This super easy Christmas Cracker Candy recipe is the perfect sweet and salty treat that your holiday season needs! With 4 base ingredients and the topping(s) of your choice, this saltine cracker toffee is perfect for gifting, sharing with co-workers, or adding to your holiday cookie tray.
Saltine Cracker Toffee (Sometimes Known as “Christmas Crack”)
For years, one of my dear friends from work would make huge batches of “Christmas Crack” and gift it to her coworkers during the holidays. It was always one of those treats where you say “oh, I’ll just enjoy one piece…” and then half the container is gone. Because I’ve always enjoyed it so much, I decided this delicious holiday treat needed to be added to my Christmas rotation too!
After several trials, we’re providing you with step-by-step photos, several tips for a better cracker candy making experience, and a delicious recipe that you’ll be able to make successfully to share with your loved ones.
While the most common name for this treat is “Christmas Crack”, we’re not using that title as it can be construed to make light of a very serious problem. You may hear interpretations that the popular name was given to this treat because it “cracks” apart… but we’re going to keep it PC.
Saltine Toffee Recipe Ingredients
- Saltine Crackers. Saltines create the perfect base for this treat! They contribute a salty flavor that plays off the sweetness of the toffee and chocolate as well as providing a crispy, flaky texture.
- Salted Butter. Butter is used along with the brown sugar to create the toffee layer. We love using salted butter as it helps balance out the sweetness, but you can also use unsalted butter and a pinch of salt if preferred.
- Brown Sugar. You can use dark or light brown sugar. We’re showing ours with dark brown sugar because we prefer the more robust taste!
- Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips. Use a high quality chocolate for best results. We’ll use a whole 12-ounce bag for our chocolate layer.
- Toppings of Your Choice. This is where you can have some fun! I’ve shown half my pan covered with Christmas sprinkles and mini holiday m&ms, and the other half with toffee bits. But chopped nuts (like pecans, walnuts, or almonds) are a common topping for this treat. You could also try crushed or mini pretzels, coconut flakes, or flakey sea salt.
Ingredient measurements and full directions are provided in the recipe card at the bottom of the page.
How to Make Saltine Cracker Toffee
Preparation Tip for Easy Clean Up
Be sure to line your baking sheet with aluminum foil and then parchment paper for the easiest clean up! Toffee can be difficult to clean off of your pan, but having the layer of aluminum foil helps alleviate this issue.
Preheat your oven to 400°F and line your baking sheet with tinfoil and then a piece of parchment paper (or a silicone non-stick baking mat).
Place the saltine crackers in a single layer, in even rows on the prepared baking sheet and set aside.
Make the toffee layer by melting the butter and brown sugar in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring frequently while the butter and sugar melt, then waiting until the boils throughout for about 30-seconds.
Toffee Making Tip
Keep a close eye on your toffee while it’s on the stove! We want to stir our toffee mixture frequently while the butter and sugar is melting so it doesn’t burn. Then you will reduce the amount of stirring you do and look for the mixture to be boiling throughout (not just on the edges) and wait for it to darken slightly. It will only be on the stove about 3-5 minutes, and boiling throughout for about 30-seconds. Once this has happened, remove from the heat immediately.
Pour the hot toffee mixture over the saltine crackers. Use a rubber scraper to bring toffee to the edges if needed.
Bake for 3-5 minutes, until the toffee mixture is bubbling. Turn off the oven.
Remove the pan from the oven and immediately spread the chocolate chips over the hot toffee.
Place the pan back into the oven (which is now turned off) for 1-2 minutes, until the chocolate chips are shiny.
Spread the chocolate evenly over the top of the toffee layer.
Sprinkle with desired toppings (I like to do two types of toppings, sprinkling each type over half of the chocolate).
Cooling Tip
As noted below, we recommend cooling your saltine cracker toffee either at room temperature and/or in the fridge. If you place it in the freezer to cool quickly, you’re more likely to have the chocolate layer separate from the cracker layer when you break it apart due to the rapid temperature change.
Allow to cool completely. Do this at room temperature, or once it’s cool enough to touch, you can move it to the fridge to help it set up faster.
When set, break into pieces (either with your hands, or carefully using a knife) and enjoy!
Topping Tip
Be sure to sprinkle your toppings onto the chocolate as soon as possible so they stick, allowing your toppings to set with the chocolate as it cools.
