Difference between Biscuits and Crackers

Key Difference: Biscuit is a variety of quick bread made from ingredients like flour, leavening, shortening, and milk or water. Crackers are types of biscuits which are neutral or less sweet in taste. They are thinner and crispy than other types of biscuits.

The word biscuit has been derived from the Latin words bit coctus which means twice baked. Biscuits are generally known as a type of quick bread. It is made from ingredients like flour, leavening, shortening, and milk or water. The dough is prepared by mixing these ingredients and then it is rolled out. Flat and small rounds are cut from it. Then these rounds are baked. Biscuits are also available in many other shapes.

It was named as biscuit as originally it was placed in oven after taking out from the tin. There are different types of biscuits; however there are basic features which are always associated with a biscuit. All biscuits are small cakes or breads, which are dry in nature.

Cracker actually refers to a thin and crispy wafer or biscuit. It is generally prepared by using unsweetened dough. Its thinness, crispiness and unsweetened taste like attributes are used for differentiating it from the other biscuits. Crackers can be leavened or unleavened. Crackers are usually served with toppings like cheese or jam. A cream cracker is made by using wheat flour and yeast.

Crackers tend to be low in calories than other types of biscuits. They are also used as bread substitutes. Therefore, crackers can be considered as a special member of biscuits which are dry and possess a long shelf life. The dough of cracker is generally fermented with yeast. Sometimes, crackers and biscuits are also used interchangeably.

Comparison between Biscuits and Crackers:

	Biscuits	Crackers
Definition	Biscuit is a variety of quick bread made from ingredients like flour, leavening, shortening, and milk or water	Crackers are types of biscuits which are neutral or less sweeter in taste. They are thinner and crispy than other types of biscuits
Rolled to	Biscuits are rolled to 3/ 4 inch thick	Crackers are rolled to 1/ 4 inch thick
Flavor	Generally are sweet	Generally are neural or saltine
Sugar content	Generally high	Generally low
Some Types	Hardtack – A hard and biscuit cooked several times to increase the shelf period Fish and Brewis –soaked overnight for softening it Biscotti – contains almonds Beaten Biscuits – Dough is beaten for incorporating air Crostoli – look kike ribbons and are fried Rolled biscuits – fluffy in center Scones – biscuits cut into wedges Drop Biscuits – Made with the moist dough	Cream crackers Soda crackers -. Cream and soda crackers are yeast leavened and Laminated Savoury crackers – these are chemically leavened and not laminated