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Learn how to make hardtack survival biscuits—the simple, long-lasting bread that’s perfect for prepping, camping, or emergency situations. I’ll show you step-by-step how to bake these classic survival biscuits with just a few ingredients so you can have a reliable, shelf-stable food source ready anytime.

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When it comes to survival food, hardtack is one of those old-fashioned staples that never fails. I’ve been making these simple, crunchy biscuits for years, and they’re incredibly easy to prepare with just flour, water, and a pinch of salt. Hardtack lasts for months—sometimes even years—making it a must-have for prepping, camping, or any situation where fresh bread isn’t an option. In this post, I’ll walk you through how to make hardtack survival biscuits that are practical, portable, and surprisingly satisfying when you know how to enjoy them.

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What are Hardtack Survival Biscuits

Just for Fun Insights

The hobbits in the Lord of the Rings movies carried hardtack biscuits or bread on their long journey to save Middle Earth. If you notice, Gollum secretly threw their hardtack survival biscuits over a cliff to accuse Samwise Gamgee of eating all of it to make Frodo believe that Samwise Gamgee was not on their side to lure them apart in order to obtain his long-lost precious ring. I wrote a similar recipe: How to Make Elven Lembas Bread: A Taste of Rivendell.

I visited a Pioneer Museum in my state, and they had on display a hardtack biscuit with a bite in it from a lady hundreds of years ago from her long journey to her settlement. This intrigued me to make my own hardtack survival biscuits to stockpile in my own pantry should my family need these for any reason.

A cold, hard winter power outage or bug-in or bug-out situation, or even a camping journey, can help provide my family with reliable biscuits to feed upon. Hardtack survival biscuits do not spoil and can last for years or indefinitely, especially if stored in air-tight Mylar bags.

It is 2023 at the time of writing this post. There are wars and rumors of wars, diseases, pandemics, and devastating natural disasters, and people are concerned about their food supply. It is no secret that people have been keeping these biscuits in their pantries for hundreds of years for their survival needs. I see no reason why we should not continue this recipe tradition and keep our own hardtack survival biscuits right in our own pantry. By the way, these survival biscuits are NOT tasty, but they will help keep you from starving.

Cowboy/Sailor/Soldier Soup

Cowboys, sailors, and soldiers would soak their hardtack biscuits in soup, coffee, or hot water until they became a creamy soup to help keep them full.

How to Make Hardtack Survival Biscuits

Recipe Ingredients (Makes 16 biscuits)

4 cups all-purpose flour (no self-rise flour)
1 1/2 cups water
3 tbsp salt

Image illustrates hardtack survival biscuits.

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix well.

Be sure to use all-purpose flour and no flour that has self-rising features.

Place the shaggy dough on a well-floured surface and knead it for five to ten minutes until it does not stick to your hands.

Form the dough into a nice non-stick dough.

Roll out the dough on a floured surface to about 1/4 inch thickness. The dough should be very smooth and non-stick.

Use a wide-mouth canning ring as a biscuit cutter, and begin to cut out as many circular biscuits as you can. I ended up with 16 biscuits from this recipe, rolling out a large surface of the dough, and using a large, wide-mouthed canning ring.

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Take the end of a wooden spoon that you mixed the dough with and poke holes in each biscuit, ensuring not to poke all the way through the dough. This just makes the dough look more like a cracker and more appealing when it comes time to eat them.

Plus, it helps keep them from forming poofy air pockets during the baking process.

The Baking Process

Place the biscuits on a baking sheet. I use a cast-iron baking pan and flour it well before placing it on my biscuits for baking. Otherwise, you can place them on any baking sheet with parchment paper.

Bake them at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Since they have no eggs, oil, or butter, they will not turn golden brown.

How to Store and Keep

This recipe will last indefinitely since it is made up of plain flour, water, and salt. Hardtack survival biscuits are easy to make and keep in your pantry in jars or plastic bags, mylar bags, or food-saver bags.

