This Christmas Cracker Candy is a festive twist on classic saltine toffee bark. Made with a simple brown sugar–butter caramel, melted chocolate, and your choice of fun holiday toppings, it’s the perfect quick Christmas treat.
Looking for more fun holiday desserts? You NEED to try my Snickerdoodle Blondies and well as my and my!
Why you’ll love this simple holiday recipe
If you’ve ever found yourself casually devouring “Christmas crack” at a holiday party, then you already know exactly what this Christmas Cracker Candy situation is all about. It’s salty, sweet, crunchy, chocolatey… basically the holiday snack that turns perfectly normal people into candy-breaking goblins in under 10 minutes.
Here’s why you’ll LOVE it:
It uses basic pantry ingredients but tastes like fancy holiday candy.
You can customize it a dozen ways – peppermint! s’mores! potato chips!
It comes together in about 20 minutes of active time.
The sweet + salty combo is completely addictive.
It’s perfect for cookie trays, teacher gifts, potlucks, and late-night snacking.
In this post…
Ingredients neededHow to make this Saltine ToffeeExpert TipsFrequently Asked QuestionsMore holiday dessertsChristmas Cracker Candy (Saltine Toffee Bark!) Recipe
Ingredients needed
The simple ingredients for this easy Christmas crack recipe are listed fully down in the recipe card but let’s briefly go over the pantry staples needed including a few substitutions you can make as desired!
Saltine crackers – The classic base! You can also swap in ritz crackers or graham crackers. I’ve never tried it but I’ve seen people make Christmas candy using other types of crackers such as Biscoff cookies.
Butter – Regular or vegan butter both work great here!
Brown sugar – Light or dark. Dark brown sugar gives a deeper caramel flavor.
Vanilla extract – Optional but adds such a cozy flavor!
Chocolate chips – Use milk chocolate or dark chocolate depending on how rich you want it. Semi-sweet also works.
Optional toppings – I made FIVE different variations including Potato chip, S’mores, Christmas sprinkles, peppermint bark, and cranberry pistachio. Peanut Butter swirled into the chocolate would also be DELICIOUS!
How to make this Saltine Toffee
Just a reminder that you can find the FULL written Saltine Toffee Cracker Candy recipe down in the recipe card, but I want to quickly go over how to make it with visuals for you 🙂
Line a baking tray with parchment paper or foil. This really helps because the toffee makes a hard, sticky mess. Arrange the saltine crackers in a single layer on the tray.
Make the caramel by combining butter, brown sugar, and salt in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and cook for a few minutes. Remove from the heat and add in vanilla.
Pour the caramel evenly over the crackers and bake in the oven for 5 minutes.
Remove from the oven and immediately sprinkle the chocolate chips. Let melt, spread evenly and add any desired toppings to the top of the chocolate. Cool to room temperature.
The last step is to simple let the cracker candy cool and then chill in the fridge for about an hour! It’s SO GOOD!
Expert Tips
Don’t stir the caramel too much. Stir once, then let it bubble — this helps prevent graininess.
Use foil AND spray it. Makes cleanup painless and ensures the candy lifts off easily.
Let the chocolate melt naturally. The residual heat works perfectly — no need to re-bake. that being said, I get impatient and often pop it in the turned-off oven for a few minutes.
Chill fully! If you rush it, the layers won’t snap cleanly.
Break it by hand for rustic candy shards, or slice it with a sharp knife for cleaner edges.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! It keeps beautifully for several days and actually tastes better on day two.
Yep! Freeze it in an airtight container for up to 2–3 months. Keep layers separated with parchment.
Absolutely — gluten-free saltines or even gluten-free graham crackers work well.
Nope. Chopped chocolate bars melt beautifully and actually give you a smoother finish.
Usually yes. Whisk vigorously off the heat and it should come back together. You could also try adding in a couple pads of cold butter
More holiday desserts
Cookies
Easy Snickerdoodle Blondies
Cookies
Vegan Gingerbread Cookies
Cocktail
Jingle Bell Smash
Cookies
Candy Cane Cookies
Christmas Cracker Candy (Saltine Toffee Bark!)
Ingredients
For the potato chip flavor:
⅔ – 1 cup lightly crushed potato chips
For the S’mores flavor:
⅓ cup graham cracker crumbs½ cup dried marshmallow bits or regular mini marshmallows
Peppermint Bark:
½ cup crushed candy canes¼ cup white chocolate chips melted (optional drizzle)½ tablespoon of neutral oilPlain version topped with xmas sprinkles
Cranberry Pistachio:
⅓ cup chopped dried cranberries⅓ cup chopped pistachiosOptional: pinch of flaky sea salt
Instructions
Notes
Storage Instructions
Store the cracker candy in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, or refrigerate for extra snap. Freeze for longer storage — just separate layers with parchment to prevent sticking.
Nutrition
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