Something interesting popped up in my inbox the other day—something I’d never heard of before. And believe me, I thought I’d heard of just about every kind of Christmas candy known to man!
This was a recipe for Christmas Cracker Candy—also known as Christmas Crack–for short (and I am sure with that kind of name it must be addictive!) It’s also known as saltine toffee.
When I read the recipe, it boggled my mind to think you could possibly make wonderful toffee candy out of saltine crackers! What fresh magic could this be?
I feel certain my mother didn’t know this recipe existed, because toffee candy (Heath Bars, especially) was her favorite kind of candy.
This looks fairly simple, and has lot of variations, come to find out—some with chocolate covering, some with vanilla…oh, the possibilities! I’ve not made it yet, but it is definitely going to be a project at my house during the holidays—I thought you all might enjoy it too, and I want to hear if anyone has ever tried this before or even KNEW about it.
I have a feeling this is going to be a tasty treat included in my next novel, as well, because it certainly is unusual. Take a look!
This recipe is said to be quick and easy, ready in less than one hour! My kind of treat!
(Picture and recipe credit to SHUGARY SWEETS: SAVOR THE SWEET LIFE)
Ingredients
- 40 saltine crackers
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 10 oz Ghirardelli white chocolate wafers
- sprinkles, optional
STEP 1: Place a piece of parchment paper (or aluminum foil) on a 15 x 10 x 1-inch baking sheet. Line with 40 saltine crackers in a single layer. This is about 1 sleeve of crackers. Set aside.
STEP 2: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
STEP 3: Melt your unsalted butter in a small pan, over medium heat, then add your granulated sugar. Bring this mixture to a rolling boil. Remove from heat once boiling.
STEP 4: Pour the melted butter and sugar mixture over the saltine crackers, slowly, making sure that all the crackers have been covered in butter. All that buttery goodness is going to create the melt in your mouth saltine toffee!
STEP 5: Bake toffee for about 13 to 15 minutes. You want to make sure that the crackers look lightly browned and caramelized.
STEP 6: Remove from oven. In a small bowl, melt the chocolate (I use Ghirardelli white chocolate wafers for best results). Using an offset spatula spread over warm toffee and immediately add sprinkles.
STEP 7: Allow the toffee to set up and harden (about 30 minutes) then use a sharp knife to break into pieces.
Store Christmas Crack in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days (if it lasts that long). ENJOY!
Have you ever heard of this candy? What’s YOUR favorite type of Christmas candy? (Mine is fudge, but I’m willing to try new things…always.)
A native Oklahoman, I've been influenced by the west all my life. I love to write short stories and novels in the historical western and western romance genres, as well as contemporary romantic suspense! Check my Amazon author page to see my work: http://www.amazon.com/author/cherylpierson
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Try using brown sugar! Yum.
Fudge is my favorite.
Oh, gosh, Denise! I bet that would be really good. I love brown sugar. Fudge is my favorite, too!
I have heard of this candy, but I have not tried it yet. I love anything that has milk chocolate. I enjoy fudge.
Debbie, I love fudge, too. I have my “one recipe” I always use even though I’ve tried many others. I didn’t make any last year, but I’m going to this year, even though we shouldn’t be eating it! LOL
I have had this candy, but never heard it called Christmas Crack. I was a teenager, and the person that made it, made several varieties, using white, dark chocolate. Adding crushed candy cane, crushed peanuts. So I liked the variety made with dark chocolate with crushed candy candy on top. But from what I remember, I tried it all.
Veda, I have never heard of it before seeing this recipe. After I started looking into it, I saw there were all kinds of toppings like you mentioned, and I really do want to try to the candy cane kind…maybe with chocolate. LOL
I haven’t heard of this candy, but I’d like to try it. My favorite Christmas candy is peppermint bark.
Oh, Janice, that brings back fond memories! I remember one year when I was about 11 or 12 and my mom tried making peppermint bark–that was before you could buy it so readily. Anyhow, it didn’t turn out exactly like she had hoped, but to me, it was wonderful!
I have not heard of this candy and am wondering if it a recipe from the Depression. Have to research that. It looks yummy for sure. Nothinglike creamy chocolate fudge!
