If you have never tried saltine toffee before (also known as Christmas Crack, similar to Easter Crack), I have to warn you that this candy recipe can be very addictive, just like the ever-famous Peanut Brittle! I don’t think it’s possible to stop at just one piece. Bring this homemade toffee to your holiday gatherings and everyone will be begging for the recipe. You can also package it up in pretty containers for a delicious homemade Christmas gift!
Saltine toffee has been around a long time but has really taken the Internet by storm in the last couple of years. I had never tried it before, but I was so pleasantly surprised at just how good it really is!
Saltine cracker toffee hits the perfect balance of sweet and salty, with a deep, rich flavor and crunchy-yet-a-little-chewy texture. It might sound like a strange combination, but trust me! This is definitely one of those recipes that is much greater than the sum of its humble parts.
Making Saltine Toffee
Making homemade toffee from Saltine crackers is really, really easy. On one hand, that’s a good thing, because who doesn’t love an easy recipe? But on the other hand, being able to whip up something this delicious with so little effort could be dangerous! (Diets don’t count during the holidays, right?)
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Ingredients needed to make saltine toffee
- 40 saltine crackers
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 12-ounce bag semisweet chocolate chips
YOU CAN PRINT OUT THE INSTRUCTIONS BELOW
As usual, you can find the full recipe in a printable format at the bottom of this post. Do you have a favorite homemade candy recipe? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!
Other recipes you might enjoy:
- Can’t get enough toffee? Try some pumpkin toffee cookies with salted caramel glaze, or maybe some peanutty pumpkin spice toffee bars!
- If pumpkin isn’t your thing, you can also make a batch of chocolate toffee almond shortbread bars.
- For a classic holiday treat, make my peanut brittle recipe.
- My easy pumpkin pie fudge is sure to be a hit at this year’s Thanksgiving dinner!
- Are you crazy for candy? You definitely need to try these easy homemade candy bars.
This post was originally published on November 20, 2015
Saltine Toffee
Ingredients
- 40 saltine crackers
- 1 cup 2 sticks unsalted butter
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 12 ounce bag semisweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 F. Line a rimmed cookie sheet with aluminum foil. Fill sheet with all 40 saltine crackers in a single layer.
- In a medium saucepan over medium-high, melt butter and brown sugar together and bring to a boil. Boil for 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat and pour caramel mixture over the cracker layer. Spread with a wooden spoon if needed to cover them evenly.
- Bake in preheated oven for 4-5 minutes, or until just bubbly.
- Remove from oven and sprinkle immediately with chocolate chips. When chips begin to melt, spread them over crackers with an icing spatula. Transfer pan to refrigerator until firm, about 2 hours. Break into pieces and store in an airtight container.
Recipe Video
Amanda Formaro
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Melissa says
Mine stuck to the foil. I didn’t see where it was to be sprayed with non stick. Gonna let them sit a little from the fridge and see if them come off. At least the ingredients aren’t expensive if I have to re do them. Should I spray the foil or would parchment paper be better?
Amanda Formaro says
Sorry you had trouble! Not sure why it stuck. Did it release after refrigerating?
Donna says
What happens if you use regular butter instead of unsalted?
Amanda Formaro says
It should be fine!
Melissa Siemer says
It will be fine as far as the cooking method. Just will be a little saltier
Juelette Fadness says
I always put the shinny side of the foil down to prevent sticking. We like them with chopped walnuts instead of pretzels. This has become a holiday favorite at our house and they disappear quickly.
Michelle says
I top with heath toffee bits
Angie says
Does anyone think that the Ritz crackers are better than the saltines I haven’t tried these yet I have both crackers maybe I’ll do half and half a batch. I love saltines and I also love Ritz crackers so it’s a toss-up..
Amanda Formaro says
I have heard that from other people, I think it’s a personal preference :)
Sherri says
I use club crackers ?
Barbara Bradford says
Somewhere I have a handwritten recipe for this toffee recipe that has the different chips to different crackers to use. Ritz crackers with peanut butter chips, saltine with the chocolate, almond bark with cinnamon graham crackers, and I remember there were a few more but for the life of me I can’t find it. Just wondering if anyone has this list?
Nancy says
Recipe doesn’t mention the amount of pretzls to use for the topping as shown in the video. Maybe 1 cup un-crushed?? Thanks for your reply.
Amanda Formaro says
Hi Nancy! I literally just grabbed a couple of handfuls. It’s probably closer to half a cup of crushed pretzels.
Judie says
These are also good with white chocolate instead of chocolate chips. Break up some candy canes and sprinkle over the melted white chocolate.
Erica says
Hi Amanda! All I have is dark brown sugar that I just bought (Before seeing this recipe lol). Can I use the dark brown instead of light brown sugar?? Thank you very much :)
Amanda Formaro says
Yes should not be a problem! :)
Sally zauner says
Should you spray the foil before I didn’t so hope they come off foil!
Amanda Formaro says
I did not have to spray my foil :)
Dee Dee says
Growing up, Mama used graham crackers insted of saltines. We also used the cinnamon graham crackers as the base and then baked the cracker base for a while after pouring on the sugar and before the choclate bits. It is really crispy and good, but watch it closely so it doesn’t burn!
I think I’ll try the saltines this year. Happy Holidays! Dee Dee
Amanda Formaro says
That sounds delicious!
Teresa Wilson says
Can someone please give me the recipe to the saltine toffee recipe!? It gives me the ingredients, but it doesn’t have the way to make it???
Amanda Formaro says
The instructions are at the end of the post. You can click the print button and print them out.
Lori Ryan says
I love this recipe and it’ so easy. Thank you !
Deb says
How long would they last in an airtight container? Do they end up going soggy?
Amanda Formaro says
I’ll be completely honest, ours never lasts more than a couple days because everyone eats it. But I would say if kept in the refrigerator you would be fine for a week.
karen says
I have had something like this before that was delicious but instead of saltines graham crackers were used
Joy says
These look so good! Are they chewy and gooey or hard and crunchy? Thank you! :)
Cindy C says
I love this stuff but I always have a problem with the chocolate melting after it’s been sitting on a holiday table for a little while. Does anyone have a trick for preventing this?
Mandy says
Where can I get these crackers here in Northern Ireland and what are they??
Betty Ballard says
Mandy, there are many recipes on the Internet; also, on youtube.com; A saltine or soda cracker is a thin, usually square cracker made from white flour, yeast, and baking soda, with most varieties lightly sprinkled with coarse salt. It has perforations over its surface. It has a very dry and crisp texture. Most likely, any plain, thin cracker/cookie would work of the recipe.
DKL says
You can use soda crackers instead
Crystal says
I use whatever crackers I have in the house and it always taste good.
Emily Marie says
This is one of my friend’s go-to recipes when we have a putluck. Everyone loves them but I’ve never bothered to ask for the recipe since she makes them so often! Now I have it! haha