I Tried 6 Butter Cracker Brands, and Only One Belongs in Your Pantry

Crackers are one of my most favorite foods. I love the crispy texture and subdued taste that makes them the perfect carriers for everything from tuna salad to sliced cheese. Aside from classic cheese-style crackers, one of my favorites is the beloved round, buttery style. It’s somehow crispy, flakey, buttery, salty, and overall perfect for snacking. I have my go-to (heyyyy, Ritz), but I’m always looking for the next best thing. So when I was given the opportunity to try several brands to pick the most delicious, of course I said, “yeah, sure.”

How I Selected the Crackers

I only chose brands available at my local grocery stores, including Aldi and Trader Joe’s. I selected only round crackers, without additional seasonings or flavoring beyond salt, and chose to skip organic brands.

How I Conducted the Taste Test

To maintain anonymity, all of the crackers were removed from packaging and transferred to plates. My testers and I judged the crackers on taste, but also texture. Were they salty and rich but also crispy and flaky like they should be? We took sips of water between bites to cleanse our palates, but otherwise, we didn’t introduce any new flavors to the scene. 

The Best Round-Style Cracker Taste Test Results 

After sampling all 6 brands, we had a clear winner. Here are the results.

Honorable Mention: Trader Joe’s

It looks like the classic round cracker and tastes pretty good too. My testers liked its size but thought it was a little on the thin side. As for texture, it was more crunchy than crisp, but that wasn’t a deal-breaker for anyone. The flavor was “nice,” said one tester and another claimed the crackers had “a good amount of salt.” We all found it pleasant and enjoyable, an overall good choice for eating plain or topped with your favorite cheese.

Runner-Up: Back to Nature

These crackers were a bit smaller than others in the bunch, but what they lacked in size, they made up for in flavor. One tester claimed they were “delicious!” Another one said even though the crackers weren’t butter-based, they still tasted rich and flavorful. They were sturdy, provided more crunch than crispness, but that means they can hold up to any of your favorite dips and toppings. 

Winner: Ritz

Even though no one knew for sure these were Ritz, they just knew they were Ritz crackers. One tester exclaimed, “These are delightful.” Testers loved their crispy yet sturdy texture, and couldn’t get enough of the buttery, salty flavor. A few testers claimed they needed to “sample” a few extra crackers just to “make sure” they were as delicious as they thought. I appreciated their dedication to the taste-testing craft. Ritz were the unanimous winner among my group. 

The Others: Cabaret, Toasteds, and Aldi

Testers weren’t impressed with these crackers. They weren’t as flavorful and didn’t feel as satisfying as the top-ranking crackers on our list.