Julie, there was an article about saltine crackers on Wickipedia that I looked up and read. It said soda crackers were invented in 1838, I think, but were known as saltine crackers later on because of some added ingredients (including the salt). I wonder, too, exactly when this candy came into being. And you are so right–nothing beats FUDGE! LOL
I have never heard of it. I shall have to try it. Mine is Reece’s Trees
Debra, I love those Reese’s trees, too. Well, I love anything Reese’s!!!! LOL When I was growing up, we got nuts, fruit and some Hershey’s kisses in our stockings, and of course it was all silver wrappings on those kisses–no Christmas red and green, but oh, how I looked forward to those!
YES! I remember making it as a child and with the 4 kids in the house it never lasted long – always topped with chocolate chips (only thing available back then) and we used brown sugar for more flavor!
Teresa, aren’t chocolate chips the best thing ever invented? I remember how, when we had no candy in the house, Mom would give me a little measuring cup with some chocolate chips in there to have to satisfy my sweet tooth. Those things come in handy for so many uses, don’t they? I always keep them in my pantry and use them so often. I bet that candy disappeared in a flash with 4 kids in the house! LOL When I make this I will definitely use brown sugar!
Oh, Cheryl, Cheryl, Cheryl. This sounds amazing!!! Right up my alley. I have a sweet tooth that never quits craving, and when it’s something easy to make like this, I’m a goner. I can’t even tell you what is my favorite Christmas treat, because I LOVE THEM ALL! 🙂
Saved! Thanks for sharing!
Do you think it might be too early to think about Christmas candy, Pam? LOL I THINK NOT! LOLLOL I am like you, always craving something sweet. This DOES look easy to make and I’m definitely going to do it. I’m thinking about making it for Thanksgiving and just having it for a little something sweet after dinner…until we are ready for the BIG DESSERT. I love it all too, Pam, but I have to say, fudge is my fave home made Christmas treat, but chocolate covered cherries are my favorite store bought Christmas candy.
I’ve had this – it is so good. Like Pam, I love it all, but fudge is probably my fav.
Hi Tracy! I can’t wait to make this–it looks so great and so versatile with all the different kinds of topping you can use. Fudge is my favorite too…so far…LOL
I have made this before and it was ok but would rather have just toffee. My favorite candy is chocolate and peanut butter fudge. I usually make candy to give away to family every year. One of their favorites is peppermint patties but I still like the fudge.
Oh, Quilt Lady, my mom just loved toffee. I think she loved it plain, too. How wonderful that you make candy as gifts for your family! That is a gift made with love, for sure–I would just be eating it the whole time I was making it. LOL
I have not heard of this. My favorite is Rum Balls
Charlene, I love rum balls, too. I don’t think I ever met a Christmas candy I wasn’t crazy about…except if it’s a kind that has a lot of coconut in it.
I have heard of it, but never made it. How much butter do you use?
Kathleen, I have not ever made it yet, but it’s on my list for this year–maybe a trial run for Thanksgiving, even. But you know, when I started writing this post, I researched on line and there are all kinds of recipes for this so if you go online and look, you’ll find one that will be the way you want, I believe. I saw one that had chocolate and peanuts together and I’m going to try that once I make it a ‘simple’ way first. LOL
I’ve never tried making this candy, but it sounds good. I love any Christmas candy that has chocolate with nuts.
Connie, I am right there with you. Chocolate and nuts! (I always had to make two batches of fudge when my kids were growing up–one with nuts and one without.) Now they like it with nuts, so I only make it that way.
welcome today. when my kids were in grade school, one of the moms made this for our class’s halloween party. she used orange and black candies on top. oh how delicious. it went over so well she made some for our class christmas party also. and then it became a must have for every party we had. my two kiddos are now 34 and 36. I almost forgot about it. I too love how easy it is to make.
Lori, that is a very clever idea–making it for other occasions. I said in early comments I think I will make up a batch of this for our Thanksgiving dinner, maybe the day before. I need more easy things that taste wonderful like this is sure to be! LOL
Yes! Its so good and easy. I just made some yesterday.
AWESOME, CATHY! I’m so glad to know someone who has made it and how easy it truly is. That’s what I need in my life right now–simple, but wonderful!
A neighbor used to make it to pass out for Christmas, sadly she moved away haha… Obviously I could make it myself but I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be giving any away and I don’t need help with snacks! I’ve seen other recipes with the word ‘Crack’ in them but I just wouldn’t use that word because of how it makes me feel when I hear it.
Rachel, I would definitely make it and probably eat it …I think I might better make two batches of this so there’ll be some left for THANKSGIVING DINNER! LOL That made me laugh about the word ‘crack’–of course, when they shortened this from ‘cracker’ to ‘crack’ they had no idea what that would mean in the future. LOL
I have never heard of this candy, but it sounds delicious and it looks so pretty and festive. A nice treat for white chocolate lovers, too. My favorite Christmas candy is homemade rum balls and bourbon balls.
