Cracker toffee, also known as sweet and salty toffee bark or “Christmas Crack”, is a crowd-pleasing treat that’s as simple to make as it is delicious. With just a few basic ingredients—crackers, butter, brown sugar, and chocolate chips—you can create a dessert that’s perfect for sharing at gatherings, gifting to friends, or enjoying with your family. This recipe embodies the heart of simple hospitality: a homemade treat that brings people together and makes them feel special. Whether you’re hosting a party or looking for an easy dessert, this cracker toffee is sure to be a hit!
And… It’s super simple!
This is exactly the kind of recipe I relied on when I first got brave enough to bring a treat to share. Cooking and baking didn’t come naturally to me, so I absolutely loved easy holiday desserts like this one. It was simple enough for my skill level, but everyone thought I had spent hours on it—and the best part? It’s as delicious as it looks!
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So, if you’re looking for an easy holiday dessert that’s sure to impress, this cracker toffee is the perfect choice. With its irresistible combination of sweet and salty flavors, it’s a treat that feels festive without requiring hours in the kitchen. Whether you’re hosting a holiday party, need a last-minute gift, or just want a simple dessert to share with family, this recipe is a winner!
Now put on a cute apron—gather your ingredients and let’s make some delicious treats!
Ingredients and Substitutions
Crackers: You can substitute any kind of salty square or rectangular crackers. I have had great success with both Saltine and Club crackers. You can even use pretzels, although I prefer those on top.
Butter: Use salted or unsalted. It really doesn’t matter in this recipe.
Brown Sugar: Use dark or light—whatever you’ve got in your baking section of your kitchen.
Chocolate Chips: I prefer semi-sweet Tollhouse brand, but you can use milk chocolate or even cut up baking chocolate instead of chips.
Festive Sprinkles: These are optional, but really do make it more fun for any holiday. You can also top with walnuts, pecans, or candy bits.
Step-By-Step Instructions
This recipe is really simple to make, but sometimes it’s reassuring to see what each step should look like. That’s why I’ve included step-by-step photos below to guide you along the way. If you’re anything like me, you might second-guess yourself mid-recipe, wondering if you’re doing it right. Don’t worry—this toffee always turns out delicious, and I’m here to help make the process stress-free!
Step 1:
Preheat your oven to 350° F and cover your baking sheet in foil. Then spray with non-stick cooking spray.
Line your baking sheet with crackers. I cut some in half to fill the whole sheet, but you really don’t need to do that. It’s not the end of the world if you have a little space around the edges.
Step 2:
Slightly melt the butter in a small saucepan and then add the brown sugar.
Step 3:
Boil the butter and sugar until it is bubbly. If you have a candy thermometer, you want the temperature to be between. 270° and 290°F. I don’t use a thermometer, I just eyeball it. Mine takes about 4 minutes.
Step 4:
Pour it over the crackers and spread it out using a spatula until all the crackers are covered. Then put it in the oven for 5 minutes.
Step 5:
Take it out of the oven and immediately sprinkle the chocolate chips over the hot toffee. Wait a few minutes until they look shiny and spread them around with a spatula.
Step 6:
Top with whatever you want! I always like to do festive toppings for any holiday, but nuts and candy are great too. For Halloween I love to do eyeballs!
Pop them into the refrigerator or freezer to cool, and then take them out and break or cut them apart. I like to let them warm up a little and score it with a knife before breaking it, so I get straight lines, but that isn’t necessary. You can just crack them into pieces if you prefer.
Topping and Serving Ideas
If you’re craving a chocolate and peanut butter combo, try drizzling some peanut butter over the top before the chocolate sets—it would be absolutely delicious! Or, whip up some peanut butter Rice Krispie balls to serve alongside this toffee. Pair them with a pot of coffee, and you’ve got the recipe for a cozy, sweet evening with friends!
If you love rocky road, you can make a rocky road toffee by topping it with walnut pieces, mini marshmallows, and drizzling with hot fudge! YUM!
Cracker toffee can be topped with almonds, flakes of sea salt, candy cane bits (for a minty twist), any kind of sprinkles you have for the occasion at hand, or broken up pretzels. Really—anything that goes well with chocolate will probably taste good on this toffee.
Store the cracker toffee in an airtight container—it’ll keep in the fridge for a couple of weeks or in the freezer for a few months. Just let it thaw completely before serving. On the counter, it’ll last about a week, but be careful if your kitchen gets warm—it might start to get soft and melty which will get on your fingers and then all over the front of your shirt. I know from experience. Plus, let’s be honest, if it’s out where I can see it, I’ll end up snacking on it all day long!
Looking for other great desserts? Try our Peanut Butter Chocolate Mousse Pie, Rocky Road Mousse Pie, Orange Cardamom Snickerdoodles, or Snickerdoodle Blondies. They are all sure to satisfy everyone’s sweet tooth!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! You can use gluten-free crackers in this recipe. Gluten free table crackers or graham crackers. You can even try it with gluten-free pretzels.
Absolutely! You can swap out the butter for a vegan option. I use Earth Balance, but there are others out there that will work great, too. You can also swap out your chocolate chips for a dairy free version.
If your chocolate doesn’t melt when you put it on top, pop it back into the oven for about a minute until the chocolate chips get shiny. Take it out and spread it with a spatula. Some brands of chocolate chips melt better than others.
What toppings would you add to your cracker toffee? I’d love to hear your ideas below!
Cracker Toffee (Christmas Crack)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 35 saltine crackers a little more than a sleeve
- 1 cup butter
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400℉
- Cover your 13 X18 sheet pan with foil and spray with nonstick spray.
- Line your sheet pan with saltine crackers. Fill as much space as you can.
- In a small/medium saucepan, heat the butter until it is almost melted, than add the brown sugar. Stir as it melts together. This usually takes about 4 minutes on medium heat. A candy thermometer should read between 270° and 290℉, but I never use it.
- Pour the toffee mixture over the crackers and spread with a spatula until all the crackers are covered.
- Put into the oven for 5 minutes.
- Take out of the oven and immediately top with the chocolate chips. Let them sit for a few minutes until they start to look shiny.
- Spread the chocolate over the entire thing.
- Top with nuts or festive sprinkles.
- Place in the refrigerator until it hardens. If I'm in a rush, I put it in the freezer.
- Break into pieces.
2 Comments
This toffee is super easy and makes a great gift!
This is Christmas crack. Such a great gift for sure! My friends love receiving this!