Sweet and Spicy Ritz Crackers are an easy appetizer with an incredible flavor combination. Simple yet anything but subtle, whip up a bowl of these for all your future parties. Prepare to make a double batch – they go fast!
Sweet & Spicy Ritz Crackers
Are you ready for a no bake, simple appetizer that will be gone in the blink of an eye? Give the oven and stove and air fryer a break and whip up a stack of these sweet and spicy Ritz crackers! I’m telling you these crackers are so addicting, once you start you won’t know you’ve eaten them all until your hand hits the bottom of the bowl. Sure there are flavored Ritz out there but nothing like these. The combination of sweet brown sugar and cinnamon paired with spiciness of chili powder and red pepper flakes, plus the savory flavors of garlic, onion, and cumin is utterly divine. Make these for a snack at home, as a fun favor to give out to friends and neighbors, or bring them as an appetizer for the holidays and beyond. No matter where you enjoy them, rest assured everyone will be clamoring for more and dying to know where you got them. The best part is getting to say you made them yourself, no supermarket splurge required!
Looking for more simple, yet elevated snack ideas? Try a tray of these Cajun style Baked Oyster Crackers. How about a handful of Parmesan Ranch Snack Mix? Or keep things sweet and salty with some simple Cookies and Cream Pretzels!
Do these need to be baked to absorb the flavors?
Nope! That’s the beauty of this recipe, no baking required. Many similar recipes require the crackers to be baked but all you have to do for this dish is give it plenty of time to marinate. The trick is turning the bag every 5 minutes or so to make sure the crackers are evenly coated. Let them marinate for the full 30 minutes and you’re good to go!
How To Make Sweet & Spicy Ritz Crackers
- Unwrap. Unwrap each sleeve of crackers and gently place them into a large freezer bag. Use two bags if you feel like you need extra space.
- Whisk. In a small bowl whisk together the vegetable oil, brown sugar, cinnamon, garlic powder, chili powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes, salt, pepper, and cumin. Continue whisking until combined.
- Pour. Pour the seasoning mixture over the crackers in the ziplock bag. Seal the bag tightly and gently turn several times to coat the crackers.
- Marinate. Allow the crackers to marinate for 30 minutes. Gently turn the bag about every 5 minutes or so to ensure the flavors are soaking in evenly.
- Serve. Once coated, pour into a large bowl to serve. Enjoy!
Storing Sweet & Spicy Ritz Crackers
You can store these crackers in an airtight container on the kitchen counter for up to 2 weeks. I guarantee they won’t last nearly that long!
Ingredients Notes for Sweet & Spicy Ritz Crackers
- Crackers – I prefer Ritz for their buttery flavor but you could try this recipe with saltines or a similar style cracker. I recommend not using a flavored variety since we are adding our own spices to the crackers.
- Oil – You want something that will really soak in and get those flavors to meld into the crackers. Vegetable or canola oil are going to be the best for this.
- Brown Sugar – Light or dark, doesn’t matter. Dark brown sugar will give you a slightly more molasses flavor. Use whichever you have in the pantry already.
- Cinnamon – I love the sweeter side of spice this lends to the mix.
- Garlic and Onion Powder – Is there any better savory combo than garlic and onion? How does anyone cook without these?
- Chili Powder – This will add a bit of heat.
- Red Pepper Flakes – And these will amp up that heat. Feel free to add extra for spicier crackers.
- Cumin – This gives the mix some depth to the flavor and pairs surprisingly well with the brown sugar.
- Salt – You can opt not to add more salt to the crackers if you prefer.
- Pepper – Just a dash to add some more spice.
Enjoy!
~Nichole
Sweet & Spicy Ritz Crackers
Ingredients
- 1 13.7oz Box Ritz crackers (about 4 sleeves)
- 1/2 Cup Vegetable or canola oil
- 2 Tbsp Brown sugar
- 1 tsp Cinnamon
- 1 tsp Garlic powder
- 1 tsp Chili powder
- 1 tsp Onion powder
- 1/2 tsp Red pepper flakes
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1/4 tsp Cumin
- 1/4 tsp Black pepper
Instructions
- Place the ritz crackers into a large freezer bag.
- In a bowl, whisk together the oil, brown sugar, cinnamon, garlic powder, chili powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes, salt, cumin, and pepper.
- Pour the mixture over the crackers in the bag, seal tightly, and gently turn to coat.
- Continue turning the bag every 5 minutes for about 30 minutes to allow the crackers to absorb the seasoning.
- Serve once well coated or store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
Notes
These crackers can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for two weeks.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
