Comments on: Putting jelly on the Ritz

Question: Putting jelly on the Ritz

saguaro — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 10:52:01 -0800

What's the best possible cracker to support and complement homemade jalepeño jelly and cream cheese?

Right now I use Keebler Club Crackers (1st option) or plain Ritz (2nd choice). I love the buttery flavor of the Clubs, and appreciate the sturdy support of the Ritz. For myself, these usually suffice. However I am giving some jelly as a gift and so am exploring fancier options.

I have access to the usual supermarkets, as well as more niche stuff like Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Erewhon. I won't be ordering online this time, but if that's the only way to get 'em then I'll take your suggestions for that as well. Thanks!

By: Red Loop

Red Loop — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 11:04:48 -0800

Without a doubt, Stoned Wheat Thins.

By: Countess Sandwich

Countess Sandwich — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 11:19:23 -0800

I find the Carr's family of crackers to be both delicious AND classy.

By: Swisstine

Swisstine — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 11:25:47 -0800

Look at While Foods for Raincoast Crisps. They are delicious in any variety!

By: Sara C.

Sara C. — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 11:29:46 -0800

I'm a Wheat Thin advocate for this situation. For fancy, Carr's Water Crackers are always a good bet.

By: saguaro

saguaro — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 11:44:43 -0800

Those Raincoast Crisps look like the sort of fanciful crackerish thing I was looking for. I will definitely sample a box of those.

I'm trying to stay away from the no-flavor and thin brittleness of Carr's and the like. They'll hold a square of cheese or meat, but don't stand up well to spreading cream cheese.

By: likeplus

likeplus — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 11:45:39 -0800

I have always used Triscuits for my jalapeño jelly+cream cheese snacks. And those Raincoast Crisps are amazing as well. I've not tried them with jelly/cream cheese but the Cranberry Hazelnut ones with a years-aged gouda? Ridiculously good.

By: pearlybob

pearlybob — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 11:51:29 -0800

Wheat thins makes a new, triangle shaped crisp that we used for our gallons of blue cheese, Gorgonzola dip we made for the holidays. Very good and looks nice. Several flavors too.

By: Red Loop

Red Loop — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 12:00:35 -0800

Just to be clear the Stoned Wheat Thins I linked to above are not at all like the standard Nabisco"wheat thins" you usually find in the supermarket (though I think Red Oval Farms is also owned by Nabisco).
I don't find them bland, personally, but apparently many people do.

By: toodleydoodley

toodleydoodley — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 12:02:27 -0800

Vicky Crackers

By: saguaro

saguaro — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 12:03:33 -0800

Red Loop, that's the article I was reading as well.

By: kmennie

kmennie — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 12:19:51 -0800

A simple homemade, like parmesan crisps? (Just because homemade is going to be tasty -- I'm not entirely sure that's the correct compliment to the jelly)

Plain is a good way to go; +1 Carr's Table Water or a cream cracker (like this). If it is a substantial amount of jelly and cream cheese I might go for the exciting presentation of a big tub of SkyFlakes; SkyFlakes are sort of like a premium Premium Plus, very tasty and rich saltines.

If I was shopping for myself to experiment with some jelly I was excited about I would probably buy the Carr's Entertainment Cracker Collection.

By: smartypantz

smartypantz — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 12:25:23 -0800

Mary's Organic Crackers are gluten free and delicious. They are made from brown rice and quinoa and have a distinctive "nutty" flavour that goes well with mild cheese. Rainforest Crisps are also really good as mentioned above.

By: LonnieK

LonnieK — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 12:55:37 -0800

Red Loop is right -- Stoned Wheat Thins are the ticket. I wouldn't say bland -- they're good by themselves -- but IMO you're not looking for something to compete with the pepper/cheese topping.

By: saguaro

saguaro — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 12:59:19 -0800

but IMO you're not looking for something to compete with the pepper/cheese topping.

I am though! My favorite personal-use cracker for this, the Keebler Club, has a rich, buttery flavor that compliments (doesn't compete with) the jalepeno/cheese combo. A mouthful of cracking cardboard under these toppings is not what I'm looking for.

By: ariela

ariela — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 13:25:27 -0800

I just made my own crackers for the first time, and they were a huge hit. If you're already giving homemade jelly, why not homemade crackers as well? The recipe I used is from the book "Jam It, Pickle It, Cure It," and can be found here.

Otherwise, a fancier Ritz/Keebler Club alternative available at Whole Foods is the Classic Rich Crackers from Late July. (Amazon link for reference.) The Late July products are surprisingly tasty, and having tried store brand alternatives from Trader Joe's and Whole Foods, I'm confident in saying they're noticeably more flavorful (and yes, buttery, rich, etc.).

By: Countess Sandwich

Countess Sandwich — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 13:51:06 -0800

I don't mean to keep pressing the Carr's, but they actually have something that's not the water cracker --- I can't remember what it's called, but it's basically a Ritz, but bigger and fancier. Very buttery and dense.

By: kmennie

kmennie — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 14:52:04 -0800

basically a Ritz, but bigger and fancier

Cheese Melts? Poppy and Sesame? Both delicious...

Now that you have established that you ARE looking to compete with the toppings: CheeseCrisps. "Huge 22-ounce bag of Cheddar & Asiago" FTW

By: apricot

apricot — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 19:09:00 -0800

Carr's makes a water cracker with black pepper in it that is fabulous with cream cheese and pepper jelly. They have a definite heat which is different to and complements the pepper jelly burn. I have never had a problem spreading cream cheese on them, and actually find them less crumbly than buttery crackers like Ritz.

By: sevenyearlurk

sevenyearlurk — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 20:25:29 -0800

My family always uses rice crackers for this combo. They complement the flavors nicely.

By: maggieb

maggieb — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 22:30:05 -0800

Carr's as a light fancy cracker to include in a gift basket is perfect. Dipping into pepper jelly covered soft cream cheese with a fancy blue corn chip is also delicious.

By: apricot

apricot — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 06:51:06 -0800

I just realized I usually get whipped cream cheese, which my be why I don't have the brittleness problems with water crackers that you describe. Just a thought!

By: arcticwoman

arcticwoman — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 09:36:32 -0800

Vinta crackers are the best for damn near anything. Light and buttery, but structurally sound enough for dipping, plus very flavourful. We use them for pepper jelly and cream cheese, spinach dip, cheese plates, cream cheese/seafood sauce/diced peppers/mozza, or for anything else really.

By: kayebee

kayebee — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 12:32:03 -0800

We go lowbrow here at our place in North Carolina and put our cream cheese and pepper jelly on Keebler Town House Flipsides. They're part pretzel, part delicious buttery cracker. Nothing fancy, but we love them at our house (when we keep junk food in the pantry).

By: IAmBroom

IAmBroom — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 15:08:37 -0800

I'm going to sound completely plebian for this, but: ordinary Ritz crackers. They have just enough sweetness to complement, without overwhelming, the jelly & cheese.