Although it would be nice to think that we all made homemade crackers in our kitchens, the truth is that most people are going to buy ready-made most of the time, so here’s a list of good brands that are free from both animal ingredients and palm oil (to protect orangutans and other endangered creatures).
Avoid crackers for children and people at risk of choking. Don’t give crackers to pets, garden birds or wildfowl (onion/salt/garlic and choking risks).
Don’t eat blue or mould vegan cheeses (or dairy blue cheeses) if pregnant or nursing. If making homemade crackers, keep fresh dough away from pets. Read more on keeping people and pets safe in the kitchen.
Never give leftover crackers to garden birds or wildfowl, as they are too hard and could choke (also salt is toxic, and butter smears on feathers, affecting waterproofing and insulation).
ZENB makes grocery items (pasta, noodles etc) from iron-rich yellow peas (high in protein, and use less water to grow than other crops. Pea protein also help stop the 3 million tons of soy protein being imported from South America (although a lot of soy is imported as animal feed). Yellow peas are more like chickpeas than regular frozen green peas. The range includes:
- Black pepper & Himalayan salt
- Rosemary & chia seed
- Onion poppy seed
You can recycle most plastic packaging at supermarket bag bins.
Artisan Savoury Crackers from a Yorkshire Bakery
Sawley Kitchen was founded by a Yorkshire couple. Robin had years of hospitality experience, and Nicky had worked her way up to being manager at the famed Betty’s of Harrogate. After they sold their pub, they had to quickly find another outlet, and this was it. Sadly, Robin passed away, but his legacy lives on with these delicious crackers, which are also lovely with chutney.
These crackers are free from palm oil, made from spelt and wheat flours, rapeseed oil, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, plus salt, baking powder and herbs or spices.
- Malted Barley are a classic for any vegan cheeseboard. Twice-baked for a light and crispy finish.
- Smoked Paprika are perfect for vegan brie or camembert and creamy hummus dips.
- Rosemary Sea Salt are bursting with fresh flavours and crusted with sea salt. Very moreish!
- Thyme and Toasted Seeds are roasted with sesame, sunflower and pumpkin seed, serve with vegan cheddar.
- Cranberry Walnut are sweet and earthy, ideal with vegan blue cheese.
Vegan Crispbread from a London Bakery
Breakin’ Bread makes delicious vegan crispbread, in a local London bakery. This Swedish-style crispbread is gluten-free and slow-roasted to perfection. It’s packed full of seeds, so high in protein, fibre and omega 6 fatty acids. Serve with dips, or vegan cheeseboards. The brand was created by a Swedish woman, who in England was not impressed with Ryvita!
Free from palm oil, the crispbread is made with buckwheat flour, sunflower and chia seeds, olive oil, rosemary, salt and psyllium husk.
You can also choose version with pumpkin, sunflower and chia seeds.
More Palm-oil-free Vegan Crackers
Peter’s Yard rosemary sea salt sourdough crackers are made with a 45-year-old sourdough starter, fermented for 16 hours. Crafted in small batches, these are made with cold-pressed rapeseed oil from Suffolk, and nice with soup or vegan cheese. Inspired by a Swedish recipe.
Cradoc’s Savoury Crackers are made in the Brecon Beacons (Wales). The flour is from a local co-op and spices from a community store to support the Gurkha community. Owned by a local baker-lady and Chief Cracker Muncher! The range (bar a couple of cheese versions) is all vegan-friendly and includes:
- Oats or Sea Salt
- Beetroot & garlic
- Chilli ginger & garlic
- Spinach & celery seed
- Pear & Earl Grey
- Lemongrass Coconut Chilli
- Peppercorn, Fennel & red onion
3 Simple Vegan Cracker Recipes
2-ingredient crackers (The Gunny Snack) is an easy-to-veganise recipe, you just use self-raising flour and vegan Greek yoghurt, then add optional Italian seasoning, sea salt, red pepper flakes or vegan Parmesan.
Sourdough discard crackers (Veggiekins) make use of the starter from making bread, adding chickpea flour, cheesy-tasting nutritional yeast (rich in B12) and your favourite seasonings (garlic powder, oregano, poppy seeds, flaky sea salt or herbs like rosemary, thyme or basil).
Easy gluten-free crackers (The Loopy Whisk) just need gluten-free flour and xantham gum, along with salt, coconut oil and smoked paprika.
