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This is the Ultimate Christmas Crack recipe! Yes, there are many variations of this classic saltines recipe, but I love the combination of two different types of chocolate chips AND then sprinkled with sea salt. That salt is a TOTAL game changer, I’m telling you! “Crack” into smaller pieces and enjoy! It’s the perfect treat to include on a holiday cookie plate with Peanut Butter Balls and Fantasy Fudge.
Christmas Crack: So good, you’ll get addicted.
Christmas Crack, also known as Saltine Toffee, is a holiday treat and a type of candy that you break or “crack” into pieces after it has set. The name could also be attributed to the cracked and irregular shapes this candy makes after you make it BUT I think that because it’s so addicting to eat, everyone calls it crack.
Why you’ll love this Recipe for Christmas Crack
I’m not even sure if I can put into words just how darn delicious this recipe is. It’s salty and sweet, crunchy and buttery while having a thin layer of homemade toffee and two kinds of chocolate all sandwiched together. I love topping my Christmas Crack with more salt to really play up that salty/sweet combo, but there are lots of other fun toppings you can use in place of the salt, all listed below.
It’s one of my favorite treats to make for the holidays and after one bite, you’ll see why it’s a favorite. Of course it’s delicious, but more importantly, it’s so darn simple to make, only calling for a handful of ingredients and is ready in a cinch.
Saltine Christmas Crack ingredients
- Saltines
- Butter
- Brown Sugar
- Vanilla Extract
- Dark and Milk Chocolate Chips
- Sea Salt
How to make Christmas Crack Saltines
For full details, including ingredients and measurements, see the printable recipe card down below. These step-by-step instructions will help you make the most perfect batch of Christmas Crack!
1. Preheat Oven + Prep Your Pan
Preheat oven. Line a half sheet pan with foil. Spray well with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Add Saltine Crackers
Line the bottom of the pan with one even layer of saltine crackers. This should be approximately 54 crackers. Using Ritz crackers is a good substitute for saltine crackers in this recipe.
3. Make the Toffee/Caramel Mixture
In a medium saucepan, heat butter and brown sugar together. Once it’s melted, bring to boil, immediately reduce to simmer. You want this mixture to get slightly darker as it simmers over the course of 3 minutes.
4. Pour Toffee over Crackers and Bake
Remove from heat, quickly stir in vanilla and pour over crackers. Spread mixture over the entire pan of crackers, covering them all as evenly as possible. Bake 5 minutes and remove from the oven.
5. Add the Chocolate
Top the hot crackers with chocolate chips. Place back into the warm oven to melt chocolate chips for a minute or two.
Remove from the oven and spread melted chocolate to cover all the crackers evenly. (This should spread very easily since the chocolate chips should be completely melted through.)
6. Refrigerate
Sprinkle the top with Maldon Sea Salt (or any desired toppings) and cool to room temperature. Transfer to refrigerator until completely solid. This should take 1-2 hours.
Remove from the fridge and peel Christmas Crack from the foil. It might not come off in one piece, but that’s ok! It should come off relatively easy.
7. Crack your Toffee!
Break or “crack” the candy into smaller pieces. Store broken pieces in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Serve cold or at room temperature.
Christmas Crack Recipe Variations
I love love love using Maldon Sea Salt Flakes for my version of Christmas Crack because I really love playing up that salty-sweet combination. You get a hint of that because this recipe calls for saltines, but I love adding extra. However, there are SO many options to customize this how you like! Here are a few ideas:
- crushed candy canes
- white chocolate drizzle
- chopped pecans, walnuts or almonds
- mini marshmallows
- M&M’s
- red and green sprinkles
- crushed pretzels
- or when in doubt, leave it plain!
Christmas Crack Candy storage
Depending when you want to eat this and how far in advance you’d like to make this, here are the best two options for you:
In the Refrigerator
The best way to store Christmas Crack is to place it into airtight bags and store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Easy, right? Which also makes this treat perfect to pack up and give to the neighbors!
In the Freezer
Want to make this further in advance? OR want to store this and make it last a little longer? This is the perfect candidate for freezing. Christmas Crack can last up to 3 months in the freezer as long as its stored in an airtight container or bag.
Christmas Crack Candy FAQ
Your Christmas Crack may have turned out chewy due to undercooking or the sugar/butter mixture not reaching the proper temperature. Make sure you’re cooking for 3 full minutes.
Your Christmas Crack may have turned out grainy due to sugar crystallization caused by undissolved sugar crystals or stirring the mixture too vigorously while it was cooking.
Other Christmas Treats You Will Love!
- Christmas Shortbread Cookies
- Chocolate Mint Cookies
- Christmas Truffles
- Sweet Orange Rolls
- Cranberry Orange Cookies
- Fantasy Fudge
- Peppermint Bark
If you loved Christmas Crack you’re going to love all of my other Christmas treats! Don’t forget the Christmas Cookies too! The printable recipe card is below.
If you make this Christmas Crack recipe I would appreciate it so much if you would give it a star review! Happy Holidays, friends!
Recipe for Christmas Crack
Ingredients
- 54 saltine crackers approximately 2 sleeves
- 1 1/2 cups salted butter
- 1 1/2 cups packed dark brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup dark chocolate chips
- 1 1/2 cups milk chocolate
- 1 tablespoon Maldon sea salt or chopped nuts, crushed candy canes or sprinkles
Instructions
- Line a half sheet pan (18x13x1) pan with foil. You want the foil to go up and over the edges of all sides of the pan. Spray well with nonstick cooking spray. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Line the bottom of the half sheet pan with one even layer of saltine crackers. This should be approximately 54 crackers. You may have to break a few to cover the bottom of the cookie sheet entirely. Set aside.
- In a medium saucepan, heat butter and brown sugar together. Once it's melted, bring to boil, immediately reduce to simmer and time 3 minutes. You want this mixture to get slightly darker as it simmers over the course of 3 minutes.
- Remove from heat, stir in vanilla and pour over crackers. Spread mixture over the entire pan of crackers, covering them all as evenly as possible.
- Bake 5 minutes and remove from oven. Toffee mixture will look really bubbly and crackers may have shifted slightly. This is normal! Turn oven off.
- Top with chocolate chips. Place back into warm oven to melt chocolate chips, 45 seconds to 1 minute more.
- Remove from the oven and spread melted chocolate to cover all the crackers evenly.
- Sprinkle the top with Maldon sea salt and cool to room temperature. Transfer to refrigerator for 2-3 hours or until completely solid.
- Remove from the fridge and peel christmas crack from the foil. There might be some foil stuck to the bottom of the saltine candy as you peel it off. This is normal! Just peel off the missed pieces until all the foil has been removed.
- Break or "crack" the candy into small pieces. Place into airtight bags and store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Serve cold or at room temperature.
I’m confused about the 2 different types of chocolate. What type of Milk Chocolate do I use? And is it added at the same time the dark chocolate chips are added to the recipe?
I must try these
I love Christmas Crack especially cold! There’s something about it being refrigerated that takes it over the top for me!
Can I speed up the cooling process by putting in the freezer for like an hour?
yes!
Thank you for sharing. We make this all the time but I have never thought of adding salt flakes to the top. Can’t wait to try it.
My mother-in-law introduced me to this years ago. She called it cracker cookies. So good and a holiday staple at our house. And definitely would call it crack for the “addictive nature” We have also used club crackers instead of saltines with excellent results.