
  11. Sierra says

    June 04, 2023 at 7:48 am

    5 stars
    I love this recipe! It makes the best crackers without all the processed ingredients typical crackers have. They’re buttery, salty, and I love how you can customize the sizes and shapes. 😀

    Reply
    • Marye says

      June 17, 2023 at 8:46 am

      I'm so glad you like them! Have you tried them with the creamy chicken noodle soup?

      Reply
  12. Lisa says

    April 16, 2023 at 5:32 pm

    I am hoping I can use rice flour, supposedly it will measure 1:1 measurement and add some extra water to make up for the absorption rate of the rice flour. My body doesn't do food well and in no way tolerates AP flour, almond, coconut and many others. Fingers crossed these work out for me, I haven't had a saltine in over 5 years.

    Reply
    • Marye says

      April 16, 2023 at 10:48 pm

      Lisa! Let me know how it goes. 🙂

      Reply
  13. Heith says

    April 12, 2023 at 9:15 am

    Thank you for sharing this recipe! One question, can I substitute the all-purpose flour with blanched almond flour, or coconut flour?

    Reply
  14. Jeanne says

    March 29, 2023 at 12:31 pm

    You could have just ignored Ryan’s complaint or explained nicely, instead of trolling. Am I next?

    Reply
    • Marye says

      March 29, 2023 at 1:27 pm

      Yes, I could have. 🙂 Have a great day.

      Reply
  15. Michelle says

    February 08, 2023 at 5:41 am

    5 stars
    Can't wait to try this out. Thank you for posting. All Ryan and others have to do is screenshot and boom no more ad aggravation!!! Have a wonderful day!

    Reply
  16. Sherri Lynn Blanchard says

    January 23, 2023 at 10:49 am

    5 stars
    Can this dough be made in the bread machine??

    Reply
    • Marye says

      January 23, 2023 at 12:50 pm

      I have no clue. I don't have a bread machine and probably wouldn't think to use one on this recipe if I did.

      Reply
  17. Kylie says

    January 02, 2023 at 3:27 pm

    5 stars
    These are so delicious. Thank you! I dumbly forgot to put salt in, so I brushed them with egg wash and sprinkled flaky salt on top halfway through the baking time, and I think I may always make them that way 🙂 the egg wash made them nice and shiny. Also I made half twists, half just square sliced crackers. Both were lovely.

    These are really good dipped in pepper jelly or baked feta 😊

    Reply
    • Marye says

      January 03, 2023 at 3:34 pm

      The egg was is a great idea

      Reply
  18. Cindy says

    October 11, 2022 at 8:55 am

    5 stars
    It is amazing how quickly you can have delicious, healthy homemade saltines! This is such a great FREE recipe 💖 Thank you! I like how you can customize the servings! I had saltines ready in under 20 mins! 🤗

    Reply
  19. Esther says

    June 02, 2022 at 7:29 pm

    5 stars
    I’m going to try it with gluten free flour. I realize that that might not work. And that’s okay. But the recipe itself sounds like it holds together really well! So I will find a flour that works lol!

    Reply
  20. Ryan says

    May 11, 2022 at 7:31 am

    3 stars
    I want to say first off recipe is good. Makes really nice crackers and I added my own flavors and such. But, just like most blogs, I must give 3 stars because of the constant refreshing I had to do to get ads off of my entire screen. The "x" doesn't work and I can't see anything while the ad follows my screen when scrolling. Not to mention the consistent stream of video ads I have to click out of just to read the post and to write this, as they cover the screen when I'm typing. Not sure why people insist on covering their hard work and passion with ads. Even if they pertained to food or something it'd manageable but I'm cursed looking at Walgreens and car ads on a recipe blog. Just some perspective.

    Reply
    • Marye says

      May 12, 2022 at 8:05 am

      Ryan - so honestly... you came to my site for a free recipe. Free. Gratis. No strings attached. I work approximately 60-80 hours a week and my cost JUST to keep this blog with FREE recipes on the internet is approximately 5500.00 a month. There are ads in magazines, on podcasts, on tv...billboards... and I'm sure that when you go to work you expect to be paid, yes? Ah Ryan, Ryan, Ryan...those pesky ads are on most blogs because, although we do love our readers, the idea of providing you with FREE recipes while living in a tent outside of Starbucks so I can snag their wifi just isn't appealing to me. However I AM open to creating an ad-free membership only blog if you are willing to pay $150.00 a month for ad-free. Let me know... and have a great day.

      Reply
    • Wes says

      November 15, 2022 at 12:02 pm

      5 stars
      Ryan, your rating and response show a lack of maturity and a sense of entitlement. To settle your frustration all you needed to do was use the print button.
      Marye,
      Thanks for sharing and doing what you do. I tried this recipe today using vegan butter and the cornstarch wash. Simple and tasty just the way I like to bake/cook.

      Reply
    • Daphne says

      April 05, 2023 at 2:33 pm

      People look at ratings for the recipe itself. If you have a complaint about something other than the recipe, it shouldn't affect how many stars you give. Besides, if you don't like it, don't visit her site.

      Reply
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Marye Audet-White, founder of Restless Chipotle Media

Hey Y'all, I'm Marye

Welcome to my kitchen! ☕

NY Times bestselling author. 10 cookbooks. Mom of 8 kids. Homeschooling mom for 22 years. Addicted to Hallmark Christmas Movies. Collector of old cookbooks.

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