This Christmas Crack Recipe is delicious and addicting. There is a reason that this popular Christmas treat is called Christmas Crack. It’s hard to just eat one piece and I know you’ll love this recipe.

Saltine toffee broken into pieces in a pile.
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This recipe for Christmas Crack is the perfect combination of sweet and salty. The toffee mixture is rich and decadent paired with the chocolate.

You only need 5 ingredients to create this saltine cracker toffee.  I love easy recipes, and this is definitely one of my favorites.  You might also like to try Grinch Brownies, Christmas Rice Krispie Treats, Christmas Mints and Christmas Truffles Recipe.

What is Christmas Crack Candy? 

The name of this recipe might be causing you to wonder exactly what this is.  This Christmas crack candy is a saltine toffee recipe that is the perfect combination of sweet and salty.

I make it every Christmas for my family to enjoy and to give as gifts to friends. It is similar to Ritz Cracker Toffee Recipe but with saltines. If you love sweet and salty, this Crock Pot Christmas Candy Recipe is another family favorite for Christmas desserts.

We also make Patriotic Crack for another variation.

Ingredients:

Ingredients for Saltine toffee - brown sugar, butter, chocolate chips, sprinkles, saltines.

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

Jump to the recipe card at the bottom for the complete ingredient list and instructions.

Substitutions and Additions

  • Change the Crackers – Instead of saltine crackers, you can use Club Crackers, Ritz crackers or graham crackers.  Either of these would be great options for this crack recipe.
  • Add Nuts – Instead of sprinkles, top with chopped pecans or any of your favorite nut. It would also be good topped with Peanut Butter.
  • Change Chocolate – Instead of using chocolate chips, consider white chocolate. You can also use dark Chocolate or milk chocolate instead of semi-sweet chocolate chips.
  • Drizzle syrups – Drizzle Caramel and Sea salt for another delicious treat.
  • Toffee Bits – Add toffee bits on top instead of sprinkles.
  • Decorate each half differently – You could also do half of the pan. Do one half as one flavor and do the other half as a different flavor. For example, you could use sprinkles on one side and chopped nuts on the other.
  • Candy Canes. Sprinkles crushed candy canes on top of the melted chocolate chips.

How to Make Christmas Crack:

Saltine crackers spread out on baking sheet.

Step 1. Prepare the baking sheet by lining with foil or parchment paper and spraying with cooking spray. Then place the crackers on the bottom of the pan. You don’t have to worry about them being perfectly lined up. The crackers will be broken up at the end of the recipe.

Melted butter in saucepan.

Step 2. Melt the butter in a small saucepan using low-medium heat.

Brown sugar added to saucepan and combined.

Step 3. Add the brown sugar once the butter is completely melted. Stir to combine the butter and brown sugar thoroughly.

Brown sugar in pan boiling.

Step 4. Bring to a boil and continue boiling for approximately 3 minutes.  Watch this mixture closely and only boil for 3 minutes so that it doesn’t burn. You can use a candy thermometer if you prefer, but I just watch the chocolate closely.

Mixture in saucepan getting ready to pour over crackers.

Step 5. Then immediately remove from heat and pour the bubbly mixture over the crackers.

Saltine crackers coated in mixture.

Step 6. Spread it out covering the crackers completely.  You can use a spatula to spread it out if needed. Next place the pan in the oven for 4-5 minutes until the edges of the brown sugar mixture gets bubbly.

Chocolate Chips sprinkled on top of pan.

Step 7. Remove the pan from the oven. Immediately sprinkle the chocolate chips on top.

Spatula spreading out chocolate.

Step 8. Allow the crackers to sit for 5 minutes to melt the chocolate.  Do not put it back in the oven. The heat from the mixture will melt the chocolate perfectly.

Chocolate mixture spread out on pan.

Step 9. Then use a spatula to spread the chocolate over the cracker layer evenly.

Sprinkles on top of mixture.

Step 10. Finally sprinkle the Christmas sprinkles over the melted chocolate to give the saltine cracker toffee a festive look for the holidays.

Saltine toffee hardened.

Step 11. Then place the pan in the refrigerator to allow the toffee to harden.  This should take approximately 30 minutes to one hour.

Saltine toffee  broken into pieces.

Step 12. After this time, remove the toffee from the pan and break it apart.  Don’t worry about the pieces being perfect or the same size.  I enjoy creating a variety of sizes.

Expert Tips:

  • The crackers should touch. Make sure to arrange the cracker as closely as possible to each other. This will prevent the toffee from seeping through making it hard to crack.
  • Boil the butter and brown sugar long enough. If it is not cooked long enough, the toffee will be soft and not harden.
  • Line the pain with foil. It is so important to line the baking sheet with aluminum foil to make clean up easy.