Sharon, I thought the same thing–just the looks of it makes me want to eat it. Something different and new and you can just break off a little piece or a bigger one…or a BIGGER ONE! LOL I love rum balls and bourbon balls, too!
Wonderful post, Cheryl! I’ve heard of cracker pie but not cracker candy. I’m adding this to what I’ll take to Thanksgiving because I can’t wait until Christmas. I’ll probably make more at Christmas too. Oh man, this sounds good! And easy. I don’t make anything hard or that takes a lot of ingredients. Thank you, thank you! I wonder what would happen if you substituted graham crackers? Wow, the possibilities are endless!
Linda, I wondered about graham crackers, too. Made me wonder if the salt in the saltines might make a difference or not. YES, I’m so with you–I need good and easy stuff that doesn’t take long and really tastes great. I’m like you–making it for Thanksgiving–I can’t wait until Christmas. LOL Hugs, dear one!
I love this candy! I’ve always had it made with brown sugar, though. I’ve never had it with white chocolate but it would be fun to try. I like chocolate in pretty much any variety. LOL I’ve also made it with club crackers and sprinkled slivered almonds on top – super yummy!
Christy, I bet those club crackers made it come out wonderful. Probably gave it a good rich buttery taste. Thanks for letting us know, because I will want to try it every way i can, I’m sure, once I get started making it. LOL
Hi, I do like toffee but I had not heard of it being made like this. I like fudge and I like the different chocolate candies and I prefer them to have some sort of a nut. Have a great week and stay safe. Thank you for sharing this recipe.
Alicia, I prefer nuts with my chocolate, too, but hey, I will take it anyway I can get it, right? LOL This toffee is going to definitely have some kind of chocolate topping when I make it! LOL
I haven’t heard of this before, it sounds good!! I like chocolate covered peanut butter balls the best!
Oh yum, Trudy! Chocolate covered peanut butter balls…Now I will be on the hunt for a recipe for those because my hubby would love those!
If you give me your email, I’ll send you the recipe we use!
TRUDY, I would love to have your recipe! My e-mail is prairierosepublications@yahoo.com Thank you so much–I’ll be looking for it!
I’ve made this before. Like your mom I’m a BIG fan of the Heath toffee bars and this is nearly as good. YUM! my moth is watering just thinking about it. 🙂
WINNIE! I’m so glad to have people chime in who have made this before. Frankly, when I first saw this recipe I thought, “WHAT???CRACKERS???” LOL But it sounds like it has become a favorite with many, so I feel better about trying it out and that is going to be very SOON! LOL Oh, yes, Mom loved those Heath bars so much. I remember how she’d take little small nibbles off of it to make it last longer–those things were not very big. LOL
Fudge! I love making all sorts of fudge!
Kimberly, I love fudge, too! SOOOO MUCH!!!! I think this year I’m going to have to also try to find a good recipe for peanut butter fudge–hubby has been wanting some of that.
Hi Cheryl, Yes, I have made the Christmas Crack, it’s really good. My favorite Christmas candy is the new Reese’s Peanut Brittle candy, it’s AWESOME!! I can’t stop eating it. Have a blessed Thanksgiving.
Lois…what is this Reese’s Peanut Brittle candy you speak of? LOL I have not seen it but now, I must go in search of it, because I love peanut brittle and so does hubby! That sounds wonderful!
Never heard of it, but sounds delicious.
Kari, I had never heard of it either. I was so glad they sent me that little “newsletter” with that link to the recipe! I’m really looking forward to making this!
This is a favorite recipe in west Michigan and has been around for many generations. I’m wondering if it’s Dutch origins. It is so good! Everyone around here loves it.
Thanks for letting us know that, Susan. I wondered where it might have started, because my mom never mentioned it or made it and I can’t imagine that it would have been left out of her “repertoire” if she’d known about it. We are from Oklahoma for many generations, and other southern states before that, so I think you must be right about it being from settlers that were from the north. I am really looking forward to giving this a try.
I never heard of this candy but my family makes toffee every year. Chopped almonds for the bottom layer, brown sugar and butter boiled about 5 minutes, and those quick and easy to use delicious chocolate chips for the top. The chips melt from the heat of the brittle layer and are spread evenly over the top. We usually make this for Thanksgiving as well as Christmas. I wonder if the Cracker Candy has a salted caramel flavor…….we will have to try it.
