Your friends and family will go crazy for this Christmas crack — a perfect balance of buttery, salty and sweet. Saltine crackers are layered with caramel toffee and melted milk chocolate, then finished with chopped pecans and colorful holiday sprinkles.
This recipe was first published Dec 1, 2022.
If you haven’t tried saltine toffee before, don’t be put off by the crackers — the contrast of crisp, salty crackers with rich caramel and chocolate is addictive. It’s incredibly simple to make and takes about 20 minutes of active time plus chilling.
This is a fantastic homemade gift — package it in festive tins for neighbors, coworkers, or friends. I used to receive tins of this every Christmas and always looked forward to snacking on it while watching holiday movies.
Ingredients
See the recipe card below for exact amounts and full directions.
- Salted butter
- Light brown sugar
- Saltine crackers
- Pinch of salt
- Milk chocolate chips (Ghirardelli recommended for easy melting)
- Chopped pecans
- Festive Christmas sprinkles
How To Make Christmas Crack
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 13″ x 18″ baking sheet with aluminum foil, overlapping the edges so you can lift the finished candy out easily. No cooking spray is necessary.
Arrange the saltine crackers in a single even layer on the prepared baking sheet.
In a nonstick saucepan over low heat, combine the butter and brown sugar. Stir occasionally until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is smooth. Increase the heat to medium and bring the mixture to a frothy boil. Once it reaches a lively boil, set a timer for 4 minutes and whisk briefly each minute.
Turn off the heat and pour the hot caramel evenly over the arranged saltines. Quickly spread the caramel with a spatula so every cracker is coated before the mixture thickens.
Bake for 7–8 minutes until the caramel is bubbling. Remove from the oven and let it sit 2–3 minutes. Sprinkle the chocolate chips evenly over the hot caramel. After about 3 minutes, when the chips have softened, spread them into a smooth layer with a spatula.
Immediately top the melted chocolate with chopped pecans and Christmas sprinkles. Transfer the pan to the refrigerator and chill for at least 2 hours, or until firm. Break the set candy into bite-sized pieces and serve or package for gifting.
More Christmas Treats
- Pecan Sandies
- Big Fat Pecan Sticky Buns
- Christmas Monster Cookies
- Jam Thumbprint Cookies
- Chocolate Dipped Butter Cookies
Christmas Crack (Saltine Toffee)
Buttery, salty and sweet — saltine crackers are layered with caramel toffee and milk chocolate, then topped with pecans and festive sprinkles for a crunchy holiday treat.
Ingredients
- 1 cup salted butter
- 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 40 saltine crackers
- Pinch of salt
- 1 cup milk chocolate chips (Ghirardelli recommended)
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- Christmas sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Line a baking sheet with foil, overlapping the edges. Arrange 40 saltine crackers in a single layer.
- In a nonstick pot, melt the butter and brown sugar over low heat until the sugar dissolves. Increase to medium and bring to a frothy boil. Boil for 3–4 minutes, whisking briefly each minute.
- Pour the hot caramel over the saltines and spread quickly and evenly with a spatula.
- Bake 7–8 minutes until bubbling. Remove and sprinkle with a pinch of salt.
- Scatter chocolate chips over the hot caramel. After about 3 minutes, when melted, spread the chocolate into an even layer. Top with chopped pecans and sprinkles.
- Chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours. Break into pieces and enjoy.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 30
Serving Size: 1
Amount per serving:
Calories: 166
Total Fat: 12g
Saturated Fat: 6g
Cholesterol: 17mg
Sodium: 109mg
Carbohydrates: 15g
Fiber: 1g
Sugar: 10g
Protein: 1g
Nutritional values are estimates from online calculators.