Name: Christmas Toffee Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 40 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 cups + 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (270g); 2 tablespoons powdered milk (12g); 1 teaspoon salt; ½ teaspoon baking soda; 14 tablespoons unsalted butter (196g), sliced into tablespoons and divided; ½ cup granulated sugar (100g); ¾ cup light brown sugar (150g), packed; 1 tablespoon light corn syrup; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 1 large egg, room temperature; 1 large egg yolk, room temperature; 10 Saltine crackers, crushed; 1 cup bits o brickle toffee bits plus more for topping; ½ cup pecan pieces, optional topping; 12 ounces chocolate chips; Holiday sprinkles

The moment you bite into these buttery, crunchy, and chocolatey treats, you’ll understand why the Christmas Toffee Cookies Recipe holds a special place in my holiday baking lineup. Trust me, these cookies perfectly balance sweet toffee bits with a rich, caramelized brown butter flavor—and they’re downright addictive.

The image shows a stack of five round cookies on a white plate with a red rim. The front cookie has three visible layers: a light brown base, a smooth dark brown chocolate layer on top, and colorful round and stick sprinkles along with small nut pieces scattered over the chocolate. Behind the cookies, there is a green mug with white Christmas designs and a blurred small decorated Christmas tree on a white marbled surface. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Toffee Cookies Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Christmas Toffee Cookies Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Christmas Toffee Cookies Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I’ve been making this Christmas Toffee Cookies Recipe for years, and every batch feels like a little gift to myself—and anyone lucky enough to get a cookie. The combination of browned butter, toffee, and crunchy saltines creates a flavor and texture that takes cookie magic up a notch.

Buttery Brown Butter Base: The browned butter adds a nutty depth you won’t find in your average cookie.
Crunchy Saltines: Crushed crackers add a surprising crunch that plays perfectly with soft cookie dough.
Decadent Toffee Bits: These sweet little chunks melt slightly and bring extra caramel flavor throughout.
Festive and Fun Topping: With chocolate drizzle, pecans, and sprinkles, these cookies look as joyful as they taste.

The image shows several round cookies resting on a gold-colored cooling rack. Each cookie has a thick, soft-looking base that is light brown and slightly textured. On top of every cookie, there is a smooth, shiny layer of dark brown melted chocolate spread in a circular shape, sitting neatly in the center of the cookie. The background is a white marbled surface with a red cloth partially visible underneath the cooling rack. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Every ingredient in this Christmas Toffee Cookies Recipe plays a part in balancing flavor and texture. I always recommend measuring your ingredients precisely, especially the butter and sugars, to get the perfect chewy-yet-crisp cookie every time.

Flat lay of a small mound of all-purpose flour, a small white bowl with powdered milk, a few grains of salt scattered next to a tiny heap of baking soda, several slices of unsalted butter stacked neatly, a small white bowl filled with granulated sugar, a small white bowl holding packed light brown sugar, a small white bowl containing light corn syrup, a small white bowl with vanilla extract, one whole large egg with a clean shell, one whole large egg yolk with smooth shell beside it, several Saltine crackers whole and unbroken, a small white bowl filled with golden toffee bits, a small white bowl with pecan pieces, a small white bowl filled with glossy chocolate chips, a small white bowl holding colorful holiday sprinkles, all arranged with perfect symmetry on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

All-purpose flour: Gives structure but keeps the cookie tender when balanced right with the other ingredients.
Powdered milk: Enhances richness and helps build that iconic golden color.
Salt: Balances sweetness and elevates all the complex flavors, especially important if you use unsalted butter.
Baking soda: Helps the cookies spread just right with a light crackled top.
Unsalted butter: Essential for browning properly and giving that nutty, caramel flavor without added salt altering taste.
Granulated sugar & light brown sugar: The combo ensures the right sweetness and chewiness—brown sugar especially adds moisture.
Light corn syrup: Keeps cookies moist and chewy with a subtle glossy shine.
Vanilla extract: Pure vanilla brightens every bite and rounds out the toffee flavors.
Egg & egg yolk: Combine for richness and help the dough bind well with a smooth, shiny texture.
Saltine crackers (crushed): The secret crunch layer that cuts through sweetness, adding a toasty, salty pop.
Toffee bits (Bits o Brickle): Sweet caramel morsels that melt slightly for dreamy pockets of flavor.
Pecan pieces (optional): Adds extra texture and nuttiness when toasted—totally worth it.
Chocolate chips: Melted as a topping to bring everything together with rich, creamy chocolate.
Holiday sprinkles: For that festive sparkle and a little fun finishing touch.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

While I stick mostly to the original, I love that this Christmas Toffee Cookies Recipe gives you so much room to make it your own. Whether it’s swapping nuts or playing with different toppings, customization makes every batch special.

Variation: Sometimes, I swap pecans for walnuts just because that’s what I have on hand—and you wouldn’t believe how well it works. Toasting the nuts first really enhances their flavor.
Dietary tweaks: To make these gluten-free, try using a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend; the texture changes a bit but still delicious.
Smaller cookies: Scooping smaller dollops makes bite-sized treats perfect for parties or gifting—just reduce baking time by a minute or two.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Toffee Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Prep and toast your brown butter

Start by pulling your butter out 15 minutes before baking so it reaches room temperature. Melt 10 tablespoons over medium heat and keep stirring as it browns, releasing that irresistible nutty aroma and forming those golden bits. Then stir in the remaining 4 tablespoons off heat until melted—don’t brown this part, or it’ll change the flavor.

