Now you can make this unique and tasty snack at home! Oyster crackers are small, salted crackers with a distinct flavor that is utterly delicious on its own or as a topping for clam chowder and seafood stew. Best of all, these crackers are really simple and easy to make, so let’s get started.
What are Oyster Crackers?
Oyster Crackers get their name from their shape and their use in oyster stews and other seafood dishes. Today, we eat them as a snack and a deliciously crunchy topping for clam chowder, seafood stew, tomato soup, and Cincinnati-style chili.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- all-purpose flour
- sugar
- baking powder
- salt
- dried dill
- vegetable oil
- cold water
How to Make Oyster Crackers
- Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and dried dill in a medium bowl.
- Slowly add the vegetable oil and water. You should add just enough water that the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl.
- Dust some flour on a wooden board. Turn the dough onto it and knead for a few minutes to form a ball.
- Roll the dough to less than ¼-inch thick using a rolling pin. Dust with flour occasionally to prevent the dough from sticking.
- Use a cookie cutter and cut the dough into small rounds.
- Transfer the cut circles to the prepared baking sheet and bake at 350°F for about 15 minutes or until light gold in color.
- When the crackers are done, turn off the oven and leave them to rest for a further 15 minutes with the oven door ajar. This makes them delightfully light and crispy. Allow to cool and enjoy.
Tips and Tricks
- These crackers have a strong and salty flavor to them. If you prefer less flavor, reduce the salt and dill measurements by half.
- You can cut the dough to your preferred shapes and sizes
Oyster Crackers vs Saltines
There are two main differences between oyster crackers and saltines: the shape and ingredients. Oyster crackers are small rounds that contain flour, yeast, higher amounts of shortening (or oils), sugar, salt, and baking powder. Saltines are square or rectangular crackers that don’t contain as much shortening or sugar, but are saltier than oyster crackers.
Substitute For Oyster Crackers
You can use any cracker to replace oyster crackers, including Goldfish crackers, saltines, or cheez-its. If it’s tasty, savory, and has a nice crunch, it will work well as a topping for soups and stews.
Homemade Oyster Crackers Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour plus more for dusting
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp dried dill
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- 1/3 cup cold water
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Meanwhile, line a baking sheet with parchment and set aside.
- Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and dried dill in a medium bowl.
- Slowly add the vegetable oil and water. You should add just enough water that the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl.
- Dust some flour on a wooden board. Turn the dough onto it and knead for a few minutes to form a ball.
- Roll the dough to less than ¼-inch thick using a rolling pin. Dust with flour occasionally to prevent the dough from sticking.
- Use a cookie cutter and cut the dough into small rounds. Transfer the cut circles to the prepared baking sheet and bake for about 15 minutes or until light gold in color.
- When the crackers are done, turn off the oven and leave them to rest for a further 15 minutes with the oven door ajar. This makes them delightfully light and crispy.
- Allow to cool completely and serve as a snack or topping.
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