Disclosed is an apparatus and method for cracking stone fruit nuts. The apparatus comprises a frame (2) supporting a set of spaced apart jaw comprising a first jaw (4) and a second jaw (5) defining between them a gap (6), which is tapered down from the inlet (7) to the outlet (8). The first jaw (4) is adjustably secured to the frame (2) for adjustment of the size of the gap (6). The second jaw (5) is movably supported by the frame (2) and secured to drive means configured to rotatably move the second jaw (5) relative to the first jaw (4) with a tangential motion resulting in the continuously change of the size of the gap (6). To crack the shell, the stone fruit nut is located between the jaws and repeatedly pressed and rolled between the jaws from the inlet (7) to the outlet (8).
