Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the sourdough discard, all-purpose flour, olive oil, salt, and dried herbs. Mix with a wooden spoon or your hands until a shaggy dough forms. If too sticky, add 1 tablespoon flour at a time. If too dry, add a teaspoon of water until smooth.
- Let the dough rest at room temperature for 10-15 minutes. This relaxes the gluten and makes rolling much easier — your crackers will turn out crispier!
- Divide the dough in half. Place one piece between two sheets of parchment paper (or on a lightly floured surface) and roll out as thin as possible — aim for about 1/8 inch (3mm) thick or less. The thinner you roll, the crispier the crackers!
- Use a pizza cutter, sharp knife, or fluted pastry wheel to cut the dough into 1-inch squares, rectangles, or triangles. No need to separate them — they'll snap apart easily after baking.
- Brush the surface lightly with olive oil (or water), then sprinkle generously with flaky sea salt and your favorite toppings: sesame seeds, everything bagel seasoning, grated parmesan, herbs, or spices.
- Use a fork to gently dock (poke holes in) each cracker. This prevents puffing and creates that classic flat cracker look.
- Transfer the parchment to a baking sheet and bake for 18-25 minutes, until the crackers are deeply golden brown and crispy. Watch carefully toward the end — crackers go from perfect to burnt in 60 seconds!
- Let the crackers cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes. They'll crisp up even more as they cool. Once cool, snap them apart along the cut lines.
- While the first batch cools, roll out and bake the second half of the dough using the same method.
- Serve immediately or store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. Pile them high on a cheese board, pair with dips, or enjoy by the handful!
Notes
• Roll THIN: The #1 secret to crispy crackers is rolling the dough paper-thin (1/8 inch or less). Thick crackers stay chewy, not crunchy.
• Older Discard = More Flavor: Use 3-7 day old discard for the deepest sourdough tang. Fresh discard works too — just expect a milder taste.
• Don't Skip Docking: Poking holes with a fork prevents the crackers from puffing up like mini pita breads. Always dock!
• Bake Until DEEP Golden: Pale crackers = chewy crackers. Bake until deep golden brown for maximum crunch.
• Storage: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. NEVER refrigerate — moisture will make them soft!
• Re-Crisping: If crackers lose their crunch, pop them in a 300°F oven for 5-7 minutes to bring them back to life.
• Make Ahead: Prepare the dough up to 2 days ahead and refrigerate tightly wrapped. Let sit at room temp 20-30 minutes before rolling.
• Freezer Friendly: Freeze baked crackers in a sealed bag for up to 3 months. Re-crisp in the oven before serving.
• Gluten-Free Option: Substitute with a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend. Use a gluten-free sourdough starter for fully GF crackers.
• Flavor Variations: Try cheesy parmesan, everything bagel, rosemary garlic, ranch, multigrain, cinnamon sugar, chocolate sea salt, or nutty seed combinations!
• Pasta Machine Hack: For perfectly thin, even crackers, run the dough through a pasta machine on the second-thinnest setting!
• Active Starter Option: You can use active fed sourdough starter instead of discard. The flavor will be milder but still delicious.
