This Christmas crack is sure to be a holiday hit: buttery, salty, and sweet. Saltine crackers are layered with a caramel toffee, topped with melted milk chocolate, chopped pecans, and festive sprinkles for a crunchy, addictive treat.
Looking for more holiday recipes? Try my peppermint bark cookies, Christmas monster cookies, sugar cookies, or chocolate crinkle cookies.
This recipe was first published Dec 1, 2022.
If you haven’t tried Christmas crack yet, you might be skeptical about using saltines—but trust the combination. The light crunch of the crackers balances the rich caramel and chocolate, creating an irresistible snack that’s easy to make in about 20 minutes.
This is one of those recipes that makes great gifts. Pack pieces into festive tins or boxes and bring to parties, or keep a tin at home for movie nights and cookie swaps.
Ingredients
See the recipe card below for exact measurements and full directions. The basic components are simple:
- Salted butter
- Light brown sugar
- Saltine crackers
- A pinch of salt
- Milk chocolate chips (Ghirardelli recommended for smooth melting)
- Chopped pecans
- Festive Christmas sprinkles
How To Make Christmas Crack
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 13″ x 18″ baking sheet with foil, overlapping the edges so you can lift the finished toffee out easily. No nonstick spray is necessary.
Arrange the saltine crackers in an even, single layer on the prepared sheet so they fit snugly together.
In a nonstick saucepan over low heat, combine the butter and brown sugar. Stir occasionally until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is smooth. Increase heat to medium and bring to a frothy boil; once bubbling, set a timer and boil for about 3–4 minutes, whisking briefly each minute. Be careful not to overcook.
Turn off the heat and quickly pour the caramel over the crackers, spreading it immediately with a spatula so every cracker is evenly coated.
Bake for 7–8 minutes; the caramel should be bubbling when you remove it from the oven. Let the tray rest for 2–3 minutes, then sprinkle the chocolate chips over the hot caramel. After a few minutes, when the chocolate has softened, spread it into an even layer with a spatula.
While the chocolate is still tacky, sprinkle chopped pecans and Christmas sprinkles on top. Transfer the tray to the refrigerator and chill for about 2 hours, or until set. Lift the foil out of the pan and break the toffee into pieces.
More Christmas Treats
- Pecan Sandies
- Big Fat Pecan Sticky Buns
- Christmas Monster Cookies
- Raspberry Jam Thumbprint Cookies
- Chocolate Dipped Butter Cookies
Christmas Crack (Saltine Toffee)
This easy saltine toffee delivers crunchy, caramel-coated crackers finished with melted milk chocolate, pecans, and sprinkles — perfect for gifting or holiday gatherings.
Ingredients
- 1 c salted butter
- 1 c light brown sugar, packed
- 40 saltine crackers
- Salt
- 1 c Ghirardelli brand chocolate chips
- 1 c pecans, chopped
- Christmas sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Line a baking sheet with foil, overlapping the edges. Line up 40 saltine crackers in a single layer.
- In a nonstick pot, melt the butter and brown sugar over low heat until the sugar dissolves. Increase to medium and bring to a frothy boil, then boil for 3–4 minutes, whisking briefly each minute.
- Pour the caramel over the crackers and spread immediately so the crackers are evenly coated. Work quickly; the caramel thickens fast.
- Bake for 7–8 minutes until bubbling. Remove and sprinkle with a pinch of salt.
- Sprinkle chocolate chips over the hot caramel. Let sit a few minutes, then spread into an even layer. Top with chopped pecans and sprinkles.
- Chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours. Break into pieces and enjoy.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 30
Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 166
Total Fat: 12g
Saturated Fat: 6g
Trans Fat: 0g
Unsaturated Fat: 5g
Cholesterol: 17mg
Sodium: 109mg
Carbohydrates: 15g
Fiber: 1g
Sugar: 10g
Protein: 1g
Nutrition figures are estimates from online calculators and may vary.