Description
Christmas Crack is a delightful holiday treat featuring a crispy saltine cracker base topped with a rich buttery toffee layer, melted chocolate, and crunchy toasted pecans or colorful M&M's. This easy-to-make candy combines sweet and salty flavors in a festive, crunchy dessert perfect for sharing during the season.
Ingredients
Scale
Base
- 40-50 saltine crackers
Toffee
- 1 cup salted butter cubed (227g)
- 1 cup light brown sugar packed (200g)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Topping
- 2 cups milk chocolate chips
- 3/4-1 cup chopped toasted pecans or M&M's
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Spray the foil generously with cooking spray. Arrange the saltine crackers in a single layer side-by-side on the pan to create the base layer.
- Make Toffee Mixture: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the cubed salted butter and packed brown sugar. Stir with a wooden spoon until the butter melts and combines with the sugar. When the mixture starts to bubble, set a timer for 3 minutes and stir constantly to avoid burning.
- Add Vanilla: Remove the pan from heat and stir in the teaspoon of vanilla extract to the toffee mixture.
- Pour Toffee Over Crackers: Evenly pour the hot toffee mixture over the saltine crackers. Use a knife to spread the toffee over any uncovered cracker pieces. It doesn’t need to be perfect as it will continue to spread while baking.
- Bake Toffee Layer: Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake for 5 minutes until the toffee mixture is bubbly.
- Add Chocolate Chips: Remove the pan from the oven and immediately sprinkle the 2 cups of chocolate chips over the hot toffee. Let them sit for 2-3 minutes to melt from the residual heat, then spread the melted chocolate evenly over the top.
- Top with Pecans or M&M's: While the chocolate is still soft, sprinkle 3/4 to 1 cup of chopped toasted pecans or M&M's evenly over the top.
- Set and Serve: Allow the Christmas Crack to set at room temperature for 1-2 hours until the chocolate hardens. For faster setting, place it in the refrigerator or freezer. Once set, break or cut into pieces and store in an airtight container at room temperature for 1-2 weeks.
Notes
- Saltine cracker substitutes: Use graham crackers, Ritz crackers, or crushed pretzels instead of saltine crackers for a different flavor and texture.
- Toasting pecans: Toast nuts by spreading them on a baking sheet and baking at 350°F for 8-10 minutes or on the stovetop in a skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently for 4-5 minutes, until fragrant and slightly darkened.
- Topping ideas: Try sliced almonds, crushed candy canes, Maldon flaky salt, holiday sprinkles, chopped Heath bar, toffee bits, or Andes peppermint baking chips. You can also drizzle melted white or dark chocolate over the top for a decorative finish.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 piece (approximate)
- Calories: 200 kcal
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 170 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 23 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg
