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Christmas Crack

With just 5 ingredients and 15 minutes, you can make this Christmas crack toffee. Layering salty crackers with sweet toffee and chocolate creates a holiday treat that everyone will love. 

If you love toffee, don’t miss my toffee recipe, toffee cookies and graham cracker toffee.

Stack of Christmas crack.
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Grandma’s Cracker Toffee

I’m super excited to start holiday baking and make some more of this delicious Christmas crack. It is one of my favorite Christmas desserts and it only takes about 15 minutes to make!

I have shared my grandma’s saltine cracker toffee before and this is just a glorified version with chocolate and m&m’s (or almonds) on top.

You could also top your Christmas candy crack with crushed saltines, sea salt, toasted coconut, slivered almonds, pecans or heath bits.

Why This Recipe Works

  • Sweet and salty. Two of my favorite flavors come together in this chewy and crunchy saltine cracker candy treat.
  • 4 ingredients. This is all it needs to make the base of this addictive Christmas crack.
  • Quick. It takes so little time to make this Christmas sweet that you can do it even on your busiest holiday days.
  • Holiday tradition. It’s always the first homemade treat to disappear on the cookie plate along with divinity candy and chocolate fudge!

Recipe Ingredients

Made from pantry ingredients, this Christmas crack couldn’t be easier to make and makes enough to feed a crowd!

Christmas crack ingredients on marble counter.

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 because I love the flavor of salted caramel.
  • 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!

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.

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.

The process of making Christmas crack in a four step photo collage.
  1. Prepare: Line a pan with foil and spray with cooking spray. Then spread saltine crackers out in an even single layer.
  2. Make the caramel: Boil the brown sugar and butter for 3 minutes.
  3. Bake: Pour evenly over crackers and bake for 8 minutes.
  4. 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, 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.
  • Butter. The key to this is real butter so do not substitute for margarine.
  • 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.

Recipe FAQs

What is Christmas crack made of?

All you need is saltine crackers, butter and brown sugar.

Why is it called Christmas crack?

Because it is made with crackers and once it has cooled you crack (or break) into pieces.

Why is my Christmas crack chewy?

First, make your that the saltine crackers you used were not expired! Other reasons might be that the toffee was not cooked long enough or did not cool all the way. If it’s too soft and chewy you can cook it in the oven a couple more minutes.

Why did my layers separate?

If your caramel layer has already cooled down when adding the chocolate, it will separate into layers. Ensure the caramel is still warm when adding the chocolate to prevent separation.

Why is my Christmas crack sticking to the lined pan?

If you try to remove it while still warm it will stick. Let it cool completely then it should peel right off the aluminum foil or parchment paper.

Storing Leftovers

This candy recipe is great to make ahead of time as it keeps well for several days.

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.

Christmas crack with almonds on top.

More classic holiday cookie recipes include my soft molasses cookies, traditional Christmas sugar cookies and peanut butter blossoms.

More Holiday Candy Recipes

Browse all

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Stack of Christmas crack.

Christmas Crack Recipe

4.99 from 252 votes
↑ Click stars to rate now!
Author: Jamielyn Nye
With just 5 ingredients and 15 minutes, you can make this Christmas crack toffee. Layering salty crackers with sweet toffee and chocolate creates a holiday treat that everyone will love. 
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 7 minutes
Freeze Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 27 minutes
Servings: 30

Video

Ingredients 

  • 40 saltine crackers , more if needed
  • 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

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 saltine crackers. You may need a break a few on the sides to fill in the gaps.
  • In a medium pot, combine the butter and sugar over medium-low heat. Stirring constantly, bring to a rolling boil and cook 3 minutes, or until bubbling and amber in color (about 280°F). 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 chocolate chips over the top. Allow to sit 5 minutes. Once melted, spread evenly with a spatula. Sprinkle M&M’s (or nuts) 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

Variations: 
  • 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 
Storage: Store in an airtight container up to 2 weeks.
Freeze: Keep these in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag in the freezer up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Calories: 218kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 115mg | Potassium: 19mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 247IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 35mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American

Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!

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