Common Crackers | New England’s Classic Cracker
Common crackers, New England’s favorite old-fashioned chowder crackers, can be hard to find, but are worth it. Learn about one of our favorite brands.
By Aimee Tucker|Jun 27 2022|
Crumbled common crackers in clam chowder.
Photo Credit: Aimee SeaveyIf there’s one thing that we as New Englanders can agree on, it’s that when it comes to common crackers, there is no substitute. Hearty and crunchy, yet subtle in flavor, the common cracker is a true Yankee workhorse. Crumbled into chowder, crushed into crumbs, or split, buttered, and toasted, this humble cracker did it all…and if you look for it in the right places, it still can.
Photo Credit : Aimee Seavey
The term “common cracker” first appeared in print in 1939 but by then the large (about the size of a Ritz cracker today), puffed cracker was already a New England mainstay, sold since the early 1800s from barrels (yes, “cracker barrels” were a real thing before they were a restaurant chain) in general stores. The cracker barrel was its generation’s water cooler — a place to gather and catch up on local news while recouping your cracker supply, but unfortunately, good common crackers can be difficult to find today, lost in a sea of flat, square saltines and small, crisp oyster crackers. All three are members of the soda cracker family, but nothing comes close in heft and bite to the robust common cracker.
Perhaps the best example of “authentic” common crackers for sale today are Vermont Common Crackers, made and sold using an adaptation of an 1828 recipe by Vermont Common Foods and the Orton family the of the Vermont Country Store. The crackers are sold in the store and online, but you may also be in luck at the co-op or supermarket. I picked up this box at my local Hannaford’s.
Photo Credit : Aimee Seavey
So just why were common crackers so beloved in New England? With their subtle flavor the crackers could be used in countless ways.
Crumbled into a bowl of milk or chowder they served as the perfect thickening agent, and by working with a liquid, the cracker, like sailor’s hardtack, could last longer on the pantry shelf without losing its value. You might be used to sprinkling a few oyster crackers onto your cup of chowder today, but try crumbling a whole fistful of hearty common crackers over your next bowl and see if you don’t love the enhanced texture.
Photo Credit : Aimee Seavey
Another popular way of eating common crackers was to split them (the puffed crackers, like English muffins, have a natural “split line” that’s easy to separate by hand or with the help of a butter knife), butter the halves, and broil them until golden. Having never eaten common crackers like this I couldn’t resist trying it out.
After splitting the crackers and spreading the halves with a little butter, I decided to take things to the next “Vermont” level and top the buttered halves with a thin shower of grated Cabot Seriously Sharp Cheddar. After just 45 seconds under the broiler the crackers were hot and golden and, well…delicious. To be honest, next time I think I’ll add even more cheese.
Photo Credit : Aimee Seavey
Another popular way to use common crackers was to crush them up like breadcrumbs for meatloaf or stuffing, and a fourth way, the simplest of all, was (and is) to snack on them straight from the barrel (or box).
Just be sure to have a thirst-quenching beverage nearby. These things will leave you parched!
Common cracker love was a deep and loyal love that sometimes refused to be denied. In 1927 the Miami News reported that a woman from Maine that had moved to California missed her common crackers so much that “she ordered 34 cents worth of old-fashioned common crackers for her chowder and is having it shipped airmail, special delivery, at a cost of $15.76.” How’s that for looking the other way when it comes to Yankee thrift?
For a cracker so beloved to New Englanders (even Julia Child loved them, saying “As any New Englander knows, you can’t enjoy a real New England chowder without toasted common crackers”), isn’t it time we put the common cracker back on top?
Are you a fan of common crackers?
This post was first published in 2014 and has been updated.
SEE MORE:
75 Classic New England Foods
Snow’s Clam Chowder
B&M Brown Bread in a Can
The New England Hot Dog Bun
My favorite drink is Moxie, my Dad loved these “Vermont Crackers” I live in Florida and can’t get either here!!!
Hey Dorothy, I love both too!
Though you can’t get the common crackers online, you CAN order moxie from their website: http://www.drinkmoxie.com/
Enjoy 🙂
Westminster crackers made in Rutland, VT. By far the best soup and chowder crackers!!!
I’m a proud resident of Rutland, Vermont and go out of my way when dining out of state to thank my server/restaurant for using the best Oyster Crackers, Westminster Crackers from my hometown in Vermont.
I tried the common crackers you mention and was really disappointed in the taste. The ones I remember were larger and had a cleaner taste. I loved splitting them and spreading butter on them and then dropping them into my great aunt’s home made clam chowder…that was heaven.
I have been searching for a recipe for them to no avail.
We always make our stuffing for our Thanksgiving turkey from Common Crackers, Instead of bread or mashed potatoes.
When my children moved out of state I would send them to them until I found them in the Vermont Country Store Catalog, now they purchase them from it.
We called them Milk Crackers. I ordered them from Quilty Foods and they were very similar to Royal Milk Crackers by Nabisco. They come out of Canada.
Any chance at all that Pilot Crackers would be made again? Surely do miss them
The Pilot Crackers were created by an ancestor of mine, an Osborne. We were broken hearted when Nabisco decided to no longer produce them. The history is a great story. Friends and family of Chebeague Island off the Maine Coast.
My Uncle Bud use to eat them in the morning, like cereal, just break them up into a bowl and add milk, he loved them. Side note: He didn’t have any teeth. He lived in Keene NH So much fun when we visited. Thanks for the memories.
Where did the creme lunch crackers go that we used to love with soups and for milk and crackers that my dad especially loved?
yes they were called Royal Lunch by Nabisco
Royal Lunch and Common crackers are very different!
Growing up, St. Johnsbury Crackers were considered a staple in our house! My dad loved crackers and milk for Sunday supper! Haven’t seen them in years! Must try to get some!!!
I HAVE IN MY COLLECTION A CRACKER BARREL 1800’S LABEL READS KEEN CRACKER CO. N. H. HOOPS ARE IN GREAT CONDITION, NO A BARK MISSSING.
I loved the crown pilot cracker too. Remember my Dad always having them. I was disappointed also when Nabisco stopped but making them and am befuddled that they still make chicken in a biscuit – yuck.
I’m sure this will come as a source of distress, but I actually still enjoy Chicken in a Biscuit crackers from time to time, though not as a substitute for the Crown Pilot crackers of my chowda-loving youth…
Well I knew someone had to like them! No explaining for taste.
Heritage Mills Classic Milk Lunch Crackers perfect substitute for the discontinued Nabisco Royal Lunch and Mrs. Alison’s brand. at FamousFoods.com
My Pal Nate invited me to golf at Westminister Golf Club many times in (were else) Westminister, MA. I loved seeing the big red Westminister Cracker building as it signaled I was almost there coming from Connecticut to play with my friends. Nate retired to Florida & is proud Westminister Cracker is doing well in Vermont. The best thing is I find those great crackers at my grocery store in CT and buy a bunch and send them to my friend in Florida for his Birthday & Christmas.
Original Cross Crackers were bigger, have split them into tea, top with a dab of bottler, now I can only get them at Vt country store, vent eating this way 75 yrs. hubby loved Royal lunch, says these not the same!
My Dad had a huge cup for his tea at supper. He would soak the crackers in his tea and then put them on our plates. We would put butter and sugar on them. What a great taste..good times.
Also love them in scalloped oysters! Great Thanksgiving side!
Although I use to live in Connecticut and often bought the common crackers there, they no longer sell them in the stores. I now live in Minnesota and common crackers, Moxie, brown bread, to name a few of New Englands’ favorites are nowhere to be found here. I just introduced my husband to the ever popular fluffernutter sandwich…he loved them!
Do they still make Milk Lunch crackers by Burys ? So yummy with a little butter and jam! Memories of growing up in New England ?
I love the article. I grew up in Massachusetts and Vermont Common Crackers are a staple for our Thanksgiving Chestnut Stuffing. Since the 1960’s they have always been part of my family’s Thanksgiving Tradition, so when they stopped carrying them in the local stores here in Maine, I had to order them from the Vermont Country Store and have them shipped. I will order 10 boxes for my self and other 10 for extended family members just so we can have the best stuffing we all love and treasure. Vermont Common Crackers are the best!!!!. Cannot have Thanksgiving without them
Are common crackers similar to the uneeda buscuits nabisco use to sell?
Just found this old thread. I grew up in Westminster MA. There definitely were cracker barrels. Before the days of public health & hygiene mandates we were able to stop and grab a handful of the “seconds” from a barrel at Westminster Cracker Factory.
A huge benefit of going in “walking patrol” after school to brownie & girl scout meetings.
Can you imagine anyone today looking forward to grabbing crackers out of a barrel????
Even now the old memory makes me smile.
BW
Are these anything like a flat version of the Original Trenton Cracker? i loved OTCs in my oyster stew until they changed the recipe last spring. now they are just like tube shaped saltines.
Actually the term appeared before 1930. I found it in the 1896 Fannie Farmer cookbook. That is how I ended up here looking for information on common crackers. Thanks for the article here.
I am going to order some Common Crackers for my grandchildren. We just ate some Westminster Bakers crackers so I went looking for Common Crackers. I always enjoyed breaking them in half and eating them, We love Moxie too and always have it on the 4th of July due to Calvin Coolidge liking Moxie.
In the late 1600’s, Francis Jenness of Hampton (now Rye) NH, built a gristmill and bakery, made his own hardtack, and peddled it along the seacoast as far as Boston in a gundalow.
Where can I buy your New England crackers around Québec City ? Can I order them in line?
I would try the Vermont Country Store’s website
I’m putting an order together for the Vermont Country Store. I’m going to try these crackers.