When I think of “pantry staples,” a round butter cracker is one that quickly comes to mind. Perfect for snacking, topping a casserole, or as a vehicle for eating cheese and other accoutrements, butter crackers are a must.
In this taste test, our editors examined the taste and texture of nine brands of round butter crackers to see whether each one was buttery or bland, crispy, crunchy, or stiff, dry or flaky. What we found may surprise you, given both the runner-up and winner are store versus name brands. Keep reading to find out which cracker was the favorite of our taste test.
How We Tested
We placed crackers from each of the boxes onto plates and hid the packaging, so each tester could sample them without seeing which brand they were tasting.
Editors sampled the crackers side by side, scoring them on taste, texture, and overall experience using a scale from 1 to 5, with 1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest. After everyone ranked their picks, we tallied the results to find the winner.
The Contenders
Market Pantry Rounds Baked Crackers (Target)
Trader Joe’s Golden Rounds Crackers
Publix Snack Crackers, Party Rounds
Whole Foods 365 Organic Golden Round Crackers
Savoritz Round Butter Crackers (ALDI)
Great Value Baked Buttery Round Crackers (Walmart)
Back to Nature Crackers Classic Round
How Each Brand Scored
Market Pantry Rounds Baked Crackers (Target)
Light, buttery, and flaky, Market Pantry Rounds were popular among our editors. Some noted these crackers had an “extra toasty look,” but most praised them for being well-balanced with a good mix of butter and salt. One editor said they would make a great, “vessel for cheese.”
Trader Joe’s Golden Rounds Crackers
“A good salty, buttery flavor that’s sturdy enough to act as a vehicle for pimiento cheese and chicken salad, which is why we’re eating crackers in the first place,” said one Southern Living editor. Most editors liked the crunchy texture and salt content of Trader Joe’s Golden Rounds, while others felt these crackers were not as flavorful as others.
Publix Snack Crackers, Party Rounds
Some editors said Publix Snack Crackers were buttery, while others said they were dry and not as flavorful. One editor particularly enjoyed these crackers, claiming, “This one has the best overall flavor and salt content without any weird aftertastes. The texture is light and crispy, and it has a nice butter flavor.” While this wasn’t the top contender of our taste test, these crackers would certainly do the trick in a pinch.
Ritz
The iconic round butter cracker we all know and probably have a sleeve or two in our pantries or desk drawers, Ritz is a classic. Whether you grew up eating them sandwiched with peanut butter or topped with pimiento cheese, it’s likely you’ve experienced Ritz. Our editors could pretty easily pick this one out of the lineup for it’s salty and toasty appearance, buttery flavor, and crumbly texture. Several editors said Ritz would be great for cheese or as a casserole topper. One editor wrote, “the best multipurpose cracker with a simple flavor that’s appealing by itself.”
Whole Foods 365 Organic Golden Round Crackers
While our editors didn’t favor these crackers for their flavor, several noted they could pair well with chicken noodle soup due to their firmer texture. A thinner, harder cracker, Whole Foods Organic Golden Rounds may not be the box our editors are reaching for at the store, but they could be a good neutral option for pairing with cheese or flavorful spreads.
Savoritz Round Butter Crackers (ALDI)
ALDI products tend to fare well in our taste tests, but ALDI’s Savoritz Round Butter Crackers did not win this time. While many editors felt like these crackers didn’t have as much flavor as others, a couple said they were a little on the sweet side. One editor said ALDI’s crackers would go great with a salty dip or appetizer.
Kroger Golden Rounds
Our editors liked the texture and saltiness of Kroger’s Golden Rounds, but not necessarily the flavor. Several noted a milder flavor and said they could be a good option if you’re looking for a neutral cracker that won’t overpower what you’re eating it with.
Great Value Baked Buttery Round Crackers (Walmart)
“Toasty and buttery without being overly so. A good color and weight,” wrote one editor about Walmart’s Great Value Buttery Round Crackers. Another editor said, “This one feels the most similar to Ritz. It has a good movie theater popcorn flavor and would be good with cheese.” A couple noted a weird aftertaste, but overall our editors liked these crackers for their crunchy texture and buttery flavor.
Back to Nature Crackers Classic Round
This cracker appeared to be smaller and lighter in color than the rest of the crackers in the lineup. While several loved this cracker for its crunchy texture and saltiness, others thought it tasted a bit too bland and was too firm compared to others.
The Runner Up
Credit: Morgan Hunt Ward; Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen; Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey
Great Value Baked Buttery Round Crackers earned the second spot in our taste test. A buttery flavor with a nice crunch and salt level, Walmart’s crackers would best be enjoyed alone or as a casserole topping. Our editors praised these crackers for having a buttery flavor, good crunch, and just the right amount of salt.
The Winner
Credit: Morgan Hunt Ward; Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen; Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey
The winner of our taste test is Target’s Market Pantry Round Butter Crackers. Our editors said these had the best flavor and texture of all the crackers, and they praised them for being well-balanced with no weird aftertastes. Here’s what else they had to say about these crackers:
“The best crunch and flavor.”
“I feel like it had the best flavor/texture overall. It was one of the few that actually tasted buttery.”
“Buttery, flaky, crispy, salty; good for cheese or as a casserole topper.”
“Real toasty flavor. Very nice color and a good crisp.”
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