Introduction: A Christmas Cracker of a Dilemma
There’s a fine art to pairing crackers with cheese, especially when your options come from a supermarket shelf. For many households, classics like Jacob’s Cream Crackers or Carr’s Table Water Biscuits are nostalgic staples. But with every season comes a fresh lineup of crackers that promise crunch, resilience, and that essential bite that holds up to a generous smear of cheese. This guide tests a range of widely available crackers, focusing on texture, flavor, and how well they hold up to a tangy cheddar, a crumbly blue, or a creamy brie. We’ve tasted, rated, and ranked them to help you pick the best matches for your festive boards and everyday cheeseboards alike.
What Makes a Great Cheese Cracker?
For cheese, the ideal cracker should offer a firm, snappy texture with enough rigidity to resist breaking under a thick slice or a pile of cheese. It should be fairly neutral in flavor so it doesn’t compete with the cheese, yet have a slight toasty note that complements rather than overwhelms. Saltiness is a fine line—too salty can clash with creamy cheeses, too mild and the cracker disappears amid strong flavors. When testing crackers, we look for: crunch retention, even thickness, minimal aftertaste, and how well the cracker stands up to soft, semi-soft, and aged cheeses.
Top Picks: Crackers That Stand Up to Cheese
1) Everyday Value Crispbread
These are the workhorses of the cracker world. They’re lean, sturdy, and exceptionally reliable. The flavor is subdued, with a crisp snap that remains consistent from the first bite to the last. They pair beautifully with soft cheeses like brie or cream cheese, and they’re surprisingly versatile with sharper cheddars. If you’re feeding a crowd on a budget, these deliver solid performance without stealing the show.
2) Premium Salted Wheat Crackers
With a slightly richer wheat flavor and a noticeable salt balance, these crackers strike a nice middle ground between plain and assertive. They stand up well to blue cheeses and aged cheddars, offering a pleasant bite and a crisp finish. Texture is even, with a clean break and minimal crumbling. They’re a solid all-rounder for a cheeseboard that aims to please a broad audience.
3) Multigrain Crunchies
For something a touch more complex, multigrain crackers bring subtle nuttiness and seeds to the mix. The texture is dense but not heavy, and the flavor profile accepts additions like honeyed goats’ cheese or a tangy cheddar with chives. They’re excellent when you want a little more character without dominating the cheese.
4) Classic Cream Crackers
Revisiting the heavyweight classics, these crackers offer a delicate, wafer-thin snap and a clean aftertaste. They can be a touch brittle if overchilled, but with proper storage they perform wonderfully with cream cheese and mild, buttery cheeses. If you want a traditional pairing that never goes out of style, these are a strong choice.
5) Thin Water Crackers
Ultra-light and crisp, these crackers provide a faint, mineral edge that suits dairy-forward cheeses. They shine with soft cheeses that need a gentle carrier rather than a strong crunch. Expect more crumble than heft, but the sophistication of their texture makes them excellent for a refined cheese-board spread.
How We Scored Them
Each cracker was judged on crunch, flavor neutrality, texture consistency, and pairing versatility. We tested with a spectrum of cheeses: a soft brie, a tangy cheddar, a creamy blue, and a crumbly goat cheese. The goal was to find crackers that offer reliability and, ideally, a little extra flourish that doesn’t overpower the star component—the cheese.
Bottom Line: The Best All-Rounder for Cheese Lovers
For most households, the best supermarket cracker for cheese is a reliable, medium-crisp option with balanced salt and a clean finish. The crisp, neutral crunch of Everyday Value Crispbread or the reliable bite of Premium Salted Wheat Crackers will satisfy both neophytes and cheese connoisseurs alike. If you want a touch more character without deviating from the familiar, Multigrain Crunchies deliver subtle depth that pairs well with a range of cheeses. For a traditional, delicate option, Classic Cream Crackers remain a timeless choice. And for the lightest, most delicate pairing, Thin Water Crackers offer a sophisticated, almost ethereal bite.
Where to Buy and How to Store
Supermarket crackers are widely available in the biscuit aisle, typically near other savory snacks. Store crackers in a cool, dry place, seal the pack tightly after opening, and consider keeping a separate tin or container to preserve crunch. For best results during the holiday season, rotate your picks to keep your cheeseboard interesting and ensure you have a cracker to suit every cheese personality.
