The holes in the cookies allow steam to escape during baking.
The holes in the cookies are not just for aesthetics: the steam needs an escape route so that the cookies bake properly and do not puff up.
“to keep the cracker flat. And those small holes are the perfect solution. And the number of holes? That's not random. The number of holes poked — or”
Almost all crackers, such as savory crackers, Ritz crackers, or water crackers, have holes. They usually form a pleasing pattern, but they're not there just for aesthetics. They serve an important function: they help the crackers bake properly.
Cookie dough typically has a higher proportion of liquid ingredients, and during baking, it generates steam. This steam needs to escape rather than be trapped inside, so many cookies have holes in them before baking.
Unlike many baked goods, crackers shouldn't rise. That's why the steam needs a release valve to keep them flat, and those small holes serve that purpose.
The number of holes depends on the size: larger crackers have more holes than smaller ones. Ritz crackers have a characteristic seven-hole pattern, but they don't have the most. Town House crackers have 10 holes per cracker, Saltine crackers traditionally have 13, although some have been made with 16, and Club crackers have 18.
Some crackers, like Cheez-Its, have only one hole. Graham crackers, if viewed as a whole sheet, are larger than many others and can also have many holes.
The holes also prevent the cookies from puffing up and maintain their crisp texture. Without them, they wouldn't have that delicious texture.
