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This is the Best Christmas Crack Recipe! It’s a saltine cracker layered with toffee and creamy chocolate, then topped with crunchy pecans for the ultimate sweet and salty treat. This recipe is so easy, delicious, and addicting!
Our family goes crazy for it every Christmas. If you love toffee as much as we do, try this easy Homemade Toffee, this Graham cracker-based Christmas crack toffe, or this Disneyland copycat churro toffee!
Best Christmas Crack (Saltine Cracker Toffee)
I’m not kidding when I say this is the BEST Christmas crack toffee recipe out there! It’s so easy to make, and it’s a great recipe to make with your kids. You use a crunchy saltine cracker as the base of the toffee, which gives it a nice salty crunch that is seriously addicting. You only need a few simple ingredients to make this perfect for Christmas treat!
I love making Christmas candy to share with friends and neighbors. I like that I can hand out a few plates of Grinch cookies and some divinity candy, and I know everyone will love it. Everyone in my family knows I just want fudge for Christmas! This Christmas crack makes the perfect addition to any treat plate or cookie box that you plan on sharing with loved ones this Christmas season.
Ingredients
You only need a few ingredients to make this addictive Christmas crack toffee! Next time you are at the grocery store, pick up your favorite salty crackers. You will have the perfect base for this toffee. You can find the exact measurements below in the recipe card.
- Saltine Crackers: The salty cracker adds a delicious crunchy base. It also helps to keep the toffee together and adds great flavor!
- Butter: This melts with the brown sugar to make the candy toffee topping.
- Brown Sugar: You melt the sweet brown sugar with butter to make the toffee topping for this toffe. Brown sugar has molasses in it which gives it a deeper and richer flavor.
- Semi-Sweet Chocolate: This is for topping your toffee mixture. You can use your favorite brand of chocolate chips. The better quality you use, the better your toffee will taste!
- Pecans: I like to chop them and sprinkle them over the top for an extra crunch! You could even toast them or candy them first to give them more flavor, or you could leave them off! Whatever you are going to like most is how you should make it.
Christmas Crack Recipe
Christmas crack is so simple to make, and is so easy to eat! I can’t get away without making at least two batches every year, because everyone always wants more. The best part is, you don’t have to be skilled at candy making to get this recipe right every time! It’s a simple recipe that the whole family will be able to make together.
- Prep: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a 10 x15 inch baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray with cooking spray.
- Add Crackers: Place your saltine crackers in even rows and set aside.
- Make Toffee: In a saucepan over medium high heat melt the butter and brown sugar and whisk and let it boil for a few minutes.
- Bake and Add Chocolate Chips: Pour over the saltines and spread out and bake in the oven for 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with chocolate chips and let it sit.
- Smooth Chocolate and Add Pecans: Spread the chocolate over the Saltines and sprinkle with chopped pecans and let it harden. Cut into pieces and serve.
Variations of Christmas Crack Flavors
This recipe is so delicious as is, or you can switch up the flavors! You can make so many different kinds of toffee, here are a few that I’ve tried and loved!
- Add Other Toppings: I’ve added pretzels on top along with the pecans, and I’ve just added pretzels instead of the nuts. It was delicious! The additional salt on top was so yummy. You could also try M&M’s, toffee bits, your favorite candy bar crushed up, sprinkles, or candy canes!
- Use Different Crackers: I’ve used Graham crackers and Ritz crackers when I was in a rush and it was the only thing I had in my house. I think my kids liked the Graham crackers than the Saltine cracker version!
- Chocolate: You could use white chocolate, dark chocolate, or any flavor you like! I have even tried mint chocolate and cherry flavored chocolate, and it was all delicious.
- Try Different Nuts: Walnuts, peanuts, and almonds have all been a huge hit on top of this toffee. I mentioned earlier that you can also candy or toast the nuts to bring out different flavors!