Saltine Cracker Candy Variations
Use a different cracker. Don’t have saltines? Try graham crackers, Ritz crackers, or Club crackers instead!
Use a different chocolate. Milk chocolate chips is a great alternative to semi-sweet. You can also use a chopped chocolate bar also works well in place of chocolate chips (they often melt even better).
Making For a Crowd? Double It!
If you’re planning on wrapping this up in cute holiday tins for gifting, or will be serving this to a crowd at a gathering, you can easily double this recipe! Simply double the ingredients and spread your crackers over two prepared pans.
How to Store Saltine Toffee
You can store Cracker Candy in an airtight container at room temperature, in the fridge, or in the freezer – making it a great make ahead treat options! When stored properly, your saltine toffee will last up to 5 days at room temperature, up to 2 weeks in the fridge, and up to 2 months in the freezer!
If freezing, be sure to add parchment paper between the layers to help avoid sticking.
Saltine Toffee FAQs
Why is my saltine toffee chewy? This is most likely because the toffee mixture wasn’t cooked long enough, so it doesn’t reach the ideal temperature (300°F if you were using a candy thermometer), to reach it’s “hard crack” stage. It will still be yummy though! Stale crackers can also contribute to a chewy toffee as they absorb more moisture.
Why is my saltine toffee grainy? This can happen if the toffee mixture is over stirred during the boiling stage, which can encourage the sugar to crystallize. You want to stir frequently while the butter and sugar melt and then try not to stir too much while it boils.
Why is my cracker candy sticky? Again, this could be a toffee mixture cooking issue where the mixture didn’t get up to the proper temperature (“hard crack” stage) and retained some moisture. This can also happen if the candy is in a humid environment, absorbing moisture from it’s surroundings.
Love This Easy Dessert Recipe? Try One of These Holiday Treats Next!
Cracker Candy Recipe
Equipment
- Saucepan
Ingredients
- 35-40 Saltine Crackers (about 1 sleeve)
- 1 Cup salted butter
- 1 Cup brown sugar (dark or light)
- 12 ounces chocolate chips (use high quality chocolate!)
- ½ Cup toppings of choice (like holiday sprinkles, mini m&ms, toffee pieces, chopped nuts like pecans/walnuts/almonds, coconut flakes, or flakey sea salt)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F and line your baking sheet with tinfoil and then a piece of parchment paper (or a silicone non-slip baking mat).
- Place the saltine crackers in a single layer, in even rows, on the prepared baking sheet and set aside.
- Make the toffee layer by melting the butter and brown sugar in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring frequently while the butter and sugar melt, then waiting until the mixture boils throughout (not just at the edges) for about 30-seconds. Remove from the heat.
- Pour the hot toffee mixture over the layer of crackers, using a rubber scraper to spread the toffee to the edges if needed.
- Bake for 3-5 minutes, until the toffee mixture is bubbling. Turn off the oven.
- Remove the pan from the oven and immediately spread the chocolate chips over the hot toffee.
- Place the pan back into the oven (which is now turned off)for 1-2 minutes, until the chocolate chips are shiny.
- Spread the chocolate into an even layer.
- Sprinkle with desired toppings as soon as possible after spreading out the melted chocolate.(I like to do two types of toppings, sprinkling each type over half of the chocolate).
- Allow to cool completely. Do this at room temperature, with the option to transfer to the fridge to finish cooling once it's cool enough to touch.
- When set, break into pieces (either with your hands, or carefully using a knife) and enjoy!
Notes
- Use a different cracker. Don’t have saltines? Try graham crackers, Ritz crackers, or Club crackers instead!
- Use a different chocolate. Milk chocolate chips is a great alternative to semi-sweet. You can also use a chopped chocolate bar also works well in place of chocolate chips (they often melt even better).
Lauren says
Had this at a work get-together and it was an absolute hit!
Meredith says
So happy to hear you enjoyed this saltine toffee Lauren, thank you!!
Kevin Tattitch says
These are so unique and delicious!
Meredith says
Thank you, glad to hear you enjoyed them Kevin!
Kathy B says
I’m a big toffee nut, so this was DIVINE!
Meredith says
So glad to hear you enjoyed this so much Kathy!
Marge says
easy and delicious!