Easy and Delicious Sweet and Spicy Crackers
Sweet and Spicy crackers are sweet, spicy, and salty all at the same time as it takes regular Ritz crackers and transforms them into an addictive treat that everyone will be talking about for days.
Sweet and Spicy Crackers
The first time I had sweet and spicy crackers was at a football game party straight out of a ziplock bag. They were not served with the rest of the game food, they were too special for that. Addictive and sensational are the best ways to describe these. I promise once you make these for your holiday party or your next game day your guests will be asking “How did you do this?” and “I need this recipe”. The spicy, smokey flavor combined with the subtle sweetness leaves a lasting impression on your taste buds.
This is definitely one of those recipes you want to serve alongside our ultimate football appetizers!
What do I need to get started?
- Butter
- Brown Sugar – this gives the sweetness to the spice
- Parsley
- Chili Powder
- Chili Ancho Powder – *optional, but delicious
- Smoked Paprika
- Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
- Chipotle Chili Powder – you can use all chili powder if you prefer
- Cumin
- Ritz Crackers – or saltines
- Gallon Ziplock Bag
- rimmed baking sheet
How to Make Sweet and Spicy Crackers
- Preheat the oven to 250°
- In a large microwave safe mixing bowl melt the butter. Add all the spice mixes except the crackers to the melted butter. Mix well and let marinate for a couple minutes while preparing the baking/cookie sheet.
- Place a wire rack on the cookie sheet, or line the cookie sheet with parchment paper and spray with non-stick cooking spray.
- Place 5-6 crackers into the butter mixture and turn to coat.
- Place the coated crackers on the baking sheets rack and repeat until all the crackers have been dipped and are on the baking/cookie sheet.
- Place in the oven in the middle rack for 10 minutes. Flip each cracker with a spatula or fork and bake for an additional 10 minutes.
- Remove crackers from the oven and allow to sit to cool completely, about 15 minutes.
- Delicious as a snack or served with your favorite dip.
Mix spices 
lay flat on baking tray
Tips Tricks and FAQs
- The smoked paprika is the key spice in these spicy and sweet crackers. Be sure you use just the right amount of it.
- Instead of using my fingers, I like to lay my crackers in the melted butter/spice mixture and turn and coat with a slotted spoon. Then remove the crackers with the slotted spoon to allow excess butter mixture to drip through and then place on the wire racked cookie sheets.
- You can double or triple the batch if you want to make them for a large gathering.
Storage
Store sweet and spicy crackers in an airtight container for up to a week at room temperature. The crackers have the best flavor if eaten within 2-3 days.
Can I Make Sweet and Spicy crackers ahead of time?
Yes, you can make these a day or two ahead of time. These can be enjoyed right out of the oven or cooled.
Can I use other types of crackers when making sweet and spicy crackers?
If you want a grabbable-handful version try regular Cheez-Its. For the Cheez-Its version, I suggest using parchment paper on a cookie sheet instead of the wire rack. For the Ritz version, use the wire rack. If you make the Cheez-Its version, keep an eye on this version while it cooks so it doesn’t over toast.
More Easy Appetizers
Easy and Delicious Sweet and Spicy Crackers
Sweet and Spicy crackers are sweet, spicy, and salty all at the same time as it takes regular Ritz crackers and transforms them into an addictive treat that everyone will be talking about for days.
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ chili ancho powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon chipotle chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon cumin
- 3 sleeves Ritz crackers
- ¾ cup butter
- 3 Tablespoons brown sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 250°
- In a large microwave safe mixing bowl melt the butter. Add all the ingredients except the crackers to the melted butter. Mix well and let marinate for a couple minutes while preparing the baking/cookie sheet.
- Place a wire rack on the cookie sheet, or line the cookie sheet with parchment paper and spray with non-stick cooking spray.
- Place 5-6 crackers into the butter mixture and turn to coat.
- Place the coated crackers on the rack and repeat until all the crackers have been dipped and are on the baking/cookie sheet.
- Place in the oven in the middle rack for 10 minutes. Flip each cracker with a spatula or fork and bake for an additional 10 minutes.
- Remove crackers from the oven and allow to sit to cool completely, about 15 minutes.
- Delicious as a snack or served with your favorite dip.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 20 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 86Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 21mgSodium: 115mgCarbohydrates: 3gFiber: 0gSugar: 2gProtein: 1g
