The Ideal Crackers for Dipping, Eating with Cheese, Secret Snacking, and More
We love crackers. Love 'em. While we understand that the average person ____ does not feel as strongly as we do about these snacky delights, we are coming up on prime cracker season (holiday parties, you know). With countless cheese plates and hors d'oeuvres spreads to tackle, you're gonna need a lot of crackers.
That's where we come in. To find your ideal cracker, you first have to identify what you're using it for: pairing with cheese, dipping, general entertaining, late-night secret snacking, beer sponge… With these cracker-adjacent activities in mind, we polled Bon Appétit staffers as well as our Twitter followers, ultimately tasting 21 different crackers per their suggestions. We paired the crackers with plain hummus, a Brie-style cheese, and a sharp cheddar, and also sampled them alone.
We nixed a few duds (Too salty! Too bland! Possibly rancid!) to come up with this comprehensive list of the ideal crackers for each snacking activity. Here are our picks.
fromagination.com1/14For When You'll Be Unwrapping the Package in Front of Guests: Potter's Crackers Six Seed
Largely well-received (minus one dissenting vote who merely wrote, "yuck.") Other comments included: "What a pleasant surprise. Load it up with Brie and have a party," and "toasty and roasty, with just the right amount of crunch." They were "a bit crumbly" and "dense," but others liked the "charming packaging" and "whole graininess."
Rusticbakery.com2/14For When Ordinary Breadsticks Just Won't Do: Rustic Bakery Olive Oil & Sel Gris
"So pretty and salty!" remarked one commenter. "So salty," said another. A couple others wondered if these crackers would be even better with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. These long, thin snacks were praised for their "heft," and "sturdy texture." Said one taster: "It's like breadsticks and crackers had a baby."
Amazon.com3/14For When You're Hosting Your Fussy Great-Aunt Who Hates Everything: Carr's Table Water Crackers
"The white, button-down Oxford shirt of crackers!" one commenter noted. We eat 'em with Brie, paté, "all the cheese," and "everything and anything." "There's a lot going for this," said a taster, citing the sturdiness and the "not overpowering" flavor.
ak-mak4/14For Those Times You Actually Just Want to Eat Hummus: ak-mak Sesame Cracker
Pass the hummus! Tasters felt this "toasty," "crunchy," and "crispy" cracker would be great with chickpea spread (except for a couple of outliers who thought the cracker would be best "eaten by itself.") If you like sesame, this is your dream cracker.
iHerb.com5/14For Christmas at the Commune: Mary's Gone Crackers Original
"Hippielicious!" marveled one taster, while others noted these gluten-free crackers fare best with strong cheese and savory dips. They were very crunchy, if a bit "too shiny."
Soap.com6/14For When You Just Want a F****** Cracker: Triscuit Original
The "simple, feel-good list of ingredients" was widely commented on by staffers, and was even called out as one taster's favorite. Other comments: "Boom! Delish," and "You know you want it."
Z Crackers7/14For Those Who Can't Bear to Conform: Z Crackers Sea Salt & Olive Oil
Commenters went crazy for the salt level on these crackers. Some liked the irregular shapes; some considered it a detriment ("I like even shapes," explained one taster.) These "Wheat Thins 2.0" were favored with plenty of hummus. They were the favorite of one taster, who commented on their "nice sturdy texture."
iHerb.com8/14For When You Want to Black Out and Eat an Entire Box of Crackers by Yourself: Kashi Original 7 Grain
Cheddar was the overwhelming favorite pairing with these "surprisingly delicious" "everyday crackers" with "nice salt," and a "hint of sweetness." One taster admitted to being "shocked at how much I like these."
Deananddeluca.com9/14For Those Who Find Crackers Too Plebeian: Raincoast Crisps Rosemary Raisin Pecan
The dried fruit added "sweetness and contrast," and could stand up to "funky, soft cheeses." There was a "great salty-sweetness," to this cracker that tasted like "dehydrated cinnamon raisin bread—in a good way."
iHerb.com10/14For the Indecisive, Gluten-Intolerant Guest: Blue Diamond Almond Nut-Thins
Commenters were drastically divided on these. Some felt they were "very bland," and tasted "weirdly fabricated," while others extolled the "salty, light" flavor and their ability to pair with cheese, dessert, and "hot chocolate." "I eat boxes of these at my mom's house," remarked one taster. "Where can I buy them!?" asked another.
Keebler11/14For Regressions Back to Childhood: Keebler Club Original
This "classic" cracker made us "feel like we were 10 again," would be "great crumbled in soup", and even reminded us of our grandmothers who "always serves them with that strange cheddar wine dip." Multiple staffers commented that they'd eat these late night with beer—"Needs the cheddar, though."
Ritz12/14For Peanut Butter, Cheez-Whiz, and All Sorts of Secret-Snacking: Ritz Original
We've got a soft spot for these buttery crackers. Tasters noted they were best paired with "Cheez-Whiz", "peanut butter", and "all things everywhere." One zealous staff member went so far as to say, "I would eat these alone, as in no toppings and by myself."
Amazon.com13/14For When You Can't Decide Between a Cookie and a Cracker: Carr's Whole Wheat Crackers
"It's a cookie," said one commenter, while others commented on its "slightly sweet" "graham cracker-like" flavor. One taster wanted to "eat them for breakfast," while another observed, "It is amazing that we live in a work where this is a cracker." Best paired with cheese or eaten alone—this is not a cracker for savory dips and spreads.
Murrayscheese.com14/14For When You Really, Really Just Want a Cookie: Effie's Homemade Oatcakes
While tasters went nuts for the "delicious," "so good" snack, it was ultimately decided they belonged at dessert. "This is a delicious shortbread cookie," said one.
