4 Ingredient Christmas Crack Recipe (Saltine Toffee) {Video}

Saltine Cracker Toffee, or “Christmas crack,” is a classic holiday dessert perfect for Christmas cookie gift exchanges! This Christmas crack recipe takes less than 30 minutes to prepare and only needs four ingredients. You can make it in about 15 minutes once you’ve made it a few times.

Saltine Cracker Toffee Christmas Crack

All you need are four pantry essentials to make saltine cracker toffee, plus some toppings if you want to get fancy and decorate them. If you have been to a holiday cookie exchange, these are the cracker desserts everyone goes for first and loves.

Friends and family will love this Saltine Toffee Christmas Cracker Candy!

This Christmas Crack Candy is the perfect treat in December! You can customize it with holiday sprinkles and make it look super festive.

Ingredients

This is a quick overview of the simple ingredients that you'll need to make epic Saltine Cracker Toffee! Specific measurements and step-by-step instructions are included in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.

• Butter
• Brown Sugar
• Saltine Crackers
• Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

Optional toppings - nuts, broken pretzels, Reese's pieces, sprinkles, Oreo cookie crumble, broken up candy bars, shredded coconut, crushed up candy canes, M&M candy, pecans, peanuts, almonds, walnuts, or sea salt.

Chocolate - We use semi-sweet milk chocolate chips but you can use white chocolate chips, dark chocolate chips, or any flavor that melts nicely. Some chocolate chips have an additive added to them to hold their shape. If your chocolate doesn't melt smoothly you may want to try chocolate bar pieces.

Change it up and use peanut butter chips for a fun new flavor or mix them with the Guittard or Ghirardelli chocolate chips.

Saltine Crackers - We like to use salted saltines so they help cut the sweetness from the toffee and chocolate. If you use unsalted crackers you may want to sprinkle a bit of salt over the toffee.

Butter - We use unsalted butter but you can definitely use salted butter or even vegan butter.

 

Equipment need to make Christmas Crack Toffee Candy

• Nonstick Cooking Spray
• Saucepan
• Measuring Cups
• Jelly Roll Sheet Pan: We are huge fans of these baking sheets with sides.
• Aluminum Foil
• Wooden Spoon
• Offset Spatula 

How to make Saltine Cracker Toffee

I've included complete instructions in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post, but here's a quick version.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Step 1 - Line a jelly roll baking sheet with aluminum foil so it sticks up on the sides to catch any extra toffee. I like to spray the foil with non-stick spray to make it easier to remove the saltine cracker toffee.

Step 2 - Line cookie sheet with saltine crackers in a single layer.

Step 3 - In a small saucepan melt the butter and brown sugar over medium high heat. Bring to a rolling boil, reduce heat to medium heat and allow to boil for 5 minutes. Make sure to set a timer so you don't burn the sugar.

Stir occasionally as the sugar and butter boil to caramel.

Step 4 - Quickly pour the brown sugar mixture over the saltine crackers and spread it out completely.

Step 5 - make sure sugar butter mixture is evenly spread out across all of the crackers. You may  have to scoop it from the edges to fill in blank areas.

Bake for 5 minutes in preheated oven.

Step 6 - Spread chocolate chips evenly over the top of the saltines. Make sure the toffee layer is still warm when you spread the chocolate. This will help prevent the layers from separating.

Allow them to sit for a couple of minutes until the chocolate starts to look shiny and is soft enough to easily spread.

Spread over the crackers as evenly as possible. If the chocolate chips do not melt enough you can stick the pan in the oven for a minute or so to melt the chocolate chips.

Step 7 - If you run out of chocolate just drop a few chocolate chips in the areas you need more coverage. This will help make sure all of the crackers are evenly covered.

Top with any toppings you love including sprinkles, nut pieces, pretzel pieces, cookie crumbs, or really anything.

Place the baking sheet in the refrigerator for 2 hours to harden.

Step 8 - Remove from the refrigerator and peel the foil away. Break into pieces and enjoy!

Preparation and Storage

Make Ahead + Storage: This recipe is make-ahead-friendly! You can make your Saltine Toffee up to five days before serving. Store it in an airtight container in the fridge to prevent the crackers from getting soft, and separate layers with parchment paper to make servings easy to grab.

