With just 5 ingredients and 15 minutes, this Christmas crack recipe is the best sweet and salty treat made with a layer of saltine crackers, sweet toffee and chocolate!
Grandma’s Saltine Cracker Toffee
This delicious Christmas crack is one of my favorite Christmas desserts at the holidays and it only takes about 15 minutes to make, much easier even than my toffee recipe or toffee cookies.
I have shared my grandma’s saltine cracker toffee before and this is a glorified version with chocolate and M&Ms on top. You could also top Christmas candy crack with crushed saltines, sea salt, toasted coconut, slivered almonds, pecans or Heath bits.
Why I Love This Recipe
- Sweet and salty. Two of my favorite flavors come together in this chewy and crunchy saltine cracker candy treat.
- Holiday tradition. Christmas crack toffee is always the first homemade treat to disappear on the cookie plate along with divinity candy and chocolate fudge!
Ingredient Notes
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Saltines: The saltiness of this beloved cracker works perfectly with the caramel and chocolate.
- Butter: I use salted butter to add a salty balance to the sweet. Real butter is key not margarine!
- Brown sugar: The deep flavor brown sugar provides is key to making this toffee really shine.
- Chocolate chips: I use milk chocolate chips to make the melted chocolate layer, but you can opt for white chocolate chips, semi-sweet chocolate chips, dark chocolate chips, peanut butter chips or even chopped chocolate bar.
- Toppings: I choose red and green M&Ms to keep the candy festive, but nuts, candy canes, toffee bits, pretzels or sprinkles are also really great!
How to Make Christmas Crack
Beware…this candy crack toffee is seriously addicting! You may want to make two batches as it will disappear fast.
- Prepare: Line a pan with foil and spray with cooking spray. Then spread saltine crackers out in an even single layer.
- Make the caramel: Boil the brown sugar and butter for 3 minutes.
- Bake: Pour evenly over crackers and bake for 8 minutes.
- Spread: Once it’s done cooking sprinkle chocolate chips on top and let melt. Spread out until smooth and top with M&M’s or nuts. Then try not to eat all in one sitting.
Expert Tips
- Candy thermometer. Though it isn’t necessary, if you are worried about getting the caramel right and avoid chewy Christmas crack, you can use a candy thermometer to make sure it reaches a temperature of 270°F to 290°F.
- Pan size. A large jelly roll pan works best for this recipe, but any type of large, rimmed baking sheet will work.
- Prevent separation. If your caramel layer has cooled down when adding the chocolate, it will separate into layers. Ensure the caramel is still warm.
- Melting chocolate chips. If your chocolate doesn’t melt once you place it on the caramel layer, place back in the oven for a few minutes just until they start to melt.
Christmas Crack Flavor Variations
This Christmas crack is so versatile and can be modified so many different ways! Below are a few of my favorite ways to make it.
- Peppermint graham cracker: Graham crackers with white chocolate and crushed candy canes.
- Chocolate Ritz Christmas crack: Ritz crackers with chocolate and sliced almonds.
- White chocolate pretzel: Pretzels crisps with white chocolate and Rudolph candies or sprinkles.
- Graham cracker toffee: Graham crackers with chocolate and chopped almonds.
- Vanilla: If you would like to add vanilla extract to the caramel layer it would add even more depth of flavor to the brown sugar.
Storage
- Room temperature storage: Store saltine cracker candy in an airtight container at on the counter for about a week. Just ensure your house isn’t too hot or the chocolate will start to melt.
- In the refrigerator: If your house is warm, store Christmas crack in the refrigerator for up two weeks. If you live in a colder climate, you could also just keep it in the garage or covered porch!
- Freeze: Break into pieces and store in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag in the freezer up to 3 months. Place parchment paper between layers so they don’t stick.
More classic holiday cookie recipes include my soft molasses cookies, traditional Christmas sugar cookies and peanut butter blossoms.
More Holiday Candy Recipes
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Christmas Crack Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 48 saltine crackers , 1 1/2 sleeves
- 1 cup (2 sticks) salted butter , cubed
- 1 cup light brown sugar , packed
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ½ – 1 cup M&M’s , or chopped nuts or sliced almonds
Optional toppings: m&ms, sprinkles, chopped nuts or sliced almonds
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325°F. Line a large jelly roll pan (15×10) with parchment paper or foil (spray foil with non stick spray).
- Line the bottom of the pan evenly with 48 saltine crackers. You may need a break a few on the sides to fill in the gaps.
