• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Spring Recipes
  • Recipe Index
  • Sweets
  • About
  • How To's

Where Is My Spoon

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Spring Recipes
  • Recipe Index
  • Sweets
  • About
  • How To's
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Spring Recipes
    • Recipe Index
    • Sweets
    • About
    • How To's
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ร—
    Where Is My Spoon > Recipes > Appetizer

    Romanian Saratele - Cheese Caraway Crackers

    Published by: Adina May 8, 2025 23 Comments
    Jump to Recipe
    pinterest image with the title saratele recipe.

    This is the best Romanian saratele recipe: short crust cheese crackers sprinkled with caraway seeds, they are the perfect appetizer or snack.

    many cheese crackers sprinkled with caraway seeds.

    Romanian saratele are quick and easy to make, and theyโ€™ll disappear just as fast. Once youโ€™ve had one, you wonโ€™t be able to stopโ€”youโ€™ll keep eating them until theyโ€™re all gone. The word "saratele" actually comes from "sare" (salt), so you could call these "salties" in English. ๐Ÿ™‚

    Featured comment

    Kaylene: What a fantastic, tasty treat these are. I used other seasonings I had on hand, and they were all delicious. Hubby said I can make these anytime. Made some with flaky sea salt, ranch powder, rosemary salt, poppy & sesame. They all were delightful. In my gas oven, 10-11 mins was all it took.

    This cheese crackers recipe is a variation of the Romanian recipe for covrigei, which are small, pretzel-shaped crackers with cheese and caraway seeds, normally eaten around Christmas or Easter.

    I have to thank my beloved cousin Georgi for this recipe. A few more of her delicious recipes are these Romanian Chocolate Bars, the Hungarian Dumplings, the Romanian Papanasi, or the Chicken Schnitzel in Pancake Batter.

    Jump to recipe
    • ย Recipe ingredients
    • ย How to make saratele?
    • ย Storage
    • More crispy snacks
    • Recipe
    • Romanian Saratele - Cheese Caraway Crackers

    ย Recipe ingredients

    Cheese: I use Gouda cheese, but Cheddar cheese is a good substitute.

    Butter: You can use either salted or unsalted butter with high fat content - no half butter.

    Caraway seeds: The best Romanian saratele are made with caraway seeds - their flavor is incomparable. Add some caraway seeds to this Sweet Soda Bread.

    • You can swap caraway seeds for sesame or poppy seeds - the crackers will still be delicious, just a bit different.

    Egg: You only need a small egg to brush the saratele. Grab the tiniest egg you can find, and use any leftover for an omelet!

    See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

    ย How to make saratele?

    ball of cheese dough for making caraways crackers.

    Step #1: Make the dough in the food processor or by hand. Form a ball, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate it for 1 hour.

    rolled and cut dough for making romanian saratele.

    Step #2: Roll half of the dough on a floured surface. Cut the dough into strips. You can brush and top the dough before or after cutting it.

    Food processor: The easiest way is to make the saratele dough in a food processor: add the cubed cheese and process until crumbled. Add cold, cubed butter, flour, and salt, and process until just combined, leaving small butter dots for flakiness.

    If you don't have a food processor: Freeze the butter for 15 minutes, then grate it. Grate the cheese, too. Quickly combine the ingredients, using cold hands to knead the dough briefly with your fingers.

    unbaked crackers or saratele sprinkled with cheese and caraway cheese.

    Step #3: Carefully transfer them to the prepared baking trays.

    cheesy crackers sprinkled with caraway seeds.

    Step #4: Bake saratele until golden - NOT brown. Let them rest on the tray for 5 minutes to firm up.

    Tip: If you use a convection oven, you can bake two trays of Romanian saratele at once. Otherwise, bake the trays one at a time, and youโ€™ll likely need three trays or batches to bake them all.

    ย Storage

    The homemade saratele with caraway seeds will stay fresh for 3-4 days in an airtight container, though theyโ€™re likely to disappear within an hour or two - theyโ€™re just that good!

    a white paper bag and many romanian saratele on a black board.

    More crispy snacks

    • many square and crispy polenta crisps on a plate with a bowl of cream cheese dip.
      Polenta Chips or Crisps
    • mushroom pies with parmesan sprinkled with herbs.
      Mushroom Puff Pastry Pies
    • puff pastry pizza twists on a fine white cloth.
      Puff Pastry Pizza Twists
    • large cheese and onion pasties cooling on a wire rack with a few sprigs of parsley between them.
      Cheese and Onion Pasties

    Do you like this recipe?

    Please leave a good rating in the recipe card below. Stay in touch through social media: Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram. Donโ€™t forget to tag #whereismyspoon when you try a recipe!

    Recipe

     

    romanian saratele sprinkled with caraways seeds and cheese.

