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5.0 from 1,173 votes

Christmas Crack Recipe

You'll love this salty, sweet, crunchy, chewy saltine cracker candy, sometimes known as Christmas Crack, and you can make it in 15 minutes with just 5 ingredients!

Cook Time
mins
Total Time
15 mins
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 373 kcal
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 35-40 saltine crackers
  • 1 cup butter (2 sticks)
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups chopped chocolate or chocolate chips (see note 1)
  • 1 1/2 cups toppings such as chopped pecans, crushed pretzels, M&Ms, or crushed OREOs (see note 2)

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Line a 15” x 10” x 1” pan with parchment paper, foil, or a silicone mat. Line up crackers in a single layer in rows on prepared sheet.
  2. Meanwhile, using a candy thermometer, melt butter and brown sugar in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and boil for 2 to 3 minutes (270 to 290 degrees if using a candy thermometer). Immediately pour over crackers and spread evenly with a spatula.
  3. Bake 5 minutes or until the candy hardens. Remove from oven.
  4. Meanwhile, melt the chocolate chips in the microwave in 30-second increments at 50% power until melted. Spread over hardened caramel. (You can also sprinkle the chocolate chips over the hardened candy, pop it back in the oven until melted, and spread after that).
  5. Sprinkle nuts or other toppings and press into the chocolate using a greased spatula. Cut into squares while warm. Cool completely for at least 15 minutes and store in the refrigerator.

Notes

  • Chocolate: Sometimes chopped bar chocolate works better than chocolate chips. To melt the chocolate, you can either 1). melt it in the microwave and pour it over the top, or 2). sprinkle the chips on the hardened caramel topping, let them sit for a minute to melt, and then spread the softened chocolate chips with a spatula.
  • Toppings: Try chopped pecans, pretzels, OREOs, M&Ms, toffee bits, peanut butter cups, toasted coconut, coarse sea salt, candy canes, or drizzles of white chocolate. Or, just leave it plain!
  • Yield: This recipe makes about 12 servings of Christmas Crack.
  • Storage: Depending on the season and the humidity, Christmas Crack should keep well in an airtight tin or container for about a week or longer at freezing temps (like on your patio or in your garage, Midwestern friends!).
  • Freezer: Christmas Crack freezes well! Break or cut it into pieces and store it in freezer-safe bags for up to 3 months.

Nutrition Information

Calories 373kcal (19%) Carbohydrates 36g (12%) Protein 2g (4%) Fat 25g (38%) Saturated Fat 8g (40%) Cholesterol 1mg (0%) Sodium 275mg (11%) Potassium 174mg (5%) Fiber 2g (8%) Sugar 26g (52%) Vitamin A 688IU (14%) Calcium 37mg (4%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 12servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 373

% Daily Value*

Calories 373kcal 19%
Carbohydrates 36g 12%
Protein 2g 4%
Fat 25g 38%
Saturated Fat 8g 40%
Cholesterol 1mg 0%
Sodium 275mg 11%
Potassium 174mg 4%
Fiber 2g 8%
Sugar 26g 52%
Vitamin A 688IU 14%
Calcium 37mg 4%
Iron 2mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.