Saltine Cracker Candy. Toffee Bark. Crack Candy. Christmas Crack. Saltine Toffee. This salty/sweet treat goes by many aliases. Whatever you call it, today’s recipe is the easiest candy I’ve shared yet. Just 5 simple ingredients, under 15 minutes to prepare, and no candy thermometer required.
If this recipe looks familiar to you, it’s because I originally shared it over 2 years ago and it’s been one of the most popular holiday recipes on my blog ever since. Today I’ve added a video and some helpful tips to the recipe. If you haven’t tried it yet, here’s your chance!
Another day in our week of candy! Just two more to go! As promised, today I’m giving you a break from the candy thermometer with this easy Saltine cracker candy (or whichever of its many monikers you prefer to use).
So far we’ve made our way through a classic Toffee recipe, Honeycomb, a snappy Peanut Brittle, and a smooth and creamy Peanut Butter Fudge. Which one are you trying first?
For those of you who don’t have a candy thermometer, this Saltine Cracker Candy might be your preferred choice. It’s been a favorite in my house ever since a friend introduced me to it years ago. We make it all year, but it’s especially popular around the holidays.
Let’s walk through this process in way more pictures than you probably really need, shall we?
How to Make Saltine Cracker Candy
The trickiest part of this whole candy-making business is preparing the toffee. Look at that sweet, caramel-colored, bubbling beauty.
The toffee is made with just two ingredients: butter and brown sugar. Melt the two together on the stovetop and allow it to come to a boil.
Do not, under any circumstances, disturb this toffee while it is working its magic during the boiling process. This was a hard lesson for me to learn, I always tend to worry about my sauces burning so if your natural inclination is to toss in a few stirs or scrape the sides, just don’t. The toffee knows what it’s doing.
Let it boil for 3 minutes (use a timer), and then immediately pour/ spread it over your crackers.
After you’ve doused your saltine crackers with toffee, bake them in the oven at a high temp for a few minutes until that golden toffee blanket becomes nice and bubbly.
Don’t panic if some of them look like they’re trying to float away — it’s OK to have some space between your crackers, just let them do their thing.
Now my favorite part.
Sprinkle your toffee layer with plenty of chocolate chips and return them to the oven for just two more minutes. This makes the chips nice and melt-y and easy to spread.
I know that some people make saltine cracker candy without chocolate (and you can certainly skip the chocolate, if that’s your preference), but that doesn’t fly in my house.
When I used to make Saltine Cracker Candy in the past, I never added any topping on top of the chocolate. Recently I’ve been using chopped pecans, but you can use pretty much any topping you’d like. Walnuts, peanuts, sprinkles, candy pieces, pretty much anything goes well with saltine cracker candy.
If you’re one of those people I mentioned above and are trying to make this without chocolate, just skip this step and sprinkle any toppings you’d like to use directly on the toffee as soon as it comes out of the oven.
Since the chocolate topping is made with melted chocolate chips, it would take a while to set at room temperature, so I usually slide it into the fridge for at least 30 minutes. Then remove it and break (or cut) into pieces. They don’t cut very evenly but the jagged pieces are all part of its rustic character
Saltine cracker candy doesn’t have to stay refrigerated, but because the chocolate can melt in your hands pretty quickly I personally prefer to keep it chilled in the fridge.
How to Make Saltine Cracker Candy
FAQ
What can I put on saltine crackers?
Why is my Christmas crack gritty?
What bioengineered food ingredient is in saltine crackers?
What’s the difference between saltine crackers and regular crackers?
How do you cook saltine crackers?
Place the saltine cracker side by side, in a single layer on the baking sheet; set aside. Melt the butter and brown sugar together in a saucepan until the sugar dissolves, stirring as required until the caramel comes to a boil. Once it boils, don’t stir it, just let it cook for 3 minutes.
What are saltine cracker caramel bars?
I love Saltine Cracker Caramel Bars for the irresistible combination of sweet and salty flavors. The crispy saltine crackers, smothered in rich caramel and topped with a luscious chocolate layer, create a delectable treat that everyone always loves.
How long do you cook caramel Crackers in the oven?
Once it boils, don’t stir it, just let it cook for 3 minutes. Carefully pour the caramel over the saltines and make sure all the crackers are covered in the caramel, using an offset spatula. Bake for 8 minutes. CHOCOLATE: Pull the baking sheet out of the oven and immediately top with the chocolate chips.
How long do you bake saltines in the oven?
Carefully pour the caramel over the saltines and make sure all the crackers are covered in the caramel, using an offset spatula. Bake for 8 minutes. CHOCOLATE: Pull the baking sheet out of the oven and immediately top with the chocolate chips. Let the chocolate sit for a minute and heat through, then spread using an offset spatula.