Christmas Crack. Imagine all of the deliciousness of toffee, topped with chocolate and pecans; once you make this toffee bark and crack it into pieces, you simply can’t stop munching!
This is one of my absolute favorite treats to make for the holidays!
It takes just minutes to prep and the results are so incredibly delicious that no one can resist eating several chunks.
© SpendWithPennies.com
A quick stovetop toffee is poured over buttery Ritz crackers and coated in chocolate and topped with pecans. Once cooled, it is cracked into chunks and ready to be enjoyed!
I have made this recipe two ways, with Ritz Crackers and Saltines, both ways are fabulous. You could substitute the pecans for the nuts of your choice; I have a feeling cashews or pistachios would make a yummy addition to the toffee, chocolate, and cracker combination!
This Ritz Cracker Toffee is made on a foil lined pan, making clean up as simple as can be! Be sure to butter your foil well to keep everything from sticking (or you can buy non-stick foil).
Considering how easy this treat is to make and eat, you will want to make several batches of this Christmas Crack to share with your friends and neighbors. It keeps perfectly at room temperature so is the perfect gift to pack up and spread delicious holiday cheer!
Recipe Notes:
I have been making this recipe for more years than I can count exactly as written below. A few readers have had trouble with their toffee being sticky or not setting quite right. While I’ve never had my toffee not set, there are many variables that can cause this.
If you have trouble with your toffee setting, my friend Meggan over at Culinary Hill suggests the use a candy thermometer to ensure your toffee reaches 270-290 degrees before pouring over the crackers.
Chocolate Chips should melt when heated however if you have trouble with them melting, you can melt them at 50% power in the microwave. If your oven is too hot, the chocolate can seize instead of melting. You’ll want your toffee to sit for about 1 minute before adding the chocolate.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 54 Ritz Crackers (or saltines)
- 1 cup butter
- 1 cup dark brown sugar
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Line an 11x17 pan with foil and grease the foil well. Line with crackers.
- In a medium saucepan, combine butter and brown sugar and stir to mix. Bring to a boil over medium heat and let come to a rolling boil for 3 minutes. Once the mixture comes to a boil, DO NOT STIR. (Your toffee should reach 270-290°F with a candy thermometer)
- Pour brown sugar mixture over the crackers. Bake 4 minutes. Turn the oven off.
- Remove from the oven and wait 1 minute. Pour chocolate chips over the top and let sit 4 minutes or until chocolate is soft (or place 1 minute in the warm oven). Spread chocolate evenly and sprinkle pecans on top.
- Cool on the counter slightly and then place into the freezer to cool completely. Break into pieces.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Candy, Dessert
Cuisine American© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
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This is really good! I only used one stick of butter (1/2 cup) by accident and it did great! Also I did semi sweet on one batch and milk chocolate on the other – semi sweet is the way to go! So yummy!!
Excellent
Please dont follow the recipe. When i read the recipe, i was thinking, it will burn, but i would like to try it. I follow it, first, 3min boil, butter and brown sugar, you should reach (270-290 degrees) OH MY GOOD. NO, NO, NO….FIRST, 3 min boil, never-ever = that degree, START TO BURN.
OK, so keep going to follow the recipe, in the oven, NO WAY, MORE THEN BURN. GARBAGE
SO PLEASE FOLLOW THIS WAY…
Just boil for 30 sec. then pour over the crackers, then put it at 375F. in the oven for (7-8 min) take a look. then follow the #5 and #6 on the recipe.
I have made this for over 30 years. I boil the sugar mixture for 5 minutes. I place jn the oven for 5 minutes as well until the mixture is bubbly and the crackers appear to float in the toffee. I remove and immediately sprinkle either milk or semi sweet morsels on top and dan usually spread them after just a couple minutes. When the chips appear shiny they are as melted as they are gonna get, it’s time to spread them with a metal spatula all the way to the edges of the cookie sheet and sprinkle finely chopped pecans on top and place entire cookie sheet in the freezer for 15 minutes. Works every time. Timing seems to be important.
Thanks for sharing your time tested tips Nancy!
Make these every year for Christmas! Easy recipe and oh my! Soooo good!! I saw someone used mason jars, and i think it may be a perfect idea for my gifts to my neighbors! Tie some plaid ribbon and BAM!!!! Oh, ritz crackers work the best! I have tried others, but the butter in them is just an added bonus!!
I love to share these too! Presenting in a mason jar would certainly be a lovely way to gift!