    Romanian Saratele - Cheese Caraway Crackers

    This is the best Romanian saratele recipe: short crust cheese crackers sprinkled with caraway seeds, they are the perfect appetizer or snack.
    4.82 from 11 votes
    Print Pin Share GrowSaved! Rate
    Course: Appetizer
    Cuisine: Romanian
    Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 40 minutes minutes
    Servings: 50 -60
    Calories: 68kcal
    Author: Adina

    Equipment

    • Food processor optional
    • 2-3 Baking sheets
    • Parchment paper
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients 

    Dough:

    • 9 oz Gouda or Cheddar, Note 1
    • 1ยพ sticks butter very cold, Note 2
    • 1โ…” cups all-purpose flour
    • ยฝ teaspoon fine sea salt

    Topping:

    • 1 small egg
    • caraway seeds Note 3
    • ยฝ cup cheese or just enough to lightly top the crackers
    • a sprinkle of flaky salt

    Instructions

    Saratele dough:

    • In a food processor: Grate the cheese and cut the very cold butter into small cubes. Place the cheese, butter, flour, and salt in a food processor and pulse a few times until the mixture is crumbly. The butter should not be fully blended into the dough; you should still see tiny butter dots, which will make the crackers flaky and delicious.
      9 oz Gouda + 1ยพ sticks butter + 1โ…” cups all-purpose flour + ยฝ teaspoon fine sea salt
    • Make the dough by hand: Freeze the butter for 15 minutes, then grate it. Grate the cheese, too. Quickly combine the ingredients, using cold hands to knead the dough briefly with your fingers.
    • Chill the dough: Form a ball, flatten it, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 1 hour.

    Cut saratele:

    • Preheat the oven to 350ยฐF/ 180ยฐC. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. I actually have to bake the crackers in 3 batches, but most people only have 1 or 2 baking sheets.
      If using a convection oven, preheat it to 320ยฐF/ 160ยฐC. This type of oven will allow you to bake two trays at a time. In a regular oven, only bake one tray at a time.
    • Roll the dough: Divide the dough into two equal pieces. Flour your work surface and rolling pin. Press one piece of dough into a rough, thick rectangle, then roll it out to a size of about 13x7 inches/ 32x22 cm and a thickness of about โ…› inch( 3-4 mm. Lift and turn the dough a few times while rolling, and sprinkle a little more flour on the work surface if needed. This will help prevent the dough from sticking.
    • Top saratele: Lightly beat the egg in a small bowl. Brush the pastry rectangle with the egg and generously sprinkle it with caraway seeds and just a little bit more grated cheese and flaky salt - not too much! You can brush and top the strips before or after cutting them.
      1 small egg + caraway seeds + ยฝ cup cheese + a sprinkle of flaky salt
    • Cut the pastry into strips using a very sharp knife. Carefully lift the strips and place them on the prepared baking sheets.
    • Bake saratele: Set the timer for 17-18 minutes. Check if the crackers are golden - if not, give them two more minutes. Avoid overbaking; they should be shiny and golden, not brown.
    • Rest crackers: Once done, let them rest on the tray for 5 minutes to firm up. Lifting them immediately may cause them to break.
    • Cool saratele: Carefully transfer them to wire racks with a plastic spatula and let them cool completely.
    • Bake remaining batches: While the first batch is baking, roll out and cut the second piece of dough.

    Notes

    1. Cheese: I prefer to give the amount of cheese in ounces and grams because accuracy is important. The cup measurements can vary significantly depending on how finely you grate the cheese.
    2. Butter: You can use either salted or unsalted butter. If using salted butter, reduce the added salt slightly.
    3. Topping: You can replace the caraway seeds with esame seeds or flaky salt.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1from 50 | Calories: 68kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 99mg | Potassium: 14mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 0.1g | Vitamin A: 143IU | Calcium: 46mg | Iron: 0.2mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @adinabeck or tag #WhereIsMySpoon!

     

     

     

     

     

     

    More Easy and Quick Appetizer Recipes

    • many golden ham and cheese empanadas and a small bowl of salsa.
      Ham and Cheese Empanadas
    • irish hot chocolate topped with cream and chocolate shavings in a cup.
      Irish Hot Chocolate
    • collage of four pictures for foodball party food ideas.
      Football Party Food Ideas
    • mini croque monsieur oozing with melted cheese on a wooden board.
      Mini Baked Croque Monsieur

    Sharing is caring!

    6716 shares
    • Share
    • Yummly
    • Reddit
    • X

    web banner representing all the websites logos that featured our food blog.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Miska Knezevic says

      September 19, 2023 at 8:45 am

      5 stars
      EXCELLENT!

      Reply
    2. mae cheah says

      November 10, 2021 at 5:36 am

      i'm planning to make this for christmas gift. may i know how long can i make ahead?

      Reply
      • Adina says

        November 10, 2021 at 8:49 am

        Hi Mae. About 3 days.

