One more snack to make before Christmas — smoky, savory fire crackers!
These crackers are embarrassingly easy, dangerously addictive and absolutely delicious. I love them — they’re crunchy, savory and perfect for holiday gatherings.
On a recent trip to Rosemary Beach for a friend’s bachelorette weekend, I sampled a vendor’s version of “fire crackers” at a farmer’s market. They were spiced saltines and so tasty I couldn’t stop thinking about them.
Back home I looked up recipes and found many that soaked crackers in vegetable oil rather than baking them. While those are tasty, I preferred a baked version where melted butter and spices cling to the crackers and the crunch stays intact. So I developed this buttery, smoky version that bakes on a rack so the seasoning adheres and the crackers remain crisp.
I love retro, simple snacks like this — the kind that look unassuming in a bowl but disappear instantly because the flavor is so good. These fire crackers are exactly that: an easy, nostalgic snack with big taste.
Why you’ll love them
They’re simple to make, easy to scale for a crowd, and use pantry spices. The method keeps the crackers crunchy while infusing them with smoky, savory butter.
To coat the crackers evenly, arrange them accordion-style in a 9×13-inch dish, pour the spiced butter over them, then transfer to a wire rack on a baking sheet so air circulates and the crackers crisp evenly. The only slightly tedious step is spreading them in a single layer on the rack, but the result is worth it.
When they come out of the oven warm, try not to eat the whole batch immediately — they’re hard to resist!
Merry making!
Smoky Savory Fire Crackers
Savory, Smoky Fire Crackers
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Ingredients
- 1 16 ounce box saltine crackers
- 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Prep two baking sheets by placing a wire rack on each sheet.
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Place the crackers in a 9×13 inch baking dish so they are snug against each other in an accordion-like arrangement (you may need to do two batches). This helps the butter and spices coat every cracker.
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Melt the butter in a saucepan over low heat. Stir in the brown sugar, garlic powder, smoked paprika, crushed red pepper, oregano, salt and black pepper until combined. Pour the mixture over the crackers, trying to get the spiced butter between each cracker. Use a spoon to drizzle any remaining butter over the crackers so they are evenly coated.
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Transfer the coated crackers to the wire racks in a single layer. Bake for 15 minutes, flip the crackers, then bake for another 15 minutes. Let cool completely before serving. Store in a resealable container or bag to keep them crisp until ready to serve.
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I appreciate you so much!
Look at that crispy flavor!