A nut-cracking apparatus that is compact and efficient cracks nuts at high production rates. The nut-cracking apparatus includes an endless conveyor and delivers nuts from a hopper to a delivery point. The nuts are engaged at the delivery point by a nut-cracking unit which cracks the nuts. The endless conveyor includes nut pockets which are made up of separate nut pocket segments that are movable from open to closed positions. The nut pocket segments are in an open position where the nuts are cracked to provide ample room for cracking of the nut.