Description
Christmas Crack is a festive and irresistible holiday treat featuring a crispy saltine cracker base topped with buttery toffee, melted chocolate, and crunchy nuts or colorful candies. This easy recipe combines sweet, salty, and crunchy textures for a delicious snack or dessert perfect for holiday gifting or festive gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Base
- 40-50 saltine crackers
Toffee Topping
- 1 cup salted butter cubed (227g)
- 1 cup light brown sugar packed (200g)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Chocolate and Toppings
- 2 cups milk chocolate chips
- 3/4-1 cup chopped toasted pecans or M&M's
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray it with cooking spray. Arrange a single layer of saltine crackers side-by-side to cover the baking sheet evenly. Use a jelly roll pan if possible, or fold up the edges of the foil to create a barrier to contain the toffee.
- Make Toffee: In a medium saucepan over medium heat on the stovetop, combine the cubed butter and light brown sugar. Stir with a wooden spoon until the butter has melted and the mixture starts to combine. Once it begins to bubble, start a 3-minute timer, stirring constantly to prevent burning.
- Add Vanilla: Remove the saucepan from heat once the 3 minutes of boiling are complete and stir in the vanilla extract thoroughly.
- Pour Toffee over Crackers: Immediately pour the hot toffee mixture evenly over the arranged saltine crackers. Use a knife to nudge the toffee to cover any missed crackers; it will spread further while baking.
- Bake Toffee: Place the baking sheet with toffee-covered crackers into the preheated oven and bake for 5 minutes until the toffee is bubbly.
- Add Chocolate Chips: Remove the pan from the oven and immediately sprinkle the chocolate chips evenly over the hot toffee. Let them sit for 2-3 minutes to melt from the residual heat.
- Spread Chocolate: Using a knife or spatula, spread the melted chocolate chips to form an even layer covering the toffee.
- Top with Nuts or Candies: While the chocolate is still soft, sprinkle with chopped toasted pecans or M&M’s as desired.
- Let Set: Allow the Christmas Crack to cool and harden at room temperature for 1-2 hours or refrigerate/freezer to speed up setting.
- Serve and Store: Break or cut into pieces and store in an airtight container at room temperature for 1-2 weeks.
Notes
- Saltine cracker substitutes include graham crackers, Ritz crackers, or broken pretzels for a different flavor and texture.
- To toast pecans, spread them on a baking sheet and bake at 350°F for 8-10 minutes until fragrant, or toast in a skillet on medium heat for 4-5 minutes stirring frequently.
- Try other toppings like sliced almonds, crushed candy canes, holiday sprinkles, chopped toffee bits, or drizzle with melted white or dark chocolate for decoration.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 piece
- Calories: 150 kcal
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg
