Saltine Cracker Toffee is crunchy, buttery and absolutely addicting. A delicious combination of sweet and salty, it’s called Christmas Crack for good reason!
Saltine cracker toffee recipes overtake my Pinterest and Facebook feed every holiday season but I never understood what the craze was all about. I mean, what’s so special about something made with saltine crackers?
Oh, how wrong I was! G brought home yesterday a few chunks of this toffee bark from the batch his mom made that morning. I took one skeptical bite from the piece he offered me and before he could zip his little treat bag right back up, I was all over the whole stash!
The three to four pieces I polished off in a second awakened such a deep craving, I was in his mom’s kitchen this afternoon with the ingredients needed so she could teach me how to make them.
The perfect combination of sweet, salty, and buttery, cracker candy are called Christmas crack for good reason. They’re absolutely addicting, you wouldn’t be able to stop at one! And they really should be reserved for Christmas as it’s the only time of the year we won’t feel guilty eating a ton. 🙂
Saltine crackers are where the magic lies here. As the butter and sugar harden into a toffee coating, the crackers turn into a crunchy, buttery canvas for the layers of chocolate and chopped nuts.
You can cut the cookie slab into neat squares with a knife while it’s still warm or break into random shapes with your hands when it has cooled and hardened. Any way you take a crack at it, this Christmas crack is bound to be your holiday addiction!
Check out the tips below, make a big batch, and don’t forget to share. 🙂
Tips on How to Make Christmas Crack Candy
Saltine toffee cookies are so easy to make, no mad skills needed. All they take are 5 simple ingredients namely saltine crackers, butter, sugar, chocolate chips, and walnuts.
- Line the baking sheet with foil or parchment paper and generously spray the lining with nonstick cooking spray so it will be easier to peel off.
- Saltine crackers are the classic ingredient here but Ritz crackers make a wonderful crunchy, buttery base, too.
- The chocolate should melt successfully when sprinkled over the hot toffee but you can also melt them in the microwave to speed up the process. Melt at 50% power, pour over the toffee, and carefully spread using a spatula.
- Swap the semi-sweet chocolate with white chocolate chips for a more festive Christmas look!
- For extra depth of flavor, toast the walnuts.
- Make delicious varieties by using assorted toppings. Other great options other than walnuts are shelled pistachios, cashews, pecans, chopped Oreos, popcorn, mini M&M’s, candy sprinkles, pretzels, toffee bits, and melted chocolate drizzles.
Ingredients
- 1 sleeve saltine crackers (about 40 crackers)
- 1 cup butter
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup walnuts, chopped
Instructions
- Line a cookie sheet with foil and spray with non-stick cooking spray.
- Arrange saltine crackers in a single layer on cookie sheet.
- In a saucepan over medium heat, combine butter and sugar and bring to a boil. Continue to boil for about 3 to 5 minutes or until foamy.
- Pour the sugar mixture over the layer of saltines. Using a spatula, spread to fully coat saltines.
- Bake in a 400 F oven for about 5 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and immediately sprinkle chocolate over the hot toffee. Let stand for 5 minutes or until chocolate is melted. Spread the chocolate to coat surface.
- Sprinkle walnuts on top.
- Cut into neat squares with a knife while still warm and then refrigerate to chill. Or refrigerate until completely cooled and hardened and break into random shapes with hands.
Nutrition Information
“This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.”
Dawn says
I love this CHRISTMAS 🎄 CRACK. My daughter made some last year & bagged up little gift bags for me to give my nurses (I am in a Care Home). I must admit that none of them made it into my nurses hands because I ATE IT ALL! I’m not proud of myself for eating it all BUT IT WAS SO ADDICTING & TASTY.
Teresa says
Hi Lalaine,
I have made this for years and some batches come out great. They are hard like toffee and other batches are soft or crystallized. What am I doing wrong?
Thanks
Cindy says
How far ahead of time can these be made , thanks Cindy
Tammy Roemhildt says
I made these today they taste great but there is still a thin layer of butter and brown sugar on the bottom that hasn’t hardend
Susan Sopet says
I just Made this for the first time! I loved your picture with the Walnuts on top! I did use pecans and used your advice to brown them first! It Is absolutely delicious! Thank you!
Denise says
Do I use dark brown or light brown sugar? Salted or unsalted butter?
Margaret Collins says
Delicious. Took to a party on pretty gold plate. They were the first things gone on the “goodies” table!!. On “black Friday” my friend and granddaughter always bake cookies! This is one of our favorites!
Lalaine says
Thank you so much, Margaret, for the feedback. I am glad everyone enjoyed them; they’re really addicting. 🙂
Sandy Koepsell says
I made these and they were a huge hit. The only problem, you cannot stop at one. I did not use aluminum foil and they cane out easy in one large sheet.
Lalaine says
Yay, I am glad you enjoyed the recipe! Yes, these saltine toffees are seriously addicting. I only make them during the holidays so I won’t feel as bad eating the whole slab! Thanks for the tip, will try making them without the aluminum foil next time. Happy holidays!
Dianne Salonga says
Looks like your a pro in terms of baking and creating ideas like this. More tips and recipe please!
Beth Davidson says
Oh no, I’m not prepared to put on holiday weight yet! I have to stop looking at delicious recipes like this. 🙂
Lalaine says
Haha, me, too! I am starving myself until end of October to make room for all the great holiday food about to come!
RikaConfesses says
These sounds really good. I don’t need any convincing about the saltines, I love salty sweet things.
Patricia G. says
Sounds delicious and yummy! I would LOVE to try to either make them or eat them sometime! 🙂 Great recipe!
Lalaine says
They’re seriously addicting! And they make great gifts, too!
Lynn says
What kind of saltine cracker did you use? Can I use a Ritz cracker which are round and buttery?
Lalaine says
Not Ritz, I used this one https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saltine_cracker. 🙂