FAQ’s

Why is my Christmas Crack Chewy?

When the Christmas Crack is chewy it is normal. This makes the perfect Christmas Crack when it is a soft. Make sure that the brown sugar mixture is heated and melted. We recommend letting the brown sugar to boil for at least 5 minutes.

How to Store Saltine Cracker Candy?

Generally, I store this Christmas crack candy in an air tight container at room temperature for up to a week.  If it’s warmer where you live, store in the refrigerator to keep the chocolate from melting. 

However, when I make this recipe, it generally doesn’t last an entire week.  It’s called Christmas Crack for a reason!

Saltine toffee on a platter.

Try these Christmas Desserts:

Make this recipe today for a delicious treat. Please leave a star recipe rating once you do.

Christmas Crack

4.69 from 35 votes
Your entire family will devour this Christmas Crack recipe. This Christmas crack candy recipe is ready in under 30 minutes and is perfect for the holidays.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Cool 5 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 40
Cuisine American
Course Dessert
Calories 126

Ingredients

  • 40 Saltine Crackers just over a sleeve
  • 1 cup butter
  • 1 cup packed Brown Sugar
  • 11.5 oz package Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
  • Christmas Sprinkles
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Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 F.
  • Line a jelly roll pan with foil. Spray with a non-stick cooking spray.
  • Fill the bottom of the cookie sheet with crackers. Set the pan aside.
  • In a sauce pan melt the butter over low-medium heat. Add brown sugar once butter is completely melted and stir to combine. Bring to a boil and continue boiling for 3 minutes.
  • Immediately remove from heat and pour bubbly mixture over crackers covering the crackers completely.
  • Place pan in the oven for 4-5 minutes, or just until edges of brown sugar mixture gets bubbly.
  • Remove pan from oven and immediately and sprinkle the chocolate chips on top of the crackers.
  • Allow the crackers to sit for 5 minutes to melt the chocolate. Then use a spatula to spread the melted chocolate over the cracker layer evenly.
  • Sprinkle the Christmas sprinkles over the melted chocolate (optional).
  • Place the pan in the refrigerator to allow the toffee to harden.
  • Then remove the toffee from the pan and break it apart. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Calories 126kcal, Carbohydrates 12g, Protein 1g, Fat 8g, Saturated Fat 5g, Cholesterol 13mg, Sodium 74mg, Potassium 64mg, Fiber 1g, Sugar 9g, Vitamin A 146IU, Calcium 12mg, Iron 1mg

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About the Author

Hi, I’m Carrie. Welcome to Desserts on a Dime!

I’m on a mission to help you create delicious desserts on a budget and do not require a ton of time. Together, we are going to make something sweet that the entire family will love!

4.69 from 35 votes (29 ratings without comment)

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Comments

  1. Barbara says:

    5 stars
    They were so good and easy to make thank you.

    1. Carrie says:

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing!

  2. Jill says:

    Does this recipe not have a “pin it” button? I have looked all over the page. Am I just over looking it? lol I see a pinterest image at the very top and to the right but it doesn’t take you to pinterest to pin this recipe. I need to save it for when I make my Christmas goodies and sadly if I don’t save on pinterest I will never find it.

    1. Carrie says:

      When you hoover your mouse over a photo that you like, a pin button should pop up on the top left side of the image. Click on that and you should be able to pin this recipe to your pinterest boards! We’re also on Pinterest so you can follow us there as well if you like. Thank you!

  3. Kelly McKenna says:

    5 stars
    SOOO good..and soooo easy to make. We loved it….and our guests devoured it.

  4. Jessica Stevens says:

    5 stars
    I made this for Christmas gifts this year. It was so delicious and easy to do. I will definitely be making more next year

  5. Angela Whitener says:

    5 stars
    Just made this today to give out as just a little something for the holidays. It’s amazing and everyone loves it!!!

  6. Lucie says:

    5 stars
    Adding the Christmas Sprinkles is just the perfect touch.
    Thinking of doing the silver balls as sprinkles for New Year’s Eve

  7. Laura says:

    5 stars
    So delicious and tasted just like toffee. Crunchy, sweet and chocolately!

  8. Connie says:

    Any reason why my toffee mixture didn’t get thick? I used 2 sticks of butter and a packed cup of brown sugar and boiled for exactly 3 minutes. I stirred while it was boiling so maybe that was why it was a thin runny mixture

    1. Carrie says:

      I would cook it longer next time until it’s thicken and then the toffee should harden in the oven with the crackers. Thanks.