Hardtack

Nov 3, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Baking Breads rolls Easy

Three ingredients, rolled thin, docked with holes, and baked slowly until it is rock hard and shelf-stable. Meant to be dunked in coffee or soup, not bitten. Makes 12 crackers in about 3 hr 45 min.

Prep 15 min

Cook 150 min

Cooling 1 hr

Total 3 hr 45 min

Yield 12 crackers

Diet Dairy free, Vegan

Ingredients

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crackers

2 cups (250 g)all-purpose flour
¾ tsp (5 g)fine salt
9 tbsp (140 ml)water, cool

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Instructions

Heat the oven to 275 F (135 C).
Stir the flour and salt, add the water, and knead 3 minutes into a stiff dough that holds together with no sticky spots.
Roll to 1/3 inch (8 mm) thick on a floured surface and cut into 3 inch (7.5 cm) squares.
Dock each square with a fork or skewer all the way through, in rows of 16 holes.
Bake on an ungreased sheet 1 hour, flip each, and bake another 60 to 90 minutes until pale tan, light, and completely hard.
Turn the oven off and leave them inside 1 hour to dry thoroughly, then cool on a rack in a dry room.

Tips

It is meant to be very hard; soften in coffee, tea or soup before eating to protect your teeth.
Dock all the way through so steam escapes and they stay flat.
Dryness is the whole point. If any soft spots remain, bake longer.
Fully baked, dry hardtack is shelf-stable only while it stays dry; discard it at any sign of moisture, mold or off smell.

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Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make hardtack?

Plan on 15 minutes of prep and 2 hours 30 minutes of cooking, plus 1 hour to chill. The recipe makes 12 crackers.

How should I store hardtack?

Keep in a dry airtight tin up to several months; moisture will soften it.

Can I make hardtack ahead?

Yes. It needs time to chill and set, so it is a good one to make the day before you serve it.

Is this recipe vegan?

Yes, as written. Check that packaged ingredients such as chocolate, sprinkles and plant butter are labeled vegan.

A plain flour-and-water cracker baked until it is bone dry; it was a staple ration of sailors and soldiers, including in the American Civil War. Serve it with coffee or soup.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 12 servings this recipe makes.

76 Calories / serving

0.2g Fat

15.8g Carbs

2.1g Protein

0.1g Sugar

Whole recipe (12 servings): ~912 cal · 2g fat · 190g carbs · 25g protein · 1g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.