Firecrackers Recipe

Saltines baked with spices for a crunchy and addictive snack.

When you hear “saltines” described, your first thought probably isn’t “awesome snack.” But with this recipe, you can elevate the humble saltine into an incredible snack everyone will love. All you need to make this firecracker recipe are saltines, ranch seasoning, red pepper flakes, and oil. Only four ingredients! Nothing needs to be made by hand either! 

Instead of having bland crackers, take 30 minutes out of your day and make this spicy firecracker recipe. Warning: once you try these firecrackers, you may never be able to eat regular crackers again!

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• Firecrackers

WHAT ARE FIRECRACKERS?

Most of us think of the tiny fireworks when firecrackers are mentioned. Though that definition is correct, they are also a delicious and spicy snack. Firecrackers are crackers that are seasoned to give them more of a kick. They are usually made with saltines, but you can use almost any cracker you like.

INGREDIENTS

Saltines: It’s best to use unsalted saltines as the seasonings have a lot of salt in them. Feel free to use oyster crackers or even Cheez-It crackers in this recipe. 

Dry Ranch Seasoning: This will provide a huge amount of flavor to the crackers. Use ranch seasoning over ranch dip mix to cut down on sodium intake. 

Red Pepper Flakes: These flakes will be what provides the spice to your crackers. Feel free to use as much or as little as you can handle. 

Vegetable Oil: We use vegetable oil in this recipe, but any neutral vegetable oil will work. Don’t use flavored oils like olive oil, as it will give the firecrackers a strange taste.

HOW TO MAKE FIRECRACKERS

This recipe is super easy! No matter what level of home cook you are, this firecracker snack recipe is foolproof. 

Preheat your oven to 250°F, and place a cooling rack onto a baking sheet. This may sound strange, but this will help air flow for more even baking. 

Get your cracker of choice and dump them into a Ziploc bag. Toss all the other ingredients into the same bag and shake it up! Be careful not to shake too hard, so that you don’t break the firecrackers. You want the seasoning to cover all the crackers evenly. 

Put the seasoned crackers onto the cooling rack and place them into the oven. Halfway into baking, use a spatula to carefully move the crackers around. This will help the firecrackers to bake evenly. 

After 10 minutes in the oven, take the crackers out and let them cool. Once they are nice and cool, it’s time to start munching! You can store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature, and they will last for a good amount of time.

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE RECIPE

Can I make other firecracker flavors?
Yes! Experiment with other seasonings and see what you can come up with. Some seasonings you can try are garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, or dried herbs. Feel free to experiment with other types of crackers as well. Cheez-It crackers or Herb-Infused crackers can add a whole new dimension to this recipe.

Will multigrain crackers work?
Multigrain crackers do work in this recipe. It is a great way to add fiber into your diet and change up the recipe’s flavor.

What are some other ways to enjoy firecrackers?
They are a great snack, but firecrackers can be enjoyed in many other ways. Try them as a side with tomato soup, chili, or even a cheese dip. 

Do I have to use saltines?
No, you can use almost any cracker for this recipe. Oyster crackers work well for a more bite-sized snack, but try the recipe with your favorite cracker.

Why do I need to put a cooling rack on top of the baking sheet?
This helps the hot air from the oven bake the crackers more evenly.

Can I make firecrackers in an air fryer?
You can make them in air fryer, but we don’t recommend it. There is a lot less space in the air fryer than in the oven, so you will have to work in multiple small batches. This will take more time than if you baked it in an oven.

TIPS

• Firecrackers have a bit of a kick, but aren’t too spicy. If you find this recipe too spicy, feel free to lessen the amount of red pepper flakes. On the other hand, add more flakes to make it spicier. 
• Try making this recipe with other spices to see what cracker creations you can make. It doesn’t have to be a spicy snack.
• Use unsalted crackers and salt it to taste. This recipe uses seasonings that have a lot of sodium, so we feel it doesn’t need extra salt. However, if you want to add more salt, then add however much you like.
• Shift the saltines halfway through baking to help the crackers cook more evenly.

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