Christmas Crack, also known as saltine cracker toffee, is a delightful combination of sweet, salty, and crunchy flavors. Made with saltine crackers, a buttery toffee layer, and melted chocolate, this easy-to-make treat is as addictive as it is delicious. Perfect for serving alongside our classic snickerdoodle cookies or as part of a festive Dessert Charcuterie Board, this holiday favorite is sure to be a crowd-pleaser!
What Makes Christmas Crack Special?
The magic of Christmas Crack lies in its simplicity and versatility. A base of saltine crackers is transformed into a decadent candy-like dessert when baked with rich toffee and topped with semi-sweet chocolate. The contrast of the crisp crackers with the creamy toffee and smooth chocolate makes every bite irresistible. Plus, you can customize it with a variety of toppings to suit your tastes or holiday theme.
Key Ingredients & Substitutions
- Crackers: Saltine crackers are the classic base, but feel free to use Ritz crackers, soda crackers, or graham crackers for a different flavor and texture.
- Butter: Unsalted butter creates the toffee layer. Using unsalted butter lets you control the salt level in the recipe.
- Brown Sugar: This adds sweetness and a caramel-like richness to the toffee.
- Chocolate: Semi-sweet chocolate chips are traditional, but you can experiment with milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate, or flavored candy chips for variety.
Creative Topping Ideas
While Christmas Crack is delicious on its own, toppings can take it to the next level. Add these while the chocolate is still soft for the best results:
- Nuts: Chopped pecans, almonds, walnuts, or peanuts for a crunchy bite.
- Sprinkles: Use holiday-themed sprinkles for a festive look.
- Crushed Candy Canes: Perfect for a peppermint twist.
- Crushed Pretzels: Add extra saltiness and crunch.
- M&M’s: Choose seasonal colors to match your celebration.
- Sea Salt: A sprinkle of flaky sea salt balances the sweetness.
- Coconut Flakes: For a tropical touch.
Storing and Freezing Christmas Crack
- Storage: Once set, store Christmas Crack in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. For longer storage, keep it in the refrigerator.
- Freezing: Christmas Crack freezes beautifully, making it a great option for prepping holiday treats in advance. Place the pieces in a freezer-safe container, separating layers with parchment or wax paper to prevent sticking. It can be frozen for up to two months. When you’re ready to enjoy, let the pieces thaw at room temperature for a few minutes before serving.
Christmas Crack is the ultimate holiday treat that brings together festive flavors and fun customization. Whether you’re serving it at a holiday party or gifting it to friends and family, this sweet and salty treat is sure to become a seasonal favorite.
Christmas Crack
Ingredients
- 45 saltine crackers
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 ½ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- flakey salt, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Arrange the crackers in a single layer, salted side down, on the prepared baking sheet. Set aside.
- In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, combine the butter and light brown sugar. Stir constantly until the mixture comes to a boil. Let it boil for 3–5 minutes, stirring frequently, until the sugar is fully dissolved, and the mixture thickens slightly and darkens in color. The toffee should reach 270°F–290°F on a candy thermometer.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and immediately pour the toffee mixture evenly over the crackers, spreading it to the edges as needed.
- Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake for 3–5 minutes, or until the toffee is bubbling. Carefully remove the pan from the oven.
- Sprinkle the chocolate chips evenly over the hot toffee. Let them sit for about one minute, or until they soften and begin to melt. Use an offset spatula to spread the melted chocolate evenly over the surface.
- Transfer the pan to the refrigerator for about an hour to set, or place it in the freezer for about 30 minutes for quicker setting.
- Once the chocolate has hardened and the toffee has set, break the crackers into small, uneven pieces by hand.
- Garnish with flakey salt, if desired.
This recipe is adapted from Iambaker’s Christmas Crack.
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