Our quick and easy Christmas Crack recipe is a simple holiday treat that everyone will love! Made with only 4 simple ingredients. The recipe card includes some fun variations to make that your whole family will love!
The Best Christmas Crack Recipe
It is that time of year once again, every holiday season we make some traditional cookies, like our gluten free peanut butter blossoms, and then we also like to create a new treat. Enter this super simple Christmas crack recipe! It is easy enough that the kids can help and you can make it so many different ways. Definitely a new family favorite that we can’t wait for you to try or share at a cookie swap!
Looking for More Holiday Treats?
If you love them as much as we do, you definitely need to try our Ritz Cookies!
What You Will Need
- saltine crackers – just pick-up these classic crackers at your local grocery store or sub with gluten-free crackers, ritz crackers, etc.
- butter – option to use unsalted butter, salted butter, or plant-based butter for a dairy-free option.
- dark brown sugar – added for that wonderful touch of sweetness to this tasty treat!
- chocolate chips – we used semi-sweet chocolate chips, but you can really use any variety, like dark chocolate chips, milk chocolate chips, even white chocolate chips.
- optional Christmas crack toppings – keep it festive with crushed candy canes or add chopped pecans, holiday sprinkles, toffee bits, toasted coconut, a drizzle of peanut butter, etc.
How To Make Christmas Crack
The first steps to making this easy recipe are to gather all of the basic ingredients.
Now, put the butter and brown sugar in a large saucepan over medium heat. Whisk to fully combine.
Next, line a large sheet pan with parchment paper and put your crackers of choice in a single layer filling the bottom of the pan. Then pour the butter and sugar mixture over the top.
Use a spatula to spread the brown sugar mixture evenly over the single layer of crackers. Pop the whole pan in the oven to bake at 400 degrees F for 4-5 minutes.
Carefully remove from the hot oven and sprinkle the chocolate chips on top in an even layer. Let it sit at room temperature for 1-2 minutes, so the chocolate can soften.
Use a spatula to spread the softened chocolate evenly over the crackers. Finally, add any toppings that you desire to the chocolate layer. Move the whole pan to the freezer or fridge to fully harden.
Use your hands or a knife to break the pan of Christmas crack into large pieces.
Variations
- Sea Salt Caramel – In Step 5 of the recipe card, use 1 cup chocolate chips and 1 cup caramel chips. After you spread with spatula, sprinkle with flaky sea salt.
- Puppy Chow – In Step 5 below, once you have spread the melted chocolate around, drizzle the top with 3-4 tablespoons of drippy peanut butter (feel free to warm in the microwave, so it’s easier). Sprinkle with some powdered sugar after freezing the whole pan.
Storage & Freezer
Simply store this saltine cracker candy in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week. Or in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. It can also be kept out at room temperature but they might get a little soft and messy to eat.
Recipe FAQs and Tips
- What is Christmas crack? It is traditionally a holiday dessert that cracks in your mouth when you take a big bite. Everyone is going to devour this popular holiday recipe!
- What is Christmas crack candy made of? There are a variety of ways to top this dessert recipe, but the essential Christmas crack ingredients are crackers, butter, brown sugar, and chocolate chips.
- Parchment paper: highly recommend lining your cookie sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking. Also, it is much better to peel off the back than aluminum foil.
Made this recipe and loved it?! We would love it if you would take a minute and leave a star rating and review – it is also helpful if you made any substitutions or changes to the recipe to share that as well. THANK YOU!
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Other Recipes You Might Like
Christmas Crack Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 16 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Oven + Stove Top
- Cuisine: American
Description
Our delicious Christmas Crack recipe can be made 3 different ways and everyone is going to love it at your next holiday party or special occasion! See Notes for the other 2 variations!
Ingredients
Peppermint Christmas Crack
- 40–45 saltine crackers
- 1 cup butter
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 2 cups (12oz) chocolate chips
- optional: candy canes, crushed (approx. 8 candy canes)
Instructions
Peppermint Christmas Crack
- Prep: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Cover the bottom of a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Crackers: Place the saltine crackers in a single layer on the parchment-lined baking sheet to fill the whole pan (more or less may be needed depending on the size of your pan). Set aside.
- Butter Mixture: Add butter and brown sugar to a medium saucepan and bring to a medium-high heat. Whisk to fully mix combine and melt completely. Pour mixture over the crackers and use a spatula to spread evenly over all the crackers.
- Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake 4-5 minutes. Carefully remove and set on stove or two hot pads.
- Chocolate: Immediately sprinkle the chocolate chips on top and let them sit to soften for a few minutes. Once softened, use a spatula to spread the chocolate across the top. If adding crushed candy canes, sprinkle them on top.
- Chill: To fully harden the Christmas Crack, move the pan to the freezer or fridge, let fully cool and harden (approx. 1-2 hours).
- Break: Use your hands to break it into large pieces and serve (using a butter knife to help lift the edges up may help)!
Notes
- Sea Salt Caramel Christmas Crack: In Step 5 use 1 cup chocolate chips and 1 cup caramel chips. After you spread with spatula, sprinkle with flaky sea salt.
- Puppy Chow Christmas Crack: In Step 5, once you have spread the melted chocolate around, drizzle with 3-4 tablespoons of drippy peanut butter (feel free to warm in the microwave, so it’s easier). Sprinkle with some powdered sugar.
- Gluten Free: option to use gluten-free crackers.
- Dairy Free: simply use a plant-based butter and dairy free chocolate chips.
- Storage: store in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer for up to a week. It can be kept at room temperature, but it might soften a bit, making it more messy to eat.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6oz
- Calories: 254
- Sugar: 22.5 g
- Sodium: 72 mg
- Fat: 16.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Protein: 2.1 g
- Cholesterol: 24.4 mg
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