Alice that sounds right up my alley, too! I love toffee. Is this pretty easy to make, too? How much butter and sugar do you boil together?
This was one of the first candies our daughters learned to make.
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter
Bring to a boil stirring constantly. Boil about 7minutes.
(I use a 1 1/2 qt pan.) Have the nuts spread in a buttered 9” square pan. Pour the butter brown sugar mixture over the nuts. Spread evenly. Sprinkle 1/2 cup (or more) chocolate chips over the top and cover with foil to melt the chocolate. When melted spread evenly over the top. Cool completely (we put it in the ‘frig). When cool break into pieces and enjoy! Walnuts or pecans can be substituted for the almonds.
Oh, gosh, that sounds easy and wonderful! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe–I’m going to print it and make it. I love toffee! Never have made it though. Isn’t it strange (in a way) how those recipes we first learn to make are the ones that become favorites forever? Mine was Blonde Brownies–my older sisters got that recipe in a “Brownie” newsletter type thing when they were in a Brownie troop, and that was the first thing they learned to make and also the first thing I learned to make. It has been a family favorite for as long as I can remember. Thanks again for this toffee recipe–I can’t wait to try it!
Another Heath Bar lover here. I vaguely remember hearing about this recipe, but never had it or made it. Do you have a recipe for the cracker candy? It sounds pretty easy and I would like to try it with my granddaughter. I make an English Toffee Bar, but it is more of a cookie than a candy. It has a toffee like taste and is easy to make – mix salt, sugar, flour and spread on a jelly roll pan and bake. When out of oven, put Hershey milk chocolate bars on top to melt. When melted and still soft, sprinkle chopped nuts over top. Cut not squares, although it is a bit brittle and usually cracks while you are cutting it.
Hi Patricia! There is a recipe for the cracker candy above, but there are other recipes out there, too, with different toppings. Also, Alice (just above your comment) shared what looks to be a very simple, WONDERFUL recipe for toffee candy that I will definitely be making SOON because I love simple things that are yummy. LOL Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
My sister has a similar recipe for Fairy (pecan) Brittle. She does her’s in the microwave and it takes about 2 or 3 minutes. Her’s always turned out wonderfully. My old microwave must be stronger because it burns every time no matter how I reduce the time. We just got a new microwave and I am going to try again with this one. I only see my sister once every year or so which makes it a long wait for some.
Patricia, I cannot do candy in my microwave, either. I just don’t get it. LOL But I will “endeavor to persevere” and just try to keep making whatever I make the “old fashioned way”–I have to say that Fairy Pecan Brittle sounds wonderful, though!
This sounds amazing, Cheryl! Thank you for sharing it. Our mom loved making candy and she was good at it. This recipe makes me think of her. She would be trying it. I like the idea of substituting brown sugar for granulated. I’m going to have to try this!
Hi Jan! My mom loved toffee. She was born and raised here in Oklahoma, and I think if this had been “known” in her day and time she would definitely have been making it–a LOT. She loved to make candy, too, probably because when our moms were growing up it was such a rare treat. I’m going to try the brown sugar substitute, too! If you make this let me know how it turns out. I’m going to try to make it next week for Thanksgiving.
My daughter brought my daddy, her granddaddy, some crackers that she had seasoned with salty and spicy flavors several years ago, because daddy’s been gone 11 years this Dec.26th, but he could NOT believe how good they were. He got the recipe from her and every time we went up there he had a bag he had just made or was almost finished eating, or was about to make more of them. But, we never heard of this recipe, or we would have gone berserk making it. We ALL love toffee. I cannot wait to try this out and some of the other recipes that the ladies were kind enough to share with us.
Lana, I had not thought of this in years, but I used to have a recipe that we loved and I have not made it for soooo long now–it was made with oyster crackers and you seasoned them with spicy things–I think one of the things you used was Ranch mix along with some other things, and you baked them in the oven on a low temperature. OH MY GOODNESS! Those were sooo good–they never lasted long at our house. I had completely forgotten about them until you mentioned your daughter making those spicy crackers for your dad.
I am excited to try this out too! I’m going to make it on Tuesday (hopefully) since we are doing our big Thanksgiving dinner at my son’s house on Wednesday. I hope it all turns out wonderfully for everyone who makes it–there are so many variations, I’m anxious to give those a try too.