5 from 8 votes
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Easy Christmas Crack Candy with Saltine Crackers

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This Christmas Crack Candy is the perfect Christmas dessert. This easy Christmas Bark is simple to make, but it’s the perfect blend of sweet and salty flavors.

Saltine crackers topped with melted chocolate and sprinkles.

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Christmas Cracker Candy is made by melting chocolate over saltine crackers which makes for an absolutely delicious Christmas bark. Saltine Cracker Bark is simple and easy to make, and you probably already have all these simple ingredients in your kitchen cupboards and refrigerator!

What Is Christmas Crack Candy?

This Christmas Crack Candy Recipe is now one of the most popular Christmas treats and is also known as Christmas bark. Saltine Cracker Bark is different than other Christmas dessert recipes because saltine cracker bark has a sweet and salty taste that is just perfect for Christmas.

This recipe goes by several different names, so you will see me use these names in the post. Christmas Cracker Candy, Christmas Crack, and Saltine Cracker Bark are all the same thing. No matter what you call this sweet and salty candy, you are going to love it.

Why You Should Make This

  • Easy – With this Easy Christmas Bark recipe, there is no need to spend all day in the kitchen slaving over a holiday dessert. This recipe comes together in 30 minutes or less.
  • Festive – Christmas sprinkles make the Christmas Crack Candy Recipe colorful and festive.
  • Modified – Saltine Cracker Bark is the perfect Christmas treat to modify for allergies or dietary restrictions (i.e., gluten-free, vegan).

If you love recipes like this, you may also enjoy this Grinch Sugar Cookie recipe.

Ingredients For Christmas Crack Candy

Saltine crackers, butter, brown sugar, chocolate chips, and Christmas sprinkles sitting on a wooden cutting board.
  • Saltine crackers: Saltine crackers provide a flavorful base for our Christmas crack candy, their slightly salty taste perfectly balancing the sweetness of the other ingredients.
  • Butter: A fundamental ingredient in any baking recipe, adds a creamy, rich texture to our candy, enhancing the overall flavor profile.
  • Light brown sugar: With its deep, caramel-like sweetness contributes to the candy’s irresistible flavor, blending wonderfully with the crackers and chocolate.
  • Chocolate chips: Melt into a lush layer in our Christmas crack candy, offering a satisfying contrast to the crunch of the saltine crackers.
  • Christmas sprinkles: Not only provide a festive visual appeal to our candy, but they also add a slight crunch, making each bite even more delightful.

Substitutions And Variations

  • Chocolate – Use your favorite chocolate on top of this recipe. You can use white, dark, or even milk chocolate to make this tasty dessert.
  • Saltines – Is your family gluten-free? Use a gluten-free saltine cracker to make this recipe gluten-free.
  • Dairy-Free – Dairy-free chocolate and butter can be used to make this recipe if you have concerns about dairy in your family.
  • Toppings – Skip the holiday sprinkles and top your recipe with red and green M&M’s or other Christmas candy like candy canes instead.
  • Nuts – Add a crunchy texture to your Christmas crack candy by adding chopped nuts on top before the chocolate sets.

A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

How To Make Christmas Crack Candy

Collage of assembling Christmas cracker candy.
  • Preheat oven to 350 ℉  degrees, and then line your baking sheet with parchment paper. Lay crackers out in a single layer to cover the bottom of the pan. (Photo 1)
  • Place the butter and brown sugar into a medium saucepan. Melt butter and brown sugar in a medium saucepan over medium/high heat. Bring to a rolling boil and cook for 3 minutes, stirring constantly. (Photo 2)
  • Pour the toffee mixture over the crackers, and spread evenly. You will need to work very quickly as the mixture will begin to cool. Bake for 15 minutes. (Photo 3)
  • Remove from the oven and sprinkle with chocolate chips. Bake for 2 minutes. Remove from the oven, and spread the chocolate layer evenly. (Photo 4)
Collage of saltine crackers with melted chocolate and topped with red, green, and white sprinkles.
  • Sprinkle the top of the chocolate with festive sprinkles for the holiday season. Refrigerate for 1 hour. (Photo 5)
  • Once cool, gently break apart into pieces. (Photo 6)
A white plate of Christmas cracker candies.