- In a medium pot, combine 2 sticks butter and 1 cup sugar over medium-low heat. Stirring occasionally, bring to a rolling boil and cook 3 minutes, or until bubbling and amber in color. Remove pan from heat and pour evenly over saltine crackers. Spread brown sugar mixture quickly with a spatula.
- Bake 8 minutes (caramel should be bubbling). Remove pan from oven and sprinkle 2 cups chocolate chips evenly over the top and let sit until chocolate chips are shiny (you can turn off oven and place inside for 30-60 seconds to speed up, but don't leave in long or it will burn). Remove and let sit a minute. Once the chips are soft, spread evenly with a spatula. Sprinkle desired toppings over the top and place in the freezer 15 minutes, or until hardened.
- Let sit 15 minutes on the counter. Flip over onto a cutting board and remove the foil. Break into pieces.
Notes
- Use ritz or graham crackers as the base
- Use a white chocolate or drizzle white chocolate over the top of the chocolate
- Add chopped nuts
- Add sprinkles for holidays or color
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: 5 Ingredients Or Less, American, Candy + Fudge, Chocolate, Christmas, Desserts, Freezer-Friendly, Kid-Friendly, Nut-Free, Reader Favorites, Sheet Pan, Stovetop, Vegetarian
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
Can you PLEASE send this recipe to me through my gmail account? I no longer have a printer. I sure would appreciate it and God bless you!!!
Hi Cindy! If you could send me an email at community@iheartnaptime.net with your request I can try and send it to you. :)
I have not made it yet but I have had them before an I really liked them
My sister and mom made this for us on my first Christmas after moving back home to WV from NC. I had never heard of it..my mom asked me if I wanted some “CRACK”…LOL…I had no idea what she was talking about and knew she never did drugs. Ha Ha joke was on me; it was some of the most delicious dessert I had ever ate.. “YUMMY❣thank you
Haha! I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe! :)
I thought it was funny 😂 because you made it up as you went and my mama crook makes them as caramels:):):)
I have a gamer tag as my name!
So good! Easy to remake after you eat the entire batch! I made 1.5 x the sugar and butter to make more Carmel!
I discovered your recipe a few years ago and it has been a hit every year! I am not a cook or baker so I’m always looking for easy things to make. This is it! I made the bacon version for a party two years ago and I actually won an award! This stuff is awesome!
Awesome, so glad to hear!!
Thank you for these Lovely Recipes! So excited I found this site!!
Thank you Lori!
How long does this recipie last until it’s time to throw it out ?
It will stay fresh about a week or so :)
A co-worker made this and brought it in. It looks questionable but it is addicting!! Very yummy!!
Love this recipe! It has become a tradition in our home. Often requested when I am invited to potlucks. Thanks for sharing
This stuff is to kill for!!!
I know this recipe has been around the block, but I wanted to share what has worked for me with regard to this one, that I make yearly. I make 1.5x the caramel so those corner pieces don’t look quite so sad and dry. There’s no reason but convenience to put the chocolate on after a short cooling period. Let it cool for a while (while you’re baking another kind of cookie perhaps) and it will be easier to smooth the chocolate. Speaking of, I add a tablespoon or so of coconut oil to my chips so they stay nice and shiny. The body of your post says you sprinkle chips and let them melt – this doesn’t work for me and ends up messy in my experience. Better to microwave the chips while you’re waiting for the crackers and toffee to cool. My preferred brand of saltine is Keebler because they are a little fluffier and airier than the saltine brand. if you run a knife or toothpick over the semi-hardened chocolate it will be easier to cut evenly when cooled. I never put M&Ms because I don’t like the way they taste – my fave is sea salt and a little festive colored sugar.
We made this last night and it turned out perfectly! My kids even helped and they loved decorating the top with goodies like a little candy pizza! I think this could be so fun for a holiday treat, too. Excited to have another fun recipe I can make with my kids!
I’m so glad it turned out well for you and that you had fun making it with your kids! Such a great holiday recipe! :)
I love this recipe! Thanks for sharing.
I LOVE these!! Can’t wait to make them!!
Yuuuum. Sweet. Salty. Crunchy. What more do you need plus easy for the littles to help with. Placing crackers, smearing chocolate and sprinkling m&m’s
Such a perfect holiday dessert!!
Oh I love Christmas crack! I just made this and oh my … yum
This looks like something I should make with the grandkids. Ages 12-15. Fun doing this one.
They would love it! I have many memories making this recipe with my grandma as a kid! :)