Want to make your own water biscuits? Look no further than this simple, four ingredient water crackers recipe - perfect for cheese platters.
Growing up, there were always Carr's Water Crackers (you know the ones you get in a box from Coles & Woolies) on our cheese platters.
We used to buy them but since I discovered how simple they are to make, they're homemade in our house now.
Why make them
- It's easy - I thought homemade water crackers would be tricky but they were extremely easy to make.
- They're delicious - despite their not-so-pretty appearance they taste great and were really moreish.
- It's economical - they use just 4 staple ingredients (one of which is water!).
- Quick - making them great for a last min snack or entertainer's plate.
Ingredients
To make your own crackers, you will need just four ingredients:
- Flour - just regular plain flour (also called all purpose flour). You can also use spelt flour if you want to make them a little more nutritious.
- Salt - the best quality salt you can get. We like to use celtic sea salt.
- Olive oil - Extra Virgin for a little bit of flavour or just plain olive oil if you don't want the taste to come though.
- Water - filtered room temperature water (preferably not cold water).
Equipment
You could make easy homemade crackers just with a bowl, your hands and a sharp knife but to make it easier, use:
- Rolling pin - for rolling the dough out
- Pizza cutter - makes slicing it easier if you don't want to do shapes
- Cookie cutter - if you're making shapes
- Baking sheet - to bake them on
- Pasta maker - optional - makes rolling them out even easier
Instructions
Step 1 - Dry ingredients
Combine the flour and salt in a medium bowl.
Make a well in the center.
Step 2 - Add oil & water
Pour the olive oil and water into the well in the centre.
As the recipe only called for 2 tablespoons of olive oil, I use the best quality you have.
It will add a delicious flavour to the crackers.
Step 3 - Combine
Step 3 texUse a knife to cut through the mixture until it all comes together.
If you have a food processor or Thermomix, you could use it instead but it really isn’t difficult making them with a knife.t
Step 4 - Roll & cut
Tip the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead until it comes together into a smooth ball.
Roll as thinly as possible then cut into shapes. I ended up just cutting the dough which had a much better result (this is where you'd use the pizza cutter).
You could just slice it up like I did in these Paleo corn chips.
Step 5
Lay the shapes out on the lined prepared trays.
They don’t spread so you can put them pretty close together.
Prick each one with a fork. The little holes help them cook evenly.
Bake at 180C fan-forced for about 12 minutes or until they turn golden.
Step 6
Transfer the crackers to a wire rack to cool.
Storage
Store them in an air-tight container until it’s time to serve them.
As long as they are properly cooked through (nice and crispy) and stored away from air they will keep for quite a few days.
Variations
You absolutely can add flavours to the crackers.
It can be sprinkled on top or mixed into the dough. Some ideas are:
- Cracked black pepper
- Poppy seeds or sesame seeds
- Dried herbs
Serving
I like to serve water crackers with a delicious brie but you can also serve with dip.
Here are a few of my favourite recipes:
FAQs
A water cracker (or water biscuit) is a savoury cracker.
It’s thin, crisp & brittle & usually served with cheese (or I like to have them with dip).
As the story goes, ‘water crackers’ were first made of flour and water in the 1800s as a food that wouldn’t deteriorate in long sea voyages.
The ‘cracker’ comes from the sound they make during baking.
I didn’t exactly witness this sound but they did crackle as they cooled.
Recipe
Water crackers - easy biscuits for cheese
Ingredients
- 200 g 7oz plain flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 100 ml cold water
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 180C (356F) fan-forced and line an oven tray with baking paper.
- Combine the flour and salt together in a large bowl and make a well in the centre.
- Pour in the water and the olive oil and using a knife, cut through the flour until everything is combined.
- Turn the dough onto a very lightly floured surface and knead until it is smooth.
- Roll out the dough as thinly as possible then cut into whichever shapes you like.
- Place the shapes on the lined tray and prick them several times with a fork or skewer.
- Bake the biscuits for about 12 minutes or until they turn golden.
SuW says
Great recipe Claire, thanks for sharing. Don't think this first batch will last long lol
Claire says
You're welcome SuW
Deb says
This was the third recipe I tried and the third one's a charm! I did cut the salt down to 1/4 tsp having tried a recipe before with 1 tsp salt and turned out too salty. They could take a little more salt but not for me. The dough is bullet proof to roll out but the crackers turned out nice and crispy, not tough like I expected.
Claire says
Glad you liked it Deb!
Florence says
Thanks!!!
Claire says
No problem
Florence says
May I ask what kind of flour should be used? Thanks
Claire says
Sure Florence - just regular plain flour is perfect.
Florence says
Can I use walnut oil or grapeseed oil instead of olive oil? Thanks
Claire says
Definitely Florence
Louisa says
Can't wait to test this recipe, had been looking for a vegan cracker recipe and this is perfect.
How long do they last ? Want to give them as Xmas presents ...
Claire says
Louisa I always stretch it a bit with keeping things but I would say 5 days.
Lucy says
Hi. Can you replace the flour with Almond flour d'you know?
Claire says
Hi Lucy. I'm not sure it would work the same way in these. Are you looking for a gluten free cracker?
Lucy says
Thanks Claire for reply. I'm on a low carb (Keto) diet and although water biscuits seem to be the best (in terms of lower carb) than most crackers, be great if I can make them even lower by using almond flour or something similar.
Claire says
Lucy I will be posting another recipe asap with crackers made with coconut flour. I wonder if they would be even better?
Lucy says
Brilliant. Sounds good. Thanks.
Joan the Catwith9lives says
So glad to found this recipe. I ran out of crackers and couldn't be bothered running up to Coles for a refresh plus, I've always wanted to make my own. I added thyme to mine and think I will try it with the powder parmesan and omit the salt next time. I did have issues rolling the dough very thin but don't have a pasta roller machine. Do you think resting the dough would help?
Claire says
Oh yum Joan that sounds delicious. Yes resting it will give it a chance to relax and make it stretch more easily.
Angela says
Made for the very first time as run out of shop brought water biscuits, wont be buying any more, delicious and very moreish.
Claire says
Yay! Glad you liked them Angela!
Johnny Male says
Loved your amazingly easy recipe. As I'm in the south of France at the moment I added herb de Provence and sprinkled sea salt on the before baking. They were amazing. Thank you !!!
Claire says
Thanks Johnny! Ooh that sounds wonderful!
Bruce says
I'm a bit behind the times here. I've been trying to go palm oil free and found your website while looking for cracker recipes. I've just made my first batch, yummm! So easy but I have a few tips to make it even easier. I rolled my dough through a pasta machine a few times, down to #3 on the dial. I then placed rolled pieces on a tray and cut them with a pastry roller. Quick and simple, and gives a rectangular cracker with a wavy edge. Going to try some flavors next time
(cheese or garlic maybe).
Bruce says
oops! I meant pastry wheel.
Marty says
Just tried this and I loved the taste, well done! One tiny problem - your photos show them lovely and flat but mine puffed up which was cute but messy to bite into. Is that what the fork pricking is all about.
Claire says
I'm glad you liked them Marty. Yep that's why they need serious pricking before you put them in the oven.
Nic@diningwithastud says
I prefer the look of these and they're curved for better scooping :) love it!
Claire says
I like the way you think Nic!
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says
Well done! I have never thought to make my own water crackers, not for any reason but somehow I thought that they would be difficult!
Claire says
I would have thought so too but nope, seriously easy!
celia says
Aah, you're clever Claire, I never thought to make my own! Thanks for the recipe! :)
Claire says
The biccies you make look much better but these were really tasty.