Tips for Making Christmas Crack
There isn’t much to this recipe, but after making it for a few years I’ve picked up some helpful tips that will help your Christmas crack turn out perfectly every time!
- Use Aluminum Foil: Before you start, wrap your baking sheet in aluminum foil. This will make the cleanup so much easier!
- Making the Toffee: You will probably want your candy thermometer handy for this one. The toffee needs to reach 270-290 degrees Fahrenheit before you pour over the crackers. It should darken in color and thicken up!
- Let Toffee Rest: Your toffee will be really really hot once you pull it out of the oven. Let it rest for about one minute before you sprinkle the chocolate chips on top. Be careful not to wait too long, or the chocolate chips won’t melt!
- Melting Chocolate Chips: If your chocolate chips don’t melt once you put them on the caramel, you can pop the pan back in the oven for a few minutes to help them soften up. Don’t let them get too hot, or they will seize and burn instead of melt!
- Spread the Chocolate: Softly and slowly spread the chocolate mixture around. If you push down too hard or move too fast, the crackers can slide around and it will make a mess!
Storing Leftovers
Christmas crack is a great treat to make ahead of time because it is really easy to store and tastes great for days when stored correctly. You will be so glad you gave this Christmas candy a try, it is one of our all-time favorites!
On the Counter: Place in an airtight container or ziplock bag for 4 to 5 days at room temperature. Just make sure your house isn’t too warm, or the chocolate will start to melt again.
In the Refrigerator: You can also store your Christmas crack in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh for about 2 weeks.
In the Freezer: You can freeze Christmas crack! And trust me, it’s so nice to be able to pull this out of the freezer when you need a quick treat. Store it in an airtight container for up to 1 month. Make sure to layer a piece of parchment in between layers so they don’t end up frozen together in a big clump.
Other Christmas Treats
Giving a neighbor a plate of cookies or treats is one of my favorite ways to ramp up the holiday cheer. It feels so good to get to know the people in your neighborhood a little better, and to share something homemade. Here are a few Christmas recipes that your friends and neighbors will love!
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Best Christmas Crack Recipe
Ingredients
- 35-40 saltine crackers
- 1 cup butter
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a 10×15 inch baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray with cooking spray.
- Place your saltine crackers in even rows and set aside.
- In a saucepan over medium high heat melt the butter and brown sugar and whisk and let it boil for a few minutes.
- Pour. over the. saltines and spread out and bake in the oven for 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with chocolate chips and let it sit.
- Spread the chocolate over the Saltines and sprinkle with chopped pecans and let it harden. Cut into pieces and serve
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I never heard of Christmas Crack until last year. It’s going to be a new tradition Thank you for sharing I tried walnuts instead of pecans yummmmm
I’m glad you said walnuts because I had used up a my pecans for other recipes. I didn’t want to go to the store again today.
I feel you there! And Christmas crack is delicious with walnuts, anyways. 😊
I just made your recipe. I never added pecans before. But today I did, I can’t wait to try it. Thank you
This is good!
I used mint chips and they wouldn’t melt so next time I I’ll add mint M n Ms after.
My son suggested nutmeg and a bit of salt, maybe some vanilla in the toffee mixture. And nut topping!
When I cut into the hardened crack, the top layer of chocolate came off the cracker on about a third of them. I tried to patch it together again, but the chocolate wouldn’t stick back on the cracker. I’ve made this before (not this recipe) and never had that problem. I’m sure it was something I did – but just very frustrating to lose 1/3 of the final product that way. It was very tasty though.
I LOVE THIS RECIPE and Cracker Crack (what I call it ) is super simple and easy to make and Delicious! I use a huge sheet pan and probably 60 to 65 crackers so I make 1 and a half batch of toffee mixture (3 sticks of butter, 1 and 1/2 cups of brown sugar) or I simply double it. This never disappoints! I have used graham crackers but I prefer saltines. We also have crushed hard flavored candy canes and toffee bars for toppings! Yum! This is always on my Christmas baking rotation list and I actually made a delicious double batch today to start off my baking season! Pecans and toffee bars for the first go around!
