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Home » Baking » Christmas Crack Recipe

Published: December 4, 2016 Last Modified: November 18, 2020 By Sara 109 Comments

Christmas Crack Recipe

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Christmas Crack Toffee Recipe | Saltine Toffee | Christmas Toffee #toffee #chocolate #christmas #candy #dessert #dinneratthezoo

This Christmas crack is saltine toffee made with crackers, brown sugar, butter, chocolate and holiday sprinkles. A sweet and salty treat that’s addictively delicious and perfect for feeding a crowd!

I love to make homemade treats around the holidays like reindeer chow, peppermint patties, and this unique and unexpected Christmas crack toffee.

This Christmas crack is saltine toffee made with crackers, brown sugar, butter, chocolate and holiday sprinkles. This Christmas crack is saltine toffee made with crackers, brown sugar, butter, chocolate and holiday sprinkles.

Christmas crack toffee topped with holiday sprinkles on a serving plate.

So right about now you may be wondering, what exactly is Christmas crack? It’s saltine toffee, and I think the name relates to the fact that it’s made with crackers and is also super addicting. This salty sweet combo is SUPER easy to make, and it’s a unique treat that will have all of your guests begging for the recipe.

How do you make Christmas crack?

The first step is to line up your crackers on a sheet pan. I use saltine crackers, but I’ve seen Christmas crack made with Ritz or graham crackers before too. The crackers get coated in a toffee mixture, then baked until bubbly. The final step is a layer of melted chocolate and holiday sprinkles.

Saltine crackers lined up on a baking sheet.

Tips for Christmas Crack

  • You can use semisweet, milk or white chocolate chips for the topping.
  • I like to top my Christmas crack with sprinkles, but other great options are chopped nuts or M&M’s.
  • Christmas crack can be made up to 3 days before you plan to serve it. Store it in the fridge, then break it into pieces and enjoy.

Saltine crackers topped with butter and brown sugar toffee.

This recipe is simple to make, but you do need to watch the toffee mixture carefully as it boils. You want to boil it for exactly 3 minutes or you run the risk of it burning. I use an offset spatula to spread the toffee and chocolate layers; it makes the job so much easier.

I use high quality chocolate chips for the best results. My favorite brand is Guittard because it has a rich flavor and melts smoothly.

Chocolate chips on top of saltine crackers that have been coated in toffee.

The final step is to let the toffee chill to firm up, then cut into pieces and serve! This tastes a lot like traditional toffee, but it’s way easier to make and the crackers add a hint of salt that really counterbalances the sugar. I make this saltine toffee every year, and people ALWAYS ask me for the recipe, so be prepared to share it with your friends and family!

A sheet pan of Christmas crack toffee topped with melted chocolate and sprinkles.

This recipe can easily be doubled if you need to feed a crowd. Simply double the ingredients and spread the crackers over two sheet pans instead of one. You may want to plan to make a double batch because this stuff goes fast!

A stack of Christmas crack toffee pieces on a serving plate.

More holiday treats

  • Peppermint Brownies
  • Rocky Road Fudge
  • Crock Pot Candy
  • Candy Cane Hearts
  • Buckeye Balls

Christmas Crack Video

Christmas crack toffee topped with holiday sprinkles on a serving plate.
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4.97 from 31 votes

Christmas Crack Recipe

This Christmas crack is saltine toffee made with crackers, brown sugar, butter, chocolate and holiday sprinkles. A sweet and salty treat that's addictively delicious and perfect for feeding a crowd!
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 15 servings
Calories 368kcal
Author Sara Welch

Ingredients

  • 40 saltine crackers
  • 2 sticks of butter (1 cup)
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips I recommend Guittard or Ghirardelli. Nestle (Toll House) chocolate chips do not work in this recipe.
  • 1/2 cup holiday sprinkles or 1/2 cup sliced almonds
  • cooking spray

Instructions

  • Line a sheet pan with foil and coat with cooking spray or alternatively you can use a nonstick silicone baking mat.
  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
  • Place the crackers in a single layer on the baking sheet.
  • Place the butter and brown sugar in a medium saucepan, bring to a boil. Boil for 3 minutes.
  • Pour the brown sugar mixture over the crackers and spread with a spatula to coat.
  • Place the sheet pan in the oven and bake for 3-5 minutes, or until bubbling.
  • Remove the pan from the oven and immediately scatter the chocolate chips over the top. Place the pan back in the oven for another 2-3 minutes to melt the chocolate. Spread the chocolate evenly over the top.
  • Place the sprinkles on top of the chocolate. Let the toffee sit until completely cool, either at room temperature or you can refrigerate.
  • Cut into pieces and serve.

Notes

Please do not use Nestle (Toll House) chocolate chips in this recipe. They contain an additive to help the chips hold their shape, which in turn means that the chocolate will not melt smoothly and be spreadable. My first choice chocolate is Guittard, if that's not available Ghirardelli is also a great option.

Nutrition

Calories: 368kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 32mg | Sodium: 175mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 31g
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Filed Under: Baking, Dessert

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    Comments

    1. Meesa says

      December 24, 2021 at 4:12 pm

      4 stars
      I used Nestle TollHouse chocolate chips and they worked just fine, but I’ve seen where they have messed up for a lot of others during this recipe. The main thing that saved my 2nd batch (1st batch was way too runny!!!) Is letting the butter and brown sugar RAPID boil for at least 3-4 minutes. Stir it but make sure you start timing it when it starts to really boil. After that, pour it over saltines and bake for 7-10 mins depending on your oven. It needs to boil IN your oven, for 7ish mins. Make sure to keep saltines in order and not overlapping. Take them out after boiling for this time frame. Pour your chocolate chips over and put back in for 3 mins or less. Make sure they’re melted. Take them out and smear over the tops of all crackers. Bake for 2 mins or less until coated. Pull out and and top with candy, nuts, sprinkles, etc.
      Put in refrigerator for 2 hours. Then crack once set.

      Reply
    2. Janen says

      December 11, 2021 at 5:04 pm

      5 stars
      I just love this amazing recipe! I found the cutest sprinkles to decorate it with.

      Reply
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