Enjoy any leftovers within a week.

Freezing/How to Freeze: Transfer leftovers to an airtight, freezer-safe container or Ziploc bag and enjoy them within three months.

How to Reheat: Let frozen leftovers thaw in the fridge until you can comfortably begin munching on them. 

 

Recipe Variations

Substitutions:

We use semi-sweet milk chocolate chips, but you can use white chocolate chips, dark chocolate chips, or any flavor that melts nicely. Some chocolate chips have an additive added to them to hold their shape. If your chocolate doesn't melt smoothly, try chocolate bar pieces.

You can use peanut butter chips instead of chocolate for a fun new flavor or mix them with Guittard or Ghirardelli chocolate chips.

We like to use salted saltines to cut the sweetness from the toffee and chocolate. We recommend sprinkling salt over the toffee if you use unsalted crackers.

We use unsalted butter, but you can use salted or vegan butter.

Vegetarian Option: This holiday treat recipe is vegetarian.

Vegan Option: Swap the butter and chocolate chips for plant-based alternatives to make this recipe vegan.

Gluten-Free: Use gluten-free crackers and chocolate chips to make this recipe gluten-free.

Smaller Serving Size + Larger Group/More Servings: The written recipe makes 35 servings. Scale it up or down to your desired yield, ensuring you have a pot to hold the toffee, space to keep it from burning, and enough baking pans if you scale up.

Sugar-Free: Use a sugar-free brown sugar alternative and sugar-free chocolate chips and garnishes to make this recipe sugar-free.

Tips for the Best Saltine Cracker Toffee

• This recipe does not require a candy thermometer.
• You can also use Ritz crackers or even graham crackers if you prefer something other than saltines.
• You can customize this Saltine Cracker Candy by adding different toppings in rows on the chocolate. Break them up, and let guests enjoy their favorite ones.
• Some toppings we’ve enjoyed include sprinkles, nut pieces, pretzel pieces, and cookie crumbs.
• If you have counters that don’t take well to heat, make sure you put a protective barrier down, like a trivet. The pan will be hot, and you do not want to set it right on your countertop.
• If you run out of chocolate, drop a few chocolate chips where you need more coverage.

What to Serve with Saltine Cracker Toffee

This kid-friendly Saltine Cracker Toffee is perfect for any holiday dessert platter for the young and young at heart! Here are some menu pairing suggestions to make it part of a festive feast for sharing with friends and family.

Sides: Brown Sugar Bacon Wrapped Smokies, Cheddar Bay Sausage Balls, Cheesy Green Beans, Cranberry Sauce, Sweet Potato Casserole with Canned Yams, Creamed Corn Casserole, Campbell's Green Bean Casserole, CrockPot Scalloped Potatoes & Ham

Main Dishes: Eggnog French Toast, Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole, Ham & Cheese Crescent Roll, CrockPot Turkey, CrockPot Ham, CrockPot Cranberry Barbecue Meatballs, Bourbon Baked Ham, CrockPot Orange Glazed Ham, CrockPot Coke Glazed Ham

Desserts: Eggnog Cookies, Sugared Cranberries, Cranberry Fluff, Reindeer Chow, Grinch Bark, No Bake Church Window Cookies, Eggnog Cake with Eggnog Glaze, No Bake Eggnog Pie, Snowball Cookies, Snow Ice Cream, Black Forest Cupcakes

Drinks: Broken Down Golf Cart Shot, Baileys Hot Chocolate, Grinch Jello Shots, Fireball Jello Shots, Cherry Bomb Shot, Cranberry Mimosa, Eggnog Coffee, Peppermint Patty Shot, Polar Bear Shot, Boozy Grinch Drink, Three Wise Men Shot, Maple Old Fashioned Cocktail

When to Serve

• Christmas Parties
• Potlucks
• Holiday Gatherings
• Movie Nights
• Family Dessert
• Sweet Snack 

 

Great Holiday Recipes

Eggnog Pie

Sugared Cranberries

Pineapple Stuffing

Eggnog Fudge

Cranberry Fluff Salad

Chocolate Chip Cheeseball

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