        Reply
    3. Kaylene says

      March 18, 2020 at 5:33 am

      What a fantastic tasty treat these are. I used other seasonings I had on hand and they were all delicious. Hubby said I can make these anytime. Made some with flaky sea salt, ranch powder, rosemary salt, poppy & sesame. They all were delightful. In my gas oven, 10-11 min was all it took.

      Reply
      • Adina says

        March 18, 2020 at 9:00 am

        Hi Kaylene, so happy to hear it. These crackers are always a recipe to impress, I notice that every time I make them for people, who haven't had them before. And yet they are so easy and cheap to make. The seasoning you use sounds great!

        Reply
    4. Phyll says

      February 22, 2020 at 9:48 pm

      My son-in-law is Romanian and I can' t wait to make these for him. Thank you.

      Reply
      • Adina says

        February 22, 2020 at 9:59 pm

        Welcome. You will love them, they are addictive. ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    5. Stephanie Baker says

      September 25, 2017 at 4:29 pm

      NOT GOOD! Not good because we've eaten them already, they barely had chance to cool down. Yum!

      Reply
      • Adina says

        September 25, 2017 at 8:49 pm

        Thank you, Stephanie. You make me crave them again. ?

        Reply
    6. Stephanie Baker says

      September 25, 2017 at 4:28 pm

      NOT GOOD! Not good because we've eaten them already. Yum, Just love the caraway.

      Reply
    7. Thao @ In Good Flavor says

      January 05, 2016 at 4:26 am

      These crackers look crispy and delicious! And the fact that they are cheesier than the original makes them even better! I can see them disappearing fast in my house.

      Reply
      • Adina says

        January 05, 2016 at 10:53 pm

        They rarely last two days around here... ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    8. Kate @ Framed Cooks says

      January 02, 2016 at 7:46 pm

      These look positively addictive in the best way! Happy New Year! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
      • Adina says

        January 05, 2016 at 10:54 pm

        Thank you, Kate. A happy new year to you too.

        Reply
    9. Angie@Angie's Recipes says

      December 31, 2015 at 8:25 pm

      I would probably eat the whole batch by myself! Happy New Year!

      Reply
    10. Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop says

      December 31, 2015 at 3:35 pm

      I can't believe the short list of ingredients! I love how you've made it easy to make without sacrificing quality. These look truly delightful and I'm certain I would have no restraint in the amount I would eat!

      Reply
      • Adina says

        January 05, 2016 at 10:54 pm

        Thank you, Kathy! I am not good in restraining myself either! ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    11. rebecca says

      December 31, 2015 at 5:06 am

      these look wonderful, happy new year

      Reply
      • Adina says

        December 31, 2015 at 9:03 am

        Thank you and a happy new year to you too!

        Reply
    12. Melanie @ Melanie Cooks says

      December 30, 2015 at 11:17 pm

      I love cheese crackers! And caraway seeds make them even more addictive! Nothing beats homemade crackers, I can eat them all in one sitting!

      Reply
      • Adina says

        December 31, 2015 at 9:04 am

        I love the taste of caraway and I am always amazed that so many people don't (my husband included). That is why I always make some with sesame seeds as well.

        Reply
    13. Meghan | Fox and Briar says

      December 30, 2015 at 10:49 pm

      The more cheese the better is my motto ๐Ÿ™‚ These crackers look so tasty, the perfect treat for New Year's Eve! I love that you simplified the recipe, more time for eating delicious crackers.

      Reply
      • Adina says

        December 31, 2015 at 9:07 am

        They are all gone already, I think I might have to make some more today...

        Reply
    4.82 from 11 votes (10 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating





    Primary Sidebar

    Hello! Where Is My Spoon is a blog where you will find delicious and family friendly recipes, all made from scratch. From simple healthy soups to sumptuous cakes for special occasions, all our recipes have been tried and loved by our family and our friends.

    More about me โ†’

    Potluck Recipes

    • bowl with potato salad with dill pickles sprinkled with chives.
      Potato Salad with Dill Pickles
    • napa cabage ramen salad in a gray bowl with sunflower seeds around it.
      Napa Cabbage Ramen Salad
    • feta and spinach triangles close up on a plate.
      Feta and Spinach Triangles
    • cherry loaf cake sliced on a vintage cloth with a knife and fresh fruit around it.
      Fresh Cherry Loaf Cake

    Popular Recipes

    • air fryer frozen chicken breast after cooking, one whole and one sliced piece.
      Frozen Chicken Breast in the Air Fryer
    • juicy, golden brown brats cooked on the stove in a skillet.
      How to Cook Brats on the Stove
    • lifting one piece of baked chicken breast with a spoon.
      How to Bake Frozen Chicken Breast
    • stapled sliced pork belly slices sprinkled with parsley, pool of fat in the back.
      How to Cook Pork Belly Strips

    Footer

    โ†‘ back to top

    Info

    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Statement

    Contact

    If you have any questions or want to work with me, please email me @ contact@whereismyspoon.co

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright ยฉ 2025 - Where Is My Spoon. All rights reserved.

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.