Step 2: Mix sugars, corn syrup, and vanilla

To the warm brown butter, whisk in your sugars, corn syrup, and vanilla extract until blended. This combo turns your dough luxuriously shiny and chewy later on.

Step 3: Add eggs slowly, whisking patiently

Mix in your egg and egg yolk for 30 seconds. Here’s a trick—let the batter rest for 3 minutes, then whisk again for 30 seconds. Repeat this rest-whisk cycle two more times. This gives a smooth, shiny batter almost like caramel—you’ll know you’ve done it right by the texture.

Step 4: Incorporate dry ingredients and mix-ins

Use a spatula or paddle attachment to fold in the flour, baking soda, salt, and powdered milk just until combined. The dough will feel soft and sticky—that’s perfect. Then stir in the crushed saltines and most of your toffee bits for that signature crunch and sweetness.

Step 5: Bake with care and cool properly

Scoop generous ¼ cup mounds onto parchment-lined sheets spacing them about 3 inches apart. Bake at 375°F for 8–10 minutes, rotating halfway for even baking. You want edges lightly browned and cracks forming on top but not overdone. Let cool 3 minutes on the sheet before moving them to a rack.

Step 6: Toast pecans and drizzle chocolate

While your cookies cool, lightly toast pecan pieces in the microwave (trust me, this boosts flavor amazingly). Melt chocolate chips in short bursts and spread a glossy layer over each cookie. Sprinkle toasted pecans, extra toffee bits, and festive sprinkles on top. Let it all set—you’re done!

Top Tip

Over the years of baking these cookies, I’ve noticed a few game-changers that really help you nail the perfect texture and flavor. These tips save time and avoid common pitfalls.

Butter slicing: Slice your butter into tablespoons before browning to ensure it melts evenly and browns perfectly without burning.
Rest and whisk batter: That odd little resting step is key to building the silky batter texture—it may feel unnecessary at first but trust me, it works wonders.
Cookie sheet swaps: Using two baking sheets and rotating them midway helps the cookies bake evenly and keeps that lovely soft center.
Don’t brown all the butter: Only brown 10 tablespoons; melting the other 4 tablespoons without browning preserves moisture and balance.

How to Serve Christmas Toffee Cookies Recipe

Christmas Toffee Cookies - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

For me, the melted chocolate topping adorned with toasted pecans, extra toffee bits, and colorful holiday sprinkles not only adds flavor but makes these cookies festive and inviting. I never skip these final touches—they turn simple cookies into showstoppers!

Side Dishes

Pair these with a warm cup of coffee, peppermint hot chocolate, or even a glass of cold milk to balance sweetness. They’re also a hit on dessert tables alongside gingerbread and sugar cookies during the holidays.

Creative Ways to Present

I love arranging these cookies on a festive platter with sprigs of fresh evergreen or holly for that classic Christmas vibe. Wrapping a few in cellophane tied with a ribbon makes for a heartfelt homemade gift everyone cherishes.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover Christmas Toffee Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature—this keeps them perfectly chewy for up to three days. Just pro tip: place a slice of bread in the container to help maintain moisture and softness.

Freezing

To freeze cookie dough, I portion it on a tray first and flash-freeze for about an hour. Then I put those scoops into a zip-top bag for up to three months. When baking from frozen, just add a minute or two to the baking time—you’ll still get that same perfect cookie.

Reheating

Reheating is easy; I just pop a cookie in the microwave for 10-15 seconds or warm them briefly in a low oven. This melts the chocolate slightly again and refreshes that soft, chewy texture like they just came out of the oven.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted in this Christmas Toffee Cookies Recipe?

Yes, you can use salted butter, but I recommend skipping the added salt in the recipe to avoid over-seasoning. Salted butter will add a slightly different flavor dimension, which some folks really enjoy.

What’s the purpose of crushing Saltine crackers in this recipe?

The crushed Saltine crackers add a wonderful crunch and a subtle salty balance which contrasts beautifully with the sweet toffee bits and buttery dough. They’re a signature component that makes these cookies stand out.

Can I make these cookies smaller or larger?

Yes! This recipe makes large cookies (about 4 to 5 inches), but you can use a smaller scoop for bite-sized treats. Just adjust the baking time to about 7-9 minutes for smaller cookies to avoid overbaking.

How should I store leftover Christmas Toffee Cookies?

Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days. Adding a slice of bread helps keep them moist. You can also freeze dough or baked cookies for longer storage, reheating briefly before enjoying.

Final Thoughts

I honestly can’t recommend this Christmas Toffee Cookies Recipe enough—these cookies bring so much warmth and joy to my holiday baking traditions every year. From the first bite, the rich brown butter and toffee crunch just feel like a hug in cookie form. I’m excited for you to make them your own and create your own festive memories. Grab your apron, and let’s bake some magic!