Cookie vs. Cracker: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Cookie is a sweet baked treat, often soft or chewy, while a cracker is a thin, crisp savory biscuit usually eaten with cheese or other toppings.
Key Differences
A cookie is typically a sweet, baked dessert, often containing sugar, flour, eggs, and various flavorings like chocolate chips or nuts. In contrast, a cracker is a savory, often salty baked product, made with flour and sometimes seasoned with herbs or cheese.
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Dec 04, 2023
The texture of a cookie varies from chewy to soft to crisp, and they are commonly enjoyed as a snack or dessert. Crackers, on the other hand, are usually crisp and firm, serving as a base for spreads and toppings or as a side dish.
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Dec 04, 2023
Cookies often come in a variety of flavors and can include mix-ins like chocolate, raisins, or oatmeal. Crackers tend to be more simple in flavor, focusing on a light, airy texture and sometimes incorporating seeds or grains for texture.
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Dec 04, 2023
In terms of use, cookies are typically seen as a treat or a sweet snack, often accompanied by milk or coffee. Crackers are frequently used as appetizers, paired with cheese, meats, or dips in social gatherings.
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Dec 04, 2023
The origin of the word cookie comes from the Dutch word 'koekje,' while cracker originated from the cracking sound they make when broken or chewed, emphasizing the textural differences between the two.
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Dec 04, 2023
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Comparison Chart
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Cookie and Cracker Definitions
Cookie
Can be soft, chewy, or crisp.
He prefers his cookies to be soft and gooey.
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Dec 04, 2023
Cracker
Known for their crispness.
He enjoyed the crunchy sound of his cracker.
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Dec 04, 2023
Cookie
Baked dessert with sugar and flavorings.
She baked chocolate chip cookies for the party.
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Dec 04, 2023
Cracker
Typically lightly flavored.
These whole grain crackers are subtly seasoned.
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Dec 04, 2023
Cookie
Often enjoyed as a snack.
I love having a cookie with my afternoon tea.
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Dec 04, 2023
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Cracker
Commonly eaten as a light snack.
For a quick snack, I often eat a few crackers.
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Cookie
(Slang) A person, usually of a specified kind
A lawyer who was a tough cookie.
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Oct 19, 2023
Cookie
(Computers) A collection of information, usually including a username and the current date and time, stored on the local computer of a person using the World Wide Web, used chiefly by websites to identify users who have previously registered or visited the site.
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Oct 19, 2023
Cracker
A small cardboard cylinder covered with decorative paper that holds candy or a party favor and pops when a paper strip is pulled at one or both ends and torn.
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Oct 19, 2023
Cookie
(North America) A small, flat, baked good which is either crisp or soft but firm.
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Oct 19, 2023
Cookie
A sweet baked good (as in the previous sense) usually having chocolate chips, fruit, nuts, etc. baked into it.
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Oct 19, 2023
Cracker
One who gains unauthorized access to a computer or computer network, usually for a malicious purpose such as to steal information or damage programs. See Usage Note at hacker.
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Oct 19, 2023
Cracker
(Offensive) Used as a disparaging term for a white person, especially one who is poor and from the southeast United States.
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Oct 19, 2023
Cracker
A dry, thin, crispy baked bread (usually salty or savoury, but sometimes sweet, as in the case of graham crackers and animal crackers).
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Oct 19, 2023
Cracker
A short piece of twisted string tied to the end of a whip that creates the distinctive sound when the whip is thrown or cracked.
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Oct 19, 2023
Cracker
A person or thing that cracks, or that cracks a thing (e.g. whip cracker; nutcracker).
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Oct 19, 2023
Cookie
A piece of crack cocaine, larger than a rock, and often in the shape of a cookie.
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Oct 19, 2023
Cracker
The final section of certain whips, which is made of a short, thin piece of unravelled rope and produces a cracking sound.
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Oct 19, 2023
Cookie
One's eaten food (e.g. lunch, etc.), especially one's stomach contents.
I lost my cookies after that roller coaster ride.
I feel sick, like I'm about to toss my cookies.
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Cracker
Refinery equipment used to pyrolyse organic feedstocks. If catalyst is used to aid pyrolysis it is informally called a cat-cracker
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Oct 19, 2023
Cracker
A fine, great thing or person (crackerjack).
She's an absolute cracker!
The show was a cracker!
A cracker of a day.
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Oct 19, 2023
Cracker
An ambitious or hard-working person (i.e. someone who arises at the 'crack' of dawn).
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Cracker
(computing) One who cracks (i.e. overcomes) computer software or security restrictions.
Script kiddie
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Cookie
Any of various small flat sweet cakes (`biscuit' is the British term)
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Oct 19, 2023
Cracker
An impoverished white person from the southeastern United States, originally associated with Georgia and parts of Florida; (by extension) any white person.
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Cookie
A short line of text that a web site puts on your computer's hard drive when you access the web site
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Cookie
Commonly served as dessert.
We had ice cream and cookies for dessert.
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Dec 04, 2023
Cracker
A noisy boaster; a swaggering fellow.
What cracker is this same that deafs our ears?
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Oct 19, 2023
Cracker
A small firework, consisting of a little powder inclosed in a thick paper cylinder with a fuse, and exploding with a sharp noise; - usually called firecracker.
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Oct 19, 2023
Cracker
A thin, dry biscuit, often hard or crisp; as, a Boston cracker; a Graham cracker; a soda cracker; an oyster cracker.
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Oct 19, 2023
Cracker
A nickname to designate a poor white in some parts of the Southern United States.
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Cracker
A thin crisp wafer made or flour and water with or without leavening and shortening; unsweetened or semisweet
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Cracker
A programmer who `cracks' (gains unauthorized access to) computers, typically to do malicious things;
Crackers are often mistakenly called hackers
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Oct 19, 2023
Cracker
Firework consisting of a small explosive charge and fuse in a heavy paper casing
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Cracker
A party favor consisting of a paper roll (usually containing candy or a small favor) that pops when pulled at both ends
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Oct 19, 2023
Cracker
A thin, crisp savory biscuit.
She served cheese and crackers at the party.
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Dec 04, 2023
Cracker
Often used with toppings.
The platter included crackers with various dips.
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Dec 04, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Can cookies be savory?
Typically, cookies are sweet, but savory versions do exist.
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Dec 04, 2023
What is a cracker?
A thin, crisp savory biscuit, usually eaten with toppings.
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Dec 04, 2023
What makes a cookie soft?
The ratio of ingredients like butter and sugar, and baking time.
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Dec 04, 2023
Do cookies always contain chocolate?
No, cookies can have a variety of ingredients and flavors.
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Dec 04, 2023
Can crackers be eaten alone?
Yes, they can be enjoyed on their own or with toppings.
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Dec 04, 2023
Are cookies a good dessert option?
Yes, they are popular as a sweet treat or dessert.
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Dec 04, 2023
Do all crackers have a salty taste?
Not all, some have herbs, seeds, or a neutral taste.
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Are crackers always salty?
Most are savory, but some can be neutral or slightly sweet.
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Dec 04, 2023
What is a cookie?
A sweet baked treat, often with mix-ins like chocolate or nuts.
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Dec 04, 2023
Why are crackers crisp?
Their thin shape and baking process give them a crisp texture.
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Dec 04, 2023
What's the shelf life of cookies?
It varies, but most last a few weeks when stored properly.
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Dec 04, 2023
Is it common to put cheese on cookies?
No, cheese is typically paired with crackers.
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Dec 04, 2023
Can crackers be part of a diet plan?
Yes, some crackers are made with whole grains and are diet-friendly.
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Dec 04, 2023
Can cookies be made without baking?
Yes, no-bake cookies are a popular variant.
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Dec 04, 2023
Are cookies suitable for all ages?
Yes, but be mindful of potential allergens like nuts.
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Dec 04, 2023
Are crackers a good source of fiber?
Whole grain crackers can be a good fiber source.
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Do cookies have a cultural significance?
Yes, they are important in many cultures, especially during holidays.
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Dec 04, 2023
Can crackers be sweet?
Rarely, but some varieties like graham crackers are sweet.
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Dec 04, 2023
How are cookies different from cakes?
Cookies are generally denser and smaller than cakes.
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Dec 04, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.