How to Melt Chocolate (Two Ways)

If you want to melt chocolate before adding it to the crackers, there are two main ways: with a double broiler or in the microwave.

Melting Chocolate Using a Double Boiler

To melt chocolate using a double boiler, follow these steps:

  • Setup the double boiler: Fill the bottom pan of your double boiler with about an inch of water. Place the other pan on top and make sure that the water does not touch the bottom of the top pan.
  • Heat the water: Put the double boiler on the stove over medium heat. Allow the water to heat up without letting it reach boiling point.
  • Add chocolate: Break your chocolate into small, even pieces and place them in the top pan of the double boiler. 
  • Stir the chocolate: As the chocolate melts from the indirect heat, stir it continuously to ensure it melts evenly and doesn’t burn.
  • Remove from heat: Once the chocolate is fully melted and smooth, remove the top pan from the heat. Be cautious about any steam escaping from the bottom pan.

Melting Chocolate in the Microwave

To melt chocolate in the microwave, follow these steps:

  • Chop the chocolate: Break the chocolate into small, even pieces. The smaller the pieces, the faster they will melt.
  • Place in a microwave-safe bowl: Put the chocolate pieces into a microwave-safe bowl.
  • Heat the chocolate: Set your microwave to medium power or 50% and heat the chocolate for 1 minute. 
  • Stir the chocolate: After the first minute, remove the bowl from the microwave (careful, it might be hot) and stir the chocolate. 
  • Continue heating: If there are still lumps of chocolate, return the bowl to the microwave and heat in additional 15-second intervals, stirring after each until the chocolate is fully melted and smooth.

Remember, whether you’re using a double boiler or a microwave, the key to perfectly melted chocolate is using low, gentle heat and constant stirring.

Expert Tips 

  • Be sure to stir the butter and brown sugar mixture well so that it doesn’t scorch. You don’t want a scorched toffee topping for this Christmas Crack recipe.
  • Spread the chocolate and toffee in an even layer on top of your saltine crackers for this easy Christmas dessert recipe.
  • To avoid your toffee hardening too much make sure that stop the cooking and remove the toffee from the heat right at the three-minute mark.
  • If you want your toffee layer to harden correctly, start the three minutes after your brown sugar and butter mixture has reached a full boil.
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Storing Tips 

After you’ve made this easy saltine crackers bark recipe, it’s time to store it until it’s all gone. Christmas bark is best stored in an airtight container for up to one week. There’s no need to store this bark in the fridge, just make sure to keep it away from heat sources so that it doesn’t melt!

You can freeze the Christmas Crack recipe after the Saltine Cracker Bark has cooled. Do not freeze the candy until it has completely cooled so that your layers will not separate.

What To Serve With Christmas Crack Candy

The sweet and salty flavor of Christmas Crack Candy pairs delightfully with a variety of holiday beverages and treats. A warm cup of hot chocolate or mulled wine would perfectly complement the candy’s rich, chocolatey taste. 

If you’re serving an assortment of Christmas desserts, consider adding gingerbread cookies or peppermint bark to the mix for a delightful contrast of flavors. 

Alternatively, a scoop of vanilla ice cream can be a refreshing accompaniment, especially if you’re serving the candy slightly warm. Lastly, a tall glass of cold milk is always a classic pairing with any sweet treat.

Christmas cracker candies on a white platter sitting on a wooden table.

Recipe FAQs

Can I use a different type of cracker for this easy recipe?

Absolutely! You can experiment with different types of crackers. Just ensure they have the same crispness and thickness as saltines to maintain the texture of the candy.

What can I do if my chocolate chips don’t melt evenly?

If your chocolate chips aren’t melting evenly, you can place them back in the oven for an additional minute. Be sure to keep an eye on them to prevent burning.

