Description
Christmas Crack is a delightful holiday treat featuring a crispy saltine cracker base coated with buttery toffee, melted chocolate, and a crunchy topping of toasted pecans or colorful M&M's. This easy-to-make sweet and salty confection is perfect for sharing during the festive season or gifting to friends and family.
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. Line a baking sheet or jelly roll pan with aluminum foil and spray it with cooking spray. Arrange a single layer of saltine crackers side-by-side on the foil, making sure to cover the base evenly. Fold up the edges of the foil slightly if your pan is larger to prevent the toffee from spreading.
- Make Toffee Mixture: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the cubed salted butter and packed light brown sugar. Stir continuously with a wooden spoon until the butter melts and the sugar begins to combine with it. Once the mixture starts to bubble, set a timer for 3 minutes and continue stirring constantly as it boils to ensure it doesn't burn.
- Add Vanilla and Pour Toffee: Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Immediately pour the hot toffee evenly over the arranged saltine crackers on the baking sheet, using a knife to nudge the toffee over any uncovered crackers. It doesn’t have to be perfect since the toffee will spread during baking.
- Bake Toffee: Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake for 5 minutes until the toffee is bubbly and fully melted over the crackers.
- Add Chocolate Topping: Remove the pan from the oven and immediately sprinkle the chocolate chips evenly over the hot toffee. Let them sit undisturbed for 2-3 minutes to allow the chocolate to melt from the residual heat, then spread the melted chocolate evenly over the top using a knife or spatula.
- Add Nuts or Candy: While the chocolate is still soft, sprinkle the chopped toasted pecans, M&M's, or your chosen topping evenly over the chocolate layer for added texture and flavor.
- Set and Serve: Allow the Christmas Crack to set at room temperature until the chocolate hardens, typically 1-2 hours in a cool environment. For faster setting, you can 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: Replace saltine crackers with graham crackers, Ritz crackers, or broken pretzels for a different base flavor and texture.
- Toasting pecans: Toast nuts by spreading them on a baking sheet and baking at 350°F for 8-10 minutes until fragrant, or toast in a skillet on medium heat for 4-5 minutes, stirring frequently. Toasting enhances their flavor.
- Topping ideas: Alternative toppings include sliced almonds, crushed candy canes, Maldon flaky salt, holiday sprinkles, chopped Heath bar or toffee bits, or Andes peppermint baking chips. You may also drizzle melted white or dark chocolate over the top for a decorative finish.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 piece (approximate)
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg
