Description
Christmas Crack is a festive and addictive dessert featuring layers of salty saltine crackers topped with buttery toffee, melted chocolate, and crunchy pecans or colorful M&M's. This easy no-fuss treat combines sweet and salty flavors with a delightful crunch, perfect for holiday gatherings or gifting.
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
Toppings
- 2 cups milk chocolate chips
- 3/4-1 cup chopped toasted pecans or M&M's
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: 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, creating a solid base for the toffee.
- Make Toffee Mixture: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the cubed butter and packed brown sugar. Stir constantly with a wooden spoon as the butter melts and the mixture combines. Once it starts to bubble, continue boiling while stirring constantly for 3 minutes to form the toffee.
- Add Vanilla and Pour Toffee: Remove the pan from heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Pour the hot toffee evenly over the saltine crackers. Use a knife to nudge the toffee over any crackers that did not get covered fully. It will spread further as it bakes.
- Bake Toffee: Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake for 5 minutes, allowing the toffee to bubble and set on the crackers.
- Add Chocolate: Remove from the oven and immediately sprinkle the chocolate chips evenly over the hot toffee. Let them sit for 2-3 minutes until melted, then spread the chocolate into an even layer with a knife or spatula.
- Top with Pecans or M&M's: While the chocolate is still soft, sprinkle the chopped toasted pecans or M&M's evenly over the top to add crunch and flavor.
- Set and Serve: Allow the Christmas Crack to set until the chocolate hardens, typically 1-2 hours at room temperature. To speed up setting, refrigerate or freeze as desired. 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 as a base for variation.
- Toasting pecans: Toast nuts on a baking sheet at 350°F for 8-10 minutes or in a skillet over medium heat for 4-5 minutes until fragrant for enhanced flavor.
- Topping ideas: Try sliced almonds, crushed candy canes, flaky salt, holiday sprinkles, chopped Heath bars, toffee bits, Andes peppermint chips, or drizzle melted white or dark chocolate for decoration.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 piece (approximate)
- Calories: 220 kcal
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 210 mg
- Fat: 13 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg
