Christmas Crack Candy – An Easy 5 Ingredient Recipe

With the holiday season among us it is time to make our favorite cookies and treats, including Christmas Crack Candy. This easy-to-make confection, also known as toffee cracker candy or saltine cracker toffee, is an irresistible combination of salty saltine crackers, a buttery toffee layer, and a rich chocolate and pecan topping.

With just 5 simple ingredients and less than 10 minutes of hands on time, anyone can make this classic treat. Although the taste of candy is delicious, it is the simplicity of this recipe is why it is an ideal treat to make during the holidays for both novice cooks and experienced bakers.

All you have to do is layer the crackers in the bottom of a baking sheet. Then add butter and brown sugar into a pot and boil until it turns to toffee. Pour the mixture over the crackers and then put it in the oven to bake.

Once the toffee develops a firm layer on top of the crackers, pull the baking sheet out of the oven. Next sprinkle the top with chocolate chips and return the pan to the oven.

In just a few minutes the chocolate will melt and you will be able to spread it out in an even layer. All that is left to do is the sprinkle on the chopped pecans.

However, you aren’t quite ready to indulge in the sweet treat at this point. Unfortunately you must wait a couple of hours for the chocolate to harden. But believe me, the wait will be worth it!

Why Is It Called Christmas Crack Candy?

Recipes that added the term “crack” as part of their titles became hugely popular in the mid 2000’s. However, that is because they were thought of as addicting and irresistible.

However this recipe, although it can also be deemed addicting, has the name for two other reasons:

• The texture of the candy. Crack candy is very brittle and breaks easily into pieces. When it breaks into pieces it makes a ‘crack’ sound.
• The sound of the candy when it is eaten. When you bite into a piece of “crack” candy, it makes another cracking sound. It is definitely not a sweet treat that you can sneak a bite of when you don’t want others to know.

Tips for Making the Perfect Christmas Crack Candy

Although the recipe is simple to follow, there are a few simple tips to ensure that Christmas crack candy turns out perfect every time.

1. Use High Quality Ingredients

Because there are only 5 ingredients in this recipe it is crucial to use high-quality ingredients. This is especially important for the butter and chocolate, as these will significantly impact the candy’s flavor and texture.

This is the one of the rare times that I will purchase name brand ingredients. Although you can make Christmas crack candy with generic brands, the flavor won’t be as delicious.

2. Cook The Toffee Given The Exact Time

In order for the butter and brown sugar to turn to toffee that has the perfect taste and texture you must let it boil for the exact time given in the recipe below. However you could also use a candy thermometer to achieve the correct consistency.

If you have a candy thermometer place it on the side of the pan, being sure that the tip doesn’t touch the bottom surface. Then let the butter and brown sugar mixture simmer until it reaches a temperature of 270°F to 290°F.

3. Quickly Pour & Spread The Toffee

When making Christmas Crack Candy it is important to quickly pour the toffee mixture over the crackers. Be sure that the crackers are completely covered. The toffee will thicken and begin to set up as soon as it is removed from the heat source.

4. Use Mini Chocolate Chips

When it comes to adding the top chocolate layer, it is best to use mini chocolate chips. The smaller size chips will melt faster and will spread easier than if you used standard size chocolate chips.

5. Use An Off-Set Spatula

When the chocolate begins to melt remove the pan from the oven. Then use an off set spatula to spread the chocolate into an even layer. The chocolate will begin to harden as soon as it is removed from the oven, so it is important to spread out the chocolate quickly.

6. Let the Christmas Candy Cool Completely

The hardest part about this recipe is letting the candy cool. However, it is crucial that it has time to set and harden before breaking the candy into pieces.

To make this process happen faster, place the candy in the freezer instead of the refrigerator. Then when hard and firm, break the candy in random (or uniform) pieces.

How To Store Christmas Crack Candy

Christmas crack candy should be stored in an airtight container at room temperature. It will stay good for up to two weeks (but it likely won’t last that long).

You can also store it in the refrigerator. However the candy will harden further so before serving it is best to let it sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes.

You can also make this ahead of time and store it in the freezer. To do so, place the set candy pieces in an air tight container, with wax paper in between the layers. Then store in an air tight container for up to 3 months.

Common Recipe Variations

Although this is a classic Christmas Crack Candy recipe, the ingredients can be easily customized to suit individual preferences, allowing for endless variations of toppings and flavors. I have listed some common variations below, but feel free to experiment with your own adaptations.

• Replace the saltines with club crackers.
• Use dark chocolate or milk chocolate chips.
• Use white chocolate or butterscotch chocolate chips.
• Chopped walnuts or almonds can be used in place of the pecans.
• Skip the nuts all together and top the toffee layer with mini M&Ms, crushed toffee pieces, marshmallows or crumbled pretzels or cookies.
• Sprinkle the top with various colored holiday sprinkles or nonpareils.
• For a richer toffee flavor use dark brown sugar instead of light brown sugar.

Whether you enjoy the classic combination of saltine crackers, toffee, and chocolate, or prefer to experiment with different toppings and flavors, this simple yet satisfying candy is sure to become a holiday favorite.

Christmas Crack Candy Recipe

*A printable recipe card is located at the bottom of this article which contains the specific measurements, temperatures and cook times. However, continue reading below to learn about more helpful tips about this specific recipe.

INGREDIENTS

• 12 saltine crackers
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 6 oz. bittersweet chocolate morsels
• 1/4 cup finely chopped pecans

INSTRUCTIONS

Heat the oven to 325°F. Line a small baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper.

Arrange the saltine crackers in a single layer on the pan. Set aside.

In a small saucepan add the butter and brown sugar and place over medium-low heat. Heat, stirring frequently.

When it begins to boil, cook for 3 minutes while stirring constantly. Pour the mixture slowly and evenly over the crackers that are on the baking sheet. Make sure all of the crackers are covered in the sugar mixture.

Bake Time

Place in the preheated oven and bake 15 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven, and sprinkle the chocolate chips evenly over the top.

Return the pan to the oven and let it continue to bake until the chocolate chips begin to melt, approximately 1 minute. Then remove the pan from the oven and use an off-set spatula to spread the melted chocolate evenly over the surface of the crackers.

Immediately sprinkle with the chopped pecan pieces. Let stand until nearly set, and then place the baking sheet in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours or until firm.

Break the crackers into random size (or uniform) pieces. Then store in an air-tight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.

Enjoy! Mary

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