Description
Christmas Crack, also known as Cracker Toffee, is a delightful and easy-to-make holiday treat featuring a crunchy saltine cracker base topped with buttery toffee, melted chocolate, and festive sprinkles. This sweet and salty dessert is perfect for holiday gatherings and gifts, combining rich caramelized sugar with the crunch of crackers and a smooth chocolate topping.
Ingredients
Scale
Base
- 40-48 saltine crackers (about 1 1/2 sleeves)
Toffee
- 1 cup butter (salted or unsalted, 2 sticks)
- 1 cup brown sugar (packed, dark brown sugar preferred)
Topping
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips (or milk, white, or a combination)
- ½ cup sprinkles (or M&M’s, crushed candy canes, or candies of choice for decoration)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350℉ (175℃) to prepare for baking the toffee-coated crackers.
- Prepare Baking Pan: Line a rimmed 15″×10″ sheet pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil sprayed with cooking spray, or use a nonstick silicone baking mat to prevent sticking.
- Arrange Crackers: Place the saltine crackers in a single, even layer across the bottom of the prepared pan. Break a few crackers as needed to fill any gaps along the edges to create a complete, uniform layer.
- Make Toffee: In a medium pot over medium-low heat, melt the butter with the brown sugar. Stir occasionally and bring to a rolling boil. Continue boiling for 3 minutes until the mixture bubbles vigorously and turns an amber color. Optionally, use a candy thermometer to ensure the temperature reaches 270℉-290℉. Remove from heat immediately.
- Pour Toffee Over Crackers: Carefully pour the hot toffee evenly over the arranged crackers and quickly spread it out with a spatula to coat all crackers evenly before it sets.
- Bake Toffee Crackers: Place the sheet pan in the oven and bake for 3-5 minutes, until the toffee begins to bubble, ensuring a crisp texture.
- Add Chocolate Chips: Remove the pan from the oven and immediately scatter the chocolate chips evenly over the hot toffee layer. Let them sit for 1-2 minutes to soften, then spread the melted chocolate evenly over the toffee using a spatula. If the chocolate isn’t melting well, return to the oven for 1-2 minutes.
- Decorate: Sprinkle the chosen decorations like sprinkles or crushed candy canes over the melted chocolate while it is still soft.
- Cool: Allow the toffee to cool completely at room temperature or refrigerate for 30 minutes to 1 hour to let the chocolate harden fully.
- Break and Serve: Once hardened, flip the tray over to remove the toffee sheet, peel off the parchment or foil, then break into pieces with your hands or cut with a sharp knife. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator.
Notes
- For best toffee results, use dark brown sugar for a richer flavor.
- Using a candy thermometer helps achieve perfect toffee temperature and texture.
- You can customize the topping with different chocolates like milk or white chocolate or mix them.
- Decorate with seasonal candies such as crushed candy canes for festive appeal.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container to maintain crispness and freshness.
