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.
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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’m sure many of you that have awesome grandma’s have tried this Christmas crack recipe before. I shared my grandma’s saltine cracker toffee over the summer and this is just a glorified version with chocolate and m&m’s (or almonds) on top.
In my opinion, everything tastes better with chocolate and the M&M’s make it so festive. 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
- Salty and sweet. Two of my favorite flavors come together in a chewy and crunchy 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.
Just 4 Ingredients
Made from pantry ingredients, this Christmas crack couldn’t be easier to make.
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, or even peanut butter chips.
- Toppings: I choose red and green M&Ms to keep the candy festive, but nuts are also really great as a topping.
Variations
This Christmas crack candy 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.
How to Make Christmas Crack
Beware…this candy crack toffee is seriously addicting! For step-by-step photos for making the toffee, make sure to check out this saltine cracker toffee recipe.
- Prepare: Line a pan with foil and spray with non-stick spray. Then spread the saltine crackers out evenly.
- 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, 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.
Recipe FAQs
All you need is saltine crackers, butter and brown sugar.
Quite honestly, the sky is the limit. Try it with you favorite nuts, dried fruits, candies, or even festive sprinkles.
Of course! I typically find that brown sugar has such a depth of flavor it doesn’t need vanilla, but a splash never hurt anyone.
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.
Because it is made with crackers and once it has cooled you crack (or break) into pieces.
How to Store
Storage: Store this Christmas cracker candy in an airtight container at room temperature up to 2 weeks.
Freeze: Keep these in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag in the freezer up to 3 months.
Want more classic holiday cookie ideas to add to your list?! Here are my soft molasses cookies, traditional Christmas sugar cookies, or these famous peanut butter blossoms.
More Easy Holiday Desserts
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Christmas Crack Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 50 saltine crackers
- 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 with aluminum foil and spray with nonstick cooking spray.
- Line the bottom of the pan evenly with saltine crackers.
- 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. Remove pan from heat and pour evenly over saltine crackers. Spread brown sugar mixture with a knife–it doesn’t have to be perfect because it will spread as it bakes.
- Bake 7 to 9 minutes. Remove pan from oven and sprinkle chocolate chips over the top. 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
- 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 also the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook. Here you will find easy family-friendly recipes for every occasion.
I have used several different recipes for this and this one is by far the simplest and the best of them all.
So glad to hear that! Thanks for your review! We love this Christmas crack!
So easy. I added some mini marshmallows this time to half the batch, along with dark chocolate chips. They all softened and melted and swirled together and it was GOOD. Just took a risk since I had some on hand.
Made it 3 times within 5 days. Super good.
What size baking sheet is a jelly roll pan? I’ve never used one before as I’m really not much of a baker at all 🙂
I’m using a 13×18 inch pan :)
I made this for the first time and it’s delicious! But my sugar and butter part is still sticky and pliable. What did h do wrong? Do I need to simmer it longer or bake it longer?
I would try simmering a little longer. Just be careful not to burn. If they’re still soft, you can put back in the oven and bake a little longer.
Just made this tonight and it’s a new Christmas hit! My hubby loved it and he’s quite picky about his chocolate treats! Can’t wait to share it…well maybe I’ll share! 😂❤️
So hard to share!! 🤣
I made this and it was delicious
❤️ Delicious and so simple to make! I love that you can top this any way you’d like! ❤️
So glad you enjoyed the Christmas crack!!
This will be my 3rd year making this. Easy and delicious. Less messy to make than other holiday treats.
So glad they were a hit! Thanks for your review :)
Amazing! I didn’t have M&M’s. Used heath bar crumb candy + slivered almonds and sprinkled with sea salt. Yum! Thank you.
Yumm
This is so easy and soooo delicious!!! Make it every year!
Ah I’m so glad to hear! Thanks for your review :)
I love this recipe but have problems cutting it and it ends up looking horrible. I use hammer any suggestions on other methods. Thanks so much
Hi Debbie! You should be able to crack it with your hands (I simply just hold a piece and break). If it’s too hard, I may suggest taking it out of the oven a couple minutes sooner, since every oven cooks so differently.