This saltine cracker toffee recipe is my grandma’s recipe with just 3 simple ingredients in 15 minutes. An addicting treat that’s easy to make, even if you’re new to making candy!
Some refer to saltine toffee as Christmas crack and we’ve even turned it into graham cracker toffee.
Table of Contents
Grandma’s Easy Saltine Toffee
Toffee is one of my favorite types of candy. Although my homemade toffee recipe is pretty simple to make – this saltine toffee is even more simple!
My grandma is one of my biggest influences in the kitchen, so I thought I would share one of her favorite treats. There are three things you could always find at her house: Tang, homemade caramels and saltine cracker toffee.
Saltine Cracker Candy Ingredients
You can’t go wrong with these three ingredient saltine cracker toffee treats! This is a single layer dessert that is made easily and eaten in minutes.
- Saltine crackers: The base of the toffee is made with a layer of saltine crackers. The salty flavor from the crackers tastes amazing with the sweet caramel.
- Butter: This adds a rich flavor to the caramel toffee mixture and helps balance out the sweetness from the brown sugar.
- Brown sugar: Make sure to use light brown sugar and pack it tightly into your measuring cup.
- Optional toppings: Chocolate chips, chopped nuts, sprinkles or other festive toppings.
How to Make Saltine Cracker Toffee
When you need a quick and easy holiday dessert, make this your go-to saltine cracker toffee candy recipe; it’s super simple!
- Line pan with crackers. Cover a 9×13″ jelly roll pan with aluminum foil and spray with cooking spray. Then fully line the baking sheet with saltine crackers ensuring there are no spaces between crackers.
- Cook caramel mixture. Cook butter in a saucepan over low heat until slightly melted. Then add in brown sugar and stir until butter is completely melted. Turn heat to medium and bring mixture to a boil for about 3 minutes, or until it thickens and has turned an amber caramel color. Stir constantly.
- Pour caramel over crackers. Remove pan from heat after 3 minutes and pour the caramel over the saltines. Then spread it out evenly with a knife.
- Bake the toffee. Bake at 350°F in oven until lightly golden, about 7 to 8 minutes. Don’t over bake! Remove from oven and if using add chocolate chips, allow to melt then spread melted chocolate using a butter knife.
Toppings and Variations
There are plenty of ways to make this cracker toffee your own!
- Type of crackers: Swap the saltines with graham crackers, use pretzel thins or Ritz crackers.
- Chocolate: If using chocolate for a topping try milk chocolate, semi-sweet chocolate chips, dark chocolate chips, white chocolate or even butterscotch chips.
- Topping options: Sliced almonds or chopped pecans are my favorite! Others include M&M’s, sprinkles, crushed pretzels, crushed candy canes or peppermints or toffee bites.
Are you looking for more dessert recipes to add to your cookie tray?! Try these festive gingerbread man cookies, Mexican wedding cookies, and Grinch cookies!
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Saltine Cracker Toffee Recipe
Video
Equipment
- Cookie Sheet
Ingredients
- 50 saltine crackers
- 2 sticks butter (cubed)
- 1 cup light brown sugar (packed)
Optional toppings
- chocolate chips , I use about 2 cups
- sliced almonds , about 1/2 cup
- chopped pecans , about 1/2 cup
Instructions
- Prep. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 9×13" jelly roll pan with aluminum foil. Spray foil with cooking spray and then line pan with 50 saltine crackers.
- Melt butter and sugar. Place 1 cup butter in a medium-sized pot over low medium/low heat. Stir until butter is slightly melted, then add 1 cup sugar. Once butter is melted, bring to a boil over medium-heat for 3 minutes, or until it thickens and sugar has dissolved. Stir constantly. You want the butter and sugar to be combined and turn an amber caramel color.
- Pour and bake. After 3 minutes, remove pan from heat and pour evenly over the saltine crackers. Spread mixture with a knife. Place pan in oven and bake for 7-8 minutes or until lightly golden brown. The mixture will spread evenly over the crackers as it bakes.
- Add chocolate chips. Remove pan from oven. If you're adding chocolate sprinkle the chocolate chips over top and allow to sit for 5 minutes (or place back in the oven for 1 minute). Then spread with a spatula and sprinkle with nuts if desired. Allow to cool.
- Cool. Allow the toffee to cool and then break pieces off of foil or use a sharp knife to cut.
Notes
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!
Recipe FAQs
This supremely addicting treat is pretty magical! Saltine crackers (you can substitute Ritz crackers) are covered with a buttery brown sugar mixture then baked until it turns into caramel with a toffee texture. It’s the best combination of sweet and salty especially when topped with optional chocolate and nuts. It’s often referred to as Christmas crack as it is so indulgent!
Set your stove top to medium heat and stir together the three ingredients. Slowly watch it blend and melt together. Once it starts to boil, your mixture is ready to pour.
No you do not need a thermometer, just boil for 3 minutes and this easy recipe goes from stove to oven seamlessly. That being said, if you like a hard toffee that snaps, boil for 3-5 minutes until a thermometer reaches 270°-280°F degrees. But really it is not necessary!
One of my favorite things about this saltine crack is that it will keep for up to 2 weeks! Just make sure to store it in an airtight container so that it stays fresh. It makes the perfect treat to gift during the holidays!
Yes, you can! Simply place in a covered container and freeze up to 3 months. Let it sit at room temperature about 20 minutes before serving or enjoy cold. It may change texture slightly but will be delicious.
Categorized as: 5 Ingredients Or Less, American, Candy + Fudge, Christmas, Desserts, Nut-Free, 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.
Haven’t made this yet but am real anxious to try, Can I use melted caramels and Nutella instead?
Hi Joan, you could try spreading nutella onto the cooled crackers, but it would not work the same with melted caramels.
Addicting 😋😋😋🤪
I only had one stick of butter. I made it with the other ingredients in the same amount as the recipe. It came out perfect!! I’ll make it again for sure.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for leaving a comment and review Nancy!
So I made this..it’s still gooey over an hour later..followed recipe..looked up other recipes..they only use one stick of butter..were your two sticks an error..”?
Hi Lynn! 2 sticks of butter is correct. I’m guessing it needed to be baked longer!
This was absolutely delicious! I’ve made something similar with graham crackers but never thought about using saltines. It really takes them from an ordinary cracker to a sweet treat.
I needed a last-minute idea that’s easy to make for a church bake sale. This looks just right thanks!
Iv been making this for a few years now. I love the simplicity of the recipe, I can throw it together quickly! Everytime I make this people rave about it
I’m so glad to hear you love this recipe!
Easy and yummy. We like to put in an airtight container and put in the freezer. Then we eat them right from the freezer. Nice and crispy!
I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed these! Thanks for leaving a comment and review!
Yup I made the “crakk” toffee tonight and it is super yummy and. Very addicting!! I’ve known a few people that make this but now that I’ve made my own I can eat as much as I want without feeling like a little piggy from eating too much of my friends toffee..Lol I put white chocolate on mine..good Lord was like heaven..I heard the angels sing!!
Did one batch with chocolate and crushed candy canes on top and a second batch with white chocolate and candy canes on top. Mixed them up and packaged them up for gifts! Yum!
Sounds delicious!
This is such an easy recipe. Everything is what most people have on hand in their home. I made this for the first time and it is totally awesome. Very addicting.
I would recommend as it is fun.
I used a few walnuts to sprinkle on top as crackers with toffee topping cooled.
Tastes like you spent a long time fussing. I love this and will make it a lot more. Some recipes suggest sprinkling mini chocolate chips as it cools. Whatever you choose, this recipe will not disappoint.
I love this!!!!
Thank you my mother has MS chocolate is on the “no” list. My mother loves it could not wait for the cool crack session! Ha!
Thank you
DW
I made this recipe and my toffee stayed soft? Its supposed to harden up right? Im going to try it again any tips?
It is supposed to harden up a bit. I would recommend cooking a little longer in the oven!
I made it, very yummy!
How far ahead of time can u make it, and how do you store it..I want to make it for Christmas gifts for my coworkers??
These should stay fresh for about 2 weeks in an air tight container!
Loved this recipe
Hope you enjoy! :)
I can’t wait to try this recipe!
Can you tell me if the crackers get soggy…if so, how soon after they are cooled.
Thanks!
They don’t get soggy, but they will soften a bit!
I had these at a church Christmas party,and tried making a batch right away. Mine didn’t turn out quite like hers, so looked online to see if I could find another one and see if I might have missed something .
My recipe is almost the same, except it calls for only 1 stick of butter.
My problem was that it didn’t soak under the crackers on the sides; did fine in the center though.
Could that be a function of not enough butter, or could it be that I packed my crackers too tightly together. Used only 1 layer, but didn’t have any space between them. Am going to try them again this week but will lay the saltines looser in the pan. Am going to continue with only 1 stick of butter unless I hear from you before that the butter may be one of my problems.
By the way, I used dark brown sugar and the toffee itself was perfect. (perhaps less butter?)
Hi Grace! If you are using 50 saltine crackers I would recommend using 2 sticks of butter! You could put more space in between your crackers to help the toffee go all around the crackers. :)