This Easy Saltine Toffee recipe is Saltine crackers with buttery toffee and chocolate. A sweet, salty, easy treat perfect for the holiday season. This easy candy recipe is so delicious, some folks call it Christmas Crack!
Jump to:
The kids and I have been making our favorite easy saltine toffee for years now. Some people call this cracker toffee Christmas Crack because it is so completely addicting.
I don't really even like caramel or toffee, but something this perfect combination of flavors makes me love this sweet and salty treat! I made this once for a teen party, and it was gone in minutes. Seriously!
If you're a fan of easy recipes like this Christmas crack recipe, try white chocolate puppy chow, Peppermint Bark, Peppermint Fudge, Christmas pretzel rods and crockpot Christmas candy. They're great for sharing during the holiday season!
Ingredients
You only need a few simple ingredients to make this saltine cracker toffee recipe. They should be easy to find in your grocery store if you don't already have these pantry staples.
- Saltine crackers -- soda crackers, any brand
- Butter -- I use salted butter, but unsalted butter is finer
- Brown sugar -- either light brown sugar or dark brown sugar works
- Semi sweet chocolate chips
You will also need a jelly roll pan, aluminum foil or parchment paper and non stick cooking spray. The foil and nonstick spray make clean-up way easier! There's no need to use a candy thermometer for this easy toffee recipe.
How to make Saltine Cracker Toffee
First preheat your oven to 400 degrees f.
Next, line a large jelly roll pan or rimmed baking sheet with foil and coat it with butter or a non-stick spray. Then, line it with enough crackers in a single layer to fill the pan.
This is about 45-50 crackers or slightly more than 1 sleeve. You may need to break a couple crackers in half to completely fill the baking tray. We even like to break some up to fill in any gaps.
Next, melt two sticks of butter and one tightly packed cup of brown sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring every so often.
Bring to a rolling boil, and watch as it thickens and turns to a caramel color.
On my gas stove, on medium heat, this takes about two minutes. If it gets too thick, it doesn't spread easily.
Then, carefully pour the brown sugar mixture carefully over the layer of saltine crackers. The mixture is very hot!
You want to cover them with caramel, but it's fine if some of the edges stick out.
I use a spatula to spread the caramel evenly over the crackers. An offset spatula works, too.
When the crackers are covered, put the tray into the oven until the caramel bubbles. This takes 3-5 minutes, depending on your oven, so keep an eye on them.
After you take the crackers out of the oven, sprinkle the chocolate chips over the crackers. We used slightly more than one heaping cup of chips, more like 1 ½ cups.
If you want a thicker layer of chocolate, add 2 cups chocolate chips.
I love chocolate, but not everyone in our house does, so I don't use as much as some people do. After the chocolate chips start to melt, spread the chocolate over the caramel.
Now, put the tray back into the oven to help the chocolate melt. This takes about 1-2 minutes.
Spread the melted chocolate evenly over the toffee layer. When the chocolate covers the crackers, we sprinkle a small amount of flaked salt and some red and green sugar sprinkles on top of the chocolate.
Put the Saltine toffee into the refrigerator until it completely cools and hardens. This takes about 2 hours.
Of course, times will vary according to your area and your will power! Then, just break up the saltine cracker candy into smaller pieces, and you can dive in.
How to Store
Store saltine cracker toffee in an airtight container. You can keep it at room temperature or in the refrigerator if your house is warm.
Honestly, this Christmas crack disappears fast, but if you keep it tightly covered, it should last about 2 weeks.
Saltine Toffee Variations
If you want saltine toffee without chocolate, just leave out the chocolate chips. You can leave the toffee layer plain or add nuts or sprinkles directly on the toffee.
Add chopped peanuts, walnuts, almonds or chopped pecans instead of holiday sprinkles. You can also add small candies, like m&m's or toffee bits for even more toffee flavor.
Sub milk chocolate chips or dark chocolate chips for semi sweet if you like.
If you don't have soda crackers, you can use graham crackers.
Recipe Tips
Toffee is sticky! Use aluminum foil and non stick spray for easier clean-up.
Start timing the butter/brown sugar mixture when it comes to a full rolling boil. This means it is bubbling all over, not just around the edges.
Don't stir while the mixture is boiling.
Be sure to cool the cracker toffee completely before slicing or breaking into smaller pieces.
Recipe
Easy Saltine Toffee Recipe
Ingredients
- 50 Saltine Crackers
- 1 cup butter 2 sticks
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 ½ cups semi sweet chocolate chips
- seasonal candy sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees
- Line a large baking sheet with heavy duty aluminum foil, and spray with non-stick spray
- Line tray evenly with crackers. You may have to break some up to fit.
- In a medium sauce pan, melt the butter and brown sugar over medium heat, and bring to rolling boil.
- Let boil for 2 minutes, or until mixture is thick enough to coat a spoon. Boil no more than 3 minutes
- Pour mixture evenly over crackers. Use a spatula to spread the toffee over each cracker, and place in oven for about 5 minutes or until bubbly
- Remove from oven, and sprinkle chocolate chips evenly over crackers
- Return to oven briefly until chips begin to melt, then remove, and spread chocolate over crackers with spatula. Sprinkle with festive candy sprinkles and flaked salt, if desired
- Place tray in refrigerator until firm, then break up or cut into smaller pieces
Notes
Nutrition information is estimated. Please do your own calculation to fit special diets.
Nutrition
Chocolate saltine toffee is the perfect holiday treat. You'll definitely want to add this easy saltine toffee recipe to your holiday baking list!
If you do try this sweet treat, be sure to comment and leave a star rating. Don't forget to sign up for the weekly newsletter to receive more delicious recipes by email.
Easy saltine toffee recipe published ini 2013 and updated in 2022.
Ashley says
Why did my chocolate chips not melt, they got hard and chalk like 😫
Dee says
That's strange. So sorry to hear this -- I have no idea why they wouldn't melt.
Shirley Feenstra says
My finished batch looked awesome! The toffee part was a bit sticky. I followed directions to the letter. It tastes great, but I thought the toffee part should be harder?
Dee says
Did it harden up as it cooled? It might be a little sticky, but it shouldn't be runny.
Sandra Roy says
First time making this. I was very delighted how well this tasted. I will make this every year!
Dee says
I'm so glad you liked it, Sandra! 🙂
Miz Helen says
We will love the Toffee for this awesome snack! Hope you are enjoying your week and thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday!
Miz Helen
James says
Made these for the first time this year! Usually do at least three batches before Christmas time! Awesome!
Dee says
So glad you liked it, James! Thanks!