This did not turn out for me….after 3 minutes it was no where near 270 degrees…we cooked another 3 mintues still not to 270 and we poured it anyway. it tastes burnt/
The chocolate chips never melted. I let me sit for 3 minutes, then put them back in warm oven for at least 6 minutes or more. I turned oven on again and put it back in for 4 minutes and still didn’t melt. That’s the only problem I had. Next time I’m going to use chocolate candy bars. I believe they will melt. I’m disappointed it didn’t work out.
I can’t say for sure why, chocolate chips should definitely melt whith in a few minutes.
So good I cannot stop myself and I have made it at least six times since discovering the recipe!!!!!!
So glad you love it Abbi!
I can’t stop making it!!!
right?! & changing it up bit each time – next going to add chopped mini Reeses cups !
I have to stop making it because I can’t stop eating it if it’s here
That is definitely the main issue with this recipe Sherrill!
I just finished making this recipe and it did set but when I went break in into pieces it’s a little sticky
Could it be because I used margarine from a tub ?
It’s very delicious my hubby loves it
Glad you love it! It is important to use butter (and not margarine, as certain types of margarine may not set up well). I used unsalted but either would work in this recipe! Also be sure to let it boil at a rolling boil for the full 3 minutes.
Yes. I use unsalted butter.
Thank you for sharing with us all. I’ve gotta make these long before Christmas – they look so yummy
Havent made it yet but planning to spon. Just wanted to let ppl lnow fidge and ceryain orhet types camdy wont set up if its raining or snowing. Many tomes I scoffed at that but ended ip with spoon fidge every time.
Also Perdue University came up with a product tp help lower cholesterol. It is a butter replacement called Smart Balance. It has same taste and consistency as real butter. You can cook and bake woth it and its delicious
Thank you for sharing Joan!
I made this year’s ago. Used Club Crackers. Also good without the chocolate!
I’ve made this at least several times. The first time I noticed the toffee (at the right temperature) was not mixed well when I poured it on the crackers resulting in the actually toffee part coming out of pot last. But it was workable. (What butter are you using? Salted or unsalted?, does it matter? Is margarine ok? I thought maybe too much water in butter so the next time i let it boil a little longer. It helped a little. I also used light brown sugar. So I thought, well maybe I DO need to use dark. So today I did. Plus my chocolate is seizing. Ugh!!! However I do keep it refrigerated, so I let it hang out on the counter for 1/2 hr first. Didn’t work. I’m so bummed. It came out great the first couple times. It’s not rocket science! Orrr is it? My batch now has seized chocolate lightly (cuz it really doesn’t spread), looking ugly on top of the crackers. I’m going to try one more batch today because I really wanted to share it with friends that here on vacation. Crossing fingers.
How frustrating Vicki, I’m sorry this didn’t work out for you. I’ve not had any issues with it. I use unsalted butter in this. Hopefully your next batch worked out better for you!
These recipes look delicious!
I’ve made this several times since Christmas, 2016. My friend shared it with our group of friends and I fell in love. I’m not a big candy eater either., but this was simple to make and I knew my family would love it too. It was also a huge hit for my teenage students and co-workers. Mahalo for this yummy treat.
I forgot to add: I have used light won sugar, I’ve used margarine however I wasn’t happy with the outcome. It was edible, but the texture suffered a bit. Stick to real butter. I’ve used both salted n unsalted and didn’t taste any difference. Just remember the temperature should be monitored no matter which you choose to use. I’ve also made it with graham crackers and sprinkled my own salt on top. I’ll try it with saltines next. I’ve also used walnuts. But I think I prefer pecans. Mahalo again.
I am so glad you liked this recipe Victoria!
Made this for Christmas presents (okay, and myself) and it was so quick and easy and delicious! :D
Awesome! :) Thanks for trying the recipe!
I let the toffee boil vigorously for over 10 minutes, but it never even got to 250 on the candy thermometer. Afraid that it would scorch, I took it off. And it did not get hard, even on the freezer. Is there a typo in your recipe? Should it be 13 minutes? I don’t see how you got there in only 3 minutes.
Guess I should have read the comments first. We used margarine.
Mine was definitely ready in three minutes. Did you use butter or margarine?
This was a wonderful recipe!! I packaged them in Mason Jars decorated for Christmas for hostess gifts…I kept them refrigerated until time to share…what I didn’t eat myself, that is!
I’m so glad you loved it Sandy! Mason jars is a great idea!
has anyone tried making this at half measurements? only had small tray and toffee went quite dark compared to the picture, rolled for the three mins – doesnt smell burnt. waiting to cool to put the chocolate on top, going to put grated banana lollies on top.