Has anyone tried this with Splenda instead of sugar? If so how did they turn out?
I just tried it with coconut sugar (thanks sugar shortage in Canada) and it seemed to work well.
Since Sugar crystalizes, any sort of real sugar should work, but splenda will not.
Hi Courtney,
You cannot sub Splenda for sugar using this recipe. It doesn’t react to heat the same way sugar does.
I want to try this crack recipe and the variations. I like it because it is easy to store during the busy holidays. My question it do I use salted or unsalted butter? Being a “senior” I like to lower my salt intake. Can I get the same delicious results using unsalted butter and or low salt saltines or Ritz crackers?
Definitely! Unsalted butter works fine.
Can you use brown sugar splenda for Christmas crack?
I had to put The Best Christmas Crackin a spot that was inconvenient to get to bc I would have eaten the whole tray by myself in one sitting. The recipe was easy to follow, but I slightly changed it. Since the butter and brown sugar was in a 1 to 1 ratio, I added another 3 or 4 tablespoons each of the butter and sugar. Every saltine was coated beautifully on the top and bottom with toffee.
It was truly addictive!
My crackers don’t look at thick as the picture, you’re only suppose to use one cracker correct? Also, it says cut into pieces what does that mean?
Godod Stuff and so addicting! Sometimes the “caramel” or whatever it is comes out grainy feeling. Any idea why? Thanks!
This can sometimes happen if the mixture heats up too quickly and gets sugar crystals in the mixture. Try and get all of the sugar to dissolve before you bring the mixture to a boil.
Discovered this recipe last Christmas, used GF rice crackers (since we are an GF family), and they turned out sooooo delicious. A huge hit in our home. Kids and adults devoured these crispy treats and couldn’t wait for me to make again this Christmas! We’ve brought them to Christmas parties, shared with neighbors, etc. Everyone loves them. I’ve shared the recipe with many. Thanks for the wonderful recipe!
Can you use margarine for this recipe or does it have to be butter
You can try margarine! Let me know how it turns out!
Made these yesterday as a trial for a cookie exchange . Brought them out and gone. Everyone loved it and asking that I include recipe in the cookie exchange this weekend. Delicious and easy to make.
Boiled the caramel for good 5-8 minutes until it turns nice caramel color.
I sprinkled with nuts and a little sea salt!
Thank you!!
Hello! made these and they taste great! The bottom of the cracker is very greasy. I just layed the crackers on parchment paper and then poured the brown sugar and butter mixture over them etc.
Are they supposed to be greasy on the bottom?
Thank you!
Christine
Do you stir the butter and brown sugar or let cook not stirring?
You will whisk these ingredients together and then wait until they boil. Here is a quick reel of how I make it! https://www.facebook.com/reel/1321078088626790/?s=fb_shorts_tab&stack_idx=0
I usually make this with graham crackers but this time I tried saltine crackers. UGH! They all floated and shifted on the toffee in the oven while it was baking. What a mess. I had to try to spoon the toffee over the crfackers after I removed it from the oven. What went wrong?
Oh no! The toffee should be a liquid mixture that you pour over the crackers before you put it into the oven. Then you add the chocolate to the hot toffee and crackers, and it should melt on top so that you can spread it!
Perhaps the toffee didn’t reach the 270-290 before poured over crackers?
the chocolate chips did not melt, ugh….
Oh no! Did you put them on immediately after you took the crackers out of the oven? It should be hot enough to melt them.
And you vote this 1 star because you couldn’t figure out how to melt choc chips? LOL.
Recipe is great, will try the variations.
You can put it back in oven for 30 seconds and the chocolates should be melted enough to spread.
There are actual chocolate chips that do not melt. You have to buy a good brand of chocolate chips. If you read the ingredients make sure it states real chocolate chips