How to Use Hardtack Survival Biscuits

To use hardtack survival biscuits, you need to soften them up. To soften up the hardtack survival biscuits, place them inside a hot bowl of soup. They will soften and add fiber and filling to any soup recipe during an emergency.

P.S. You’re going to want to use your fluffy, delicious, buttery biscuits at your regular dinner table and NOT these!

Conclusion

Making hardtack survival biscuits is one of those simple, old-fashioned skills that can really pay off when you need reliable, long-lasting food. With just a few basic ingredients, you can bake a batch that will last for months, fit easily in your bug-out bag, and give you peace of mind knowing you’re prepared. It’s a small step that feels surprisingly empowering, and once you try it, you’ll see why hardtack has been a survival staple for centuries. Give it a go, and add this timeless food to your prepping toolkit—you’ll be glad you did.

1. What is hardtack, and why is it good for survival?

Hardtack is a simple, long-lasting biscuit made from just flour, water, and salt. It’s lightweight, shelf-stable, and can last for months or even years if stored properly. That makes it perfect for prepping, camping, or any situation where fresh bread isn’t available.

2. Can I eat hardtack straight out of the oven?

You can, but fresh hardtack is usually soft and a little doughy. Most people let it bake until it’s completely dry and crisp. The crunch can be tough at first, so some survivalists soak it in water, soup, or coffee to make it easier to chew.

3. How should I store hardtack to keep it fresh?

Store hardtack in an airtight container or Mylar bag in a cool, dry place. You can also wrap it in foil or wax paper and keep it in a sealed bucket with a lid. Avoid moisture, or it will spoil quickly. Properly stored, it can last for months—or even years.

4. Can I add flavors or make it taste better?

Absolutely! While traditional hardtack is plain, you can add a little sugar, herbs, or even dried spices to the dough. Just keep in mind that anything with fat or moisture can shorten its shelf life, so stick to dry additions if you want it to last long-term.

Hardtack Survival Biscuits

Hardtack survival biscuits are a survival food that was created hundreds of years ago by pioneers, settlers, soldiers, and sailors while they traveled on long journeys. They brought along hardtack survival biscuits on these long journeys because hardtack survival biscuits can last for years if stored properly and help keep people fed and fight hunger. It can actually last forever!

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Servings 16 biscuits

Ingredients

4 cups all-purpose flour (no self-rise flour)
1 ½ cups water
3 tbsp salt

Instructions

How to Make Hardtack Survival Biscuits

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix well.
Place the shaggy dough on a well-floured surface and knead it for five to ten minutes until it does not stick to your hands.
Form the dough into a nice non-stick dough.
Roll out the dough on a floured surface to about 1/4 inch thickness. The dough should be very smooth and non-stick.
Use a wide-mouth canning ring as a biscuit cutter, and begin to cut out as many circular biscuits as you can. I ended up with 16 biscuits from this recipe, rolling out a large surface of the dough, and using a large wide-mouthed canning ring.
Take the end of a wooden spoon that you mixed the dough with and poke holes in each biscuit, ensuring not to poke all the way through the dough. This just makes the dough look more like a cracker and more appealing when it comes time to eat them. Plus, it helps keep them from forming poofy air pockets during the baking process. Plus, it helps keep them from forming poofy air pockets during the baking process.

Baking Hardtack Survival Biscuits

Place the biscuits on a baking sheet. I use a cast iron baking pan and flour it well before placing it on my biscuits for baking. Otherwise, you can place them on any baking sheet with parchment paper.
Bake them at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Since they have no eggs, oil, or butter, they will not turn golden brown.

How to Store and Keep Hardtack Survival Biscuits

This recipe will last indefinitely since it is made up of plain flour, water, and salt. Hardtack survival biscuits are easy to make and keep in your pantry in jars or plastic bags, mylar bags, or food-saver bags.

How to Use Hardtack Survival Biscuits

To use hardtack survival biscuits, you need to soften them up. To soften up the hardtack survival biscuits, place them inside a hot bowl of soup. They will soften and add fiber and filling to any soup recipe during an emergency.