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This Christmas Crack Candy is the simplest and most delicious holiday treat you'll ever make! It's sweet, salty, crunchy, and chocolatey - perfect for snacking all season long. Plus, it's quick and easy to make so you are just a few ingredients and minutes away from making the perfect Christmas candy!

This Christmas Crack Candy is the simplest and most delicious holiday treat you'll make! It's sweet, salty, crunchy, and chocolatey. | aheadofthyme.com

Christmas crack is made with the indulgent combination of chocolate and saltines but it's the toffee layer that takes it over the top. The result is a chocolatey, caramelized candy that's sweet, salty, crunchy, and just downright delicious. You can enjoy it as is or dress it up with toppings such as pretzels, toffee bits, chopped nuts, sprinkles, and more. If you're looking for an easy yet impressive treat to share with family and friends this holiday season, this is it! Plus, it's impossible to eat just one piece of this festive dessert, so you'll want to make a big batch so everyone can get in on the sweet and salty goodness.

Why You'll Love this Christmas Crack Recipe

Easy to make. If you're not into baking, then this recipe will be your saving grace. While the toffee layer needs to be baked for 5 minutes tops, the rest of the layers are just a matter of stirring, melting, and pouring. It only takes about 10 minutes to make the layers and all there's left to do is let it set in the fridge before you crack into it!
Deliciously sweet and salty. Isn't it the best when you get a mix of sweet and salty in one bite? That's exactly what you'll get with this Christmas crack candy. The base has a hint of saltiness that perfectly complements the sweet toffee and chocolate layers. It's just a match made in heaven!
Fun to customize. Don't like pretzels? Leave them out! Prefer a different type of chocolate? Swap it out! Want to add more chocolate? Go for it! It's up to you how you want this treat to look and taste.
Perfect for gifting. Everyone loves getting homemade gifts, especially edible ones. You'll be sure to get a lot of thank yous when you gift this one! Put it in a festive holiday tin or package it in a little box for an easy and thoughtful present. It's also great as part of a Holiday Cookie Box.

Ingredient Notes

To make this delicious Christmas Crack Candy, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):

saltine crackers - these crackers for the base of the candy. It gives a satisfying crunch and a subtle saltiness that balances the overall sweetness of the crack candy. You can also use whole-wheat crackers for added texture.
butter - use unsalted butter for better flavor control. It provides a creamy, toffee flavor when melted with brown sugar.
brown sugar - adds a deep, caramel flavor that gives the candy its distinct brown color. You can use light brown sugar for a subtle taste of molasses.
light corn syrup - also used to add deep flavor to the homemade caramel.
chocolate - use semi-sweet chocolate chips or chopped chocolate for easy melting. I prefer semi-sweet chocolate because it has the right balance of sweetness and bitterness, but you can opt for dark ones for a bittersweet chocolatey taste.
white chocolate - add a white choclate drizzle on top of this Christmas crack for flavor and presentation, or leave it out if you prefer.
toppings - we topped this candy with pretzels and toffee bits. You can also use candies, sprinkles, or M&Ms as toppings for a festive look. Chopped nuts like pecans and almonds also add a sophisticated touch and a delicious crunch to the candy.

You will also need measuring cups and spoons, large baking sheet, parchment paper or silicone mat, spatula, and microwave.

How to Make the Best Christmas Crack Candy

Add crackers. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Line the pan with the saltine crackers. Set aside.
Cook caramel. In a medium saucepan, add the butter, brown sugar, and corn syrup, and heat over medium heat. Stir with a rubber spatula until the butter has melted and the mixture begins to bubble. Continue cooking, while stirring, until all of the brown sugar has dissolved and is no longer grainy, about 5 minutes (if using a candy thermometer, the mixture should reach 280F).
Add caramel. Pour the hot caramel evenly over the saltine crackers, then spread evenly out with a spatula. Place into a 350F preheated oven to bake for 3-4 minutes, or until the caramel begins to bubble. Remove the pan from the oven.

Add chocolate. Sprinkle the chocolate chips over the hot cracker toffee and place back into the oven for 1 minute. Then remove from the oven and use a spatula to evenly spread the now melted chocolate over the toffee.

Add white chocolate. Place the white chocolate into a microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring in between, until fully melted. Drizzle the melted white chocolate over the chocolate layer.
Swirl. Use a wooden skewer to swirl it into the chocolate in alternate directions by placing the skewer in the top left and moving it in a horizontal line from left and right, then moving down an inch and going from right to left, repeating in alternate directions.

Add pretzels and toffee. Lastly, top the melted chocolate layer with the pretzels and toffee bits.

Chill. Place the sheet pan into the fridge until fully hardened (1-2 hours), or into the freezer for 20 minutes.
Slice. Remove the candy from fridge or freezer and peel off the parchment paper on the bottom. Place the candy on a cutting board and slice into squares or triangles, or simple break into pieces with your hands.
Serve. Enjoy immediately or keep in an airtight container in the fridge until you're ready to enjoy.

Recipe Variations

Make it white. Substitute the semi-sweet chocolate with white chocolate chips for a creamier taste. Not only will it give your Christmas crack candy a unique milky flavor, but also make it much more stunning with the brightly colored toppings.
Use gingerbread flavors. Bring the warm, classic Christmas flavors to your crack candies by adding ground ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg to the homemade caramel mixture.
Top with dried fruits. For a fruity twist, you can top the crack candy with pieces of dried fruits like blueberry, strawberry, and cranberry. This complements the sweetness of the candy with tangy flavors and adds a nice chewy texture.
Add orange zest. Mix grated orange zest with the toffee mixture for a bright and refreshing taste. Plus, it also adds a citrusy aroma that is sure to pair nicely with the sweet, caramelly smell.
Sprinkle with sea salt. Add a sprinkle of coarse salt on top of the chocolate before it sets completely. This adds a gourmet flair and complements well with the sweetness of candy.
Make it festive. Make this Christmas crack more festive by topping it with Christmas colored sprinkles, M&M's, or crushed candy canes.

How to Serve

Enjoy this delicious Christmas Crack Candy with other holiday treats or festive drinks such as:

For more recipe ideas, see our 30 Best Christmas Cookies.

Recipe Tips and Tricks

Cool to room temperature. If you are not in a rush, you can cool your Christmas crack candy to room temperature for a while before placing it in the refrigerator. This prevents big water droplets from forming on the surface of melted chocolate, which will form white "blooms" once it's stored.
Cut with a hot knife. Breaking this crack candy by hand is easy but a little bit messy. With the use of a hot, sharp knife, cutting it becomes much easier and neater. Simply dip a knife in hot water and then slice through the candy. Wipe in between cuts to prevent anything from sticking to the blade.
Distribute toppings evenly. Sprinkle the toppings evenly on top of the melted chocolate. Pressing them gently against the warm chocolate ensures they adhere properly.

Storing and Freezing Instructions

How to Store

Place the crack candy pieces in an airtight container for up to 5 days at room temperature if your house isn't too warm. Otherwise, keep them in the fridge for about 2 weeks.

How to Freeze

Store the crack candy pieces in a freezer-safe bag or container and keep them in the freezer for up to 3 months. Make sure to use a piece of parchment paper in between the layers for easier access, and to prevent them from sticking together.

More Christmas Dessert Recipes

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