Diving into the World of Crackers

Crackers—what's not to love? They're crunchy, satisfying snacks and have a huge range of verstality and uses. Think about it, they're served in restaurants, at parties, to your kids as a snack, easy to much on while you watch a movie, a base for cheeses and spreads. What defines a cracker, though?

Understanding American Crackers

At its very basic definition, a cracker is a baked snack that is usually dry and crisp. They're typically made from flour and water, can be leavened or unleavened, a variety of fats, and allow for a very wide range of textures and flavors.

American crackers have a rich history dating back to the 1800s when they were originally created as durable food for sailors. Today, they are a staple in kitchens worldwide, available in countless styles, textures, and flavors—from plain saltines to gourmet infused options.

The History of Crackers

Very likely the American cracker evolved from British nautical biscuits, referred to as hardtack, common on military ships due to them being inexpensive and unsusceptible to spoilage. They were baked hard and crisp to allow some absorption of moisture on sea voyages. The "Boston" cracker, introduced in the early 1800s, became the first commercially successful variety.

In 1801, Josiah Bent began a baking operation in Milton, Massachusetts, selling "water crackers", biscuits made of flour and water that would not deteriorate during long sea voyages from the port of Boston. These were also used extensively as a source of food by the gold prospectors who migrated to the gold mines of California in 1849. Since the journey took months, hardtack was stored in the wagon trains. Bent's company later sold the original hardtack crackers used by troops during the American Civil War. The G. H. Bent Company operated in Milton and sold these items to Civil War re-enactors and others until 2018.

Types of Crackers

There are three basic types of crackers: soda crackers, which have one or more types of flour, baking fat and salt; graham crackers, typically made from a mix of white and whole grain flours, with added sweetness from honey, sugar or molasses; and a water biscuit, which is made with is usually a simple flour and water.

Springboard for More Cracker Recipes

Over time I intend to tackle a healthy range of crackers to include: saltines, graham, whole grain, cheese, rice and crispbreads. To start off, I'm going for a simple flour, oil and water crisp with seasonings.