Can I make this candy ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare this candy ahead of time. After it cools, break it into pieces and store it in an airtight container. It can be stored at room temperature for up to a week.

Can I use a different type of sugar?

Light brown sugar is recommended for its rich, caramel-like sweetness. However, you can experiment with other types of sugar. Dark brown sugar could add a deeper, molasses-like flavor, but it may also alter the texture and color of the candy.

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Cracker Candy with green, white, and red sprinkles on a white plate.
5 from 8 votes

Christmas Crack Candy Recipe


Author: Kim Schob
Course: Desserts
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 9 minutes
Cook Time: 17 minutes
Boiling Time 3 minutes
Total Time: 29 minutes
Christmas Crack Candy is the perfect blend of sweet, crunchy, and salty, this festive recipe will be devoured quickly and looks great on the table.

Ingredients 

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 °F (177 °C)
  • Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Lay crackers out in a single layer. You may have to break some apart to fit right.
    1 sleeve Saltine Crackers
  • Melt butter and brown sugar in a medium saucepan over medium/high heat.
    1 cup butter,½ cup light brown sugar
  • Bring to a boil and cook for 3 minutes, stirring constantly.
  • Pour mixture over crackers, and spread evenly. You will need to work very quickly, as the mixture will begin to cool.
  • Bake for 15 minutes.
  • Remove from the oven and sprinkle with chocolate chips.
    12 oz chocolate chips
  • Bake for 2 minutes.
  • Remove from the oven, and spread chocolate evenly.
  • Top with Christmas sprinkles.
    Christmas sprinkles
  • Refrigerate for 1 hour.
  • Once cool, gently break apart into pieces.
  • Devour!

Notes

  • Be sure to stir the butter and brown sugar mixture well so that it doesn’t scorch. You don’t want a scorched toffee topping for this Christmas Crack recipe.
  • Spread the chocolate and toffee in an even layer on top of your saltine crackers for this easy Christmas dessert recipe.
  • To avoid your toffee hardening too much make sure that stop the cooking and remove the toffee from the heat right at the three-minute mark.
  • If you want your toffee layer to harden correctly, start the three minutes after your brown sugar and butter mixture has reached a full boil.

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Nutrition Information

Serving: 1Piece Calories: 59kcal (3%) Carbohydrates: 10g (3%) Protein: 1g (2%) Fat: 2g (3%) Saturated Fat: 1g (6%) Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g Monounsaturated Fat: 1g Cholesterol: 3mg (1%) Sodium: 15mg (1%) Potassium: 20mg (1%) Fiber: 1g (4%) Sugar: 9g (10%) Vitamin A: 17IU Calcium: 15mg (2%) Iron: 1mg (6%)

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5 from 8 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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9 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Oh, I really enjoyed the flavor combinations of this amazing treat! Thank you so much! They are so fun to make and eat!c

  2. 5 stars
    Loved the addition of saltine crackers in the bark recipe. The combination of sweet and salty is just SO good!

  3. I made this today for our Sunday Christmas party and everything turned out fine for the toffee layer but when I put the chocolate chips on the top and returned to the oven as per recipe instructions and took it out again, the chocolate chips had seized up and I could not get them to spread at all. They just stayed in clumps on the crackers and looked awful, so I had to pitch the entire thing. A better way to melt the chips would be to melt them in the microwave first and then pour them on top or use the regular Hersheys candy bars. They melt like a dream. I’m just telling you this to prevent someone else from having the same experience. I’m sure the recipe would have been great without this little glitch.

    1. Thanks for the suggestion, Lisa!
      My guess is that the chocolate chips you used were either low quality or on the older side. So many things can go wrong in the manufacturing process before the products even hit grocery shelves that sometimes this sort of thing happens and we never figure out why.
      I agree that microwaving the chocolate chips in 30 second increments until smooth would help prevent this from happening. In most cases, though, it’s not necessary because the chips melt just fine.

  4. Trying this recipe for the first time but I am substituting regular butter for plant based butter for all my lactose intolerant friends. Hope it comes out devious.

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