Mini Peanut Butter Cup Christmas Crack aka Chocolate Saltine Toffee

Mini Peanut Butter Cup Christmas Crack aka Chocolate Saltine Toffee is the ultimate chocolate treat for the holidays. It is incredibly easy to make and impossible to resist. Whip up a batch today!

Honestly, this Christmas crack recipe is so addictive, in the best way possible. It will have everyone reaching for seconds and thirds.

If you love this recipe, I'd highly recommend making my S'mores Christmas Crack or Oreo Bark for the holiday season.

A holiday tradition known as Saltine Cracker Toffee to some people, and more recently known as Christmas Crack. I don't care what you call it as long as you share some with me!

Another day, another holiday treat. This one is a bit unusual for me. I tend to shy away from trends. I really don't care for the trend of calling all food "crack". To be honest, it irks me.

Yet here I am calling this Christmas Crack. I mean, the only reason I'm calling it that is because it's what people know it as.

So, I apologize if anyone hates the name. Or if anyone else is as irked by the "crack" trend as I am. I named it both names that I know it as in the hopes people would know what it was.

I will warn you to watch the caramel mixture as you are warming it up on the stove. Honestly, it can go from a beautiful golden brown to a hideous burned mess in no time flat.

In other words, keep your eyes on it and be ready to pull it off the stovetop quickly. Don't cook it at high heat. You'll scorch it!

Now that I've scared the crud out of you, and likely offended some people with the name of this treat let's move on.

What is Christmas Crack:

• This delicious candy is made with saltine crackers, toffee, chocolate and nuts. I wanted mine to have a bit of a twist so instead of just using chocolate chips, I used mini peanut butter cups.
• There are so many variations of this recipe online. You will see people top it with everything from nuts to M&M candies. The possibilities are endless so let your imagination run wild when you make this.

Ingredient Notes:

• Butter - Either salted or unsalted butter work in this recipe.
• Sugar - I used brown sugar for this candy.
• Crackers - Saltine crackers are the way to go for this recipe. Personally, I love salted Premium Plus crackers.
• Peanut Butter Cups - I used mini peanut butter cups for this one.
• Walnuts - Crushed walnuts can be added to the top of this candy.

How to Make Christmas Crack:

1. First, heat the oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Then, spray a 11 x 7 baking pan with non-stick spray generously. Set aside.
3. Next, combine the butter and brown sugar in a medium saucepan and cook on medium heat for about 3 to 5 minutes, or until the butter melts and the mixture is very well combined. Stir the mixture occasionally.
4. Increase heat a tiny little bit, and bring the mixture to a low boil, you want to cook it for about 2 to 3 minutes, just so it starts to thicken a bit and turn golden brown. Don't stir it during the process, but you can lightly swirl the pan.
5. Then, place the crackers in layers in the pan while the mixture is cooking. I used 30 crackers to line my 11 x 7 pan. It made two layers.
6. Next, pour the sugar mixture over top of the crackers as evenly as you can. Place the pan in the oven and cook for about 7 minutes. Remove from oven.
7. Toss peanut butter cups over top and cover the pan with foil to help them melt a bit more. Leave covered for about 5 to 7 minutes.
8. Then, uncover the pan.
9. Next, top with walnut pieces.
10. Allow the bars to cool completely.
11. Then, break or cut into pieces.
12. Serve with a big old chocolate loving smile!

Variation Options for Christmas Crack

Base layer variations:

• Graham Crackers - These work great for my S'mores Christmas Crack.
• Ritz Crackers - Peanut butter and Ritz go together perfectly.
• Animal Crackers - I think animal crackers would be a fun base for a unicorn version of Christmas crack.
• Pretzels - Honestly, pretzels would be great layered on top of the crackers or used as a topping. Pretzels add a nice flavour and offset the sweetness of crack recipes.

Variations for toppings:

• Candy - M&M's or peanut butter cups would be great options. Any sliced or broken candy bar would work. I'm a sucker for Skor candy bars.
• Coconut - You could use shredded coconut or coconut chips.
• Cookies - Adding crushed or broken pieces of Oreos, or any kind of cookie would be a nice addition.
• Nuts - Peanuts, pecans, almonds, pistachios, cashews and walnuts all work remarkably well in Christmas crack candy.
• Rainbow sprinkles or jimmies - Nothing adds colour and fun like festive sprinkles.
• Chocolate - Peanut butter chips, white chocolate chips or any kind of melted chocolate will do.
• Peppermint - You can top most Christmas cracker candy with crushed peppermints or crushed candy canes.
• Salty Snacks - Mini Pretzels, or crushed chips would be option for toppings.

How to Store Christmas Crack

• First of all, make sure the crack is hardened before storing it. To clarify, you can speed up that process by placing it in the fridge for about 30 minutes or the freezer for 15 minutes.
• While the crack is setting up and hardening, you can break or cut it into pieces.
• Christmas Crack can be stored in an airtight container and placed in a cool, dry place for 1 week.
• You can also store it in the fridge for 1 to 2 weeks.
• You can also store it in the freezer for up to approximately 2 to 4 weeks as well.
• Personally, I like making this about a month before the holidays then storing it in the freezer until I'm ready to gift it to all my friends and family!

More Christmas Recipes:

• Oreo Bark
• Red Velvet Cream Cheese Cookie Stacks
• Gingerbread Hot Chocolate
• Snowflake Oreo Cookie Balls
• Red Velvet Swirl Fudge
• Pistachio Roca
• Chocolate and Peppermint Fudge

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5 from 2 votes

Mini Peanut Butter Cup Christmas Crack aka Chocolate Saltine Toffee

Mini Peanut Butter Cup Christmas Crack aka Chocolate Saltine Toffee is the ultimate chocolate treat for the holidays. It is incredibly easy to make and impossible to resist. Whip up a batch today!

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword Chocolate Saltine Toffee, christmas crack

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Servings 16

Calories 221kcal

Author Kim Beaulieu

Equipment

• 11 x 7 inch Baking Pan
• 2-Quart Saucepan

Ingredients

• ½ cup butter
• ½ cup packed brown sugar
• 30 saltine crackers
• 8 oz mini peanut butter cups
• 1 cup walnut pieces crushed

Instructions

• Heat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Spray a 11 x 7 baking pan with non-stick spray generously. Set aside.
• Combine the butter and brown sugar in a medium saucepan and cook on medium heat for about 3 to 5 minutes, or until the butter melts and the mixture is very well combined. Stir the mixture occasionally.
• Increase heat a tiny little bit, and bring the mixture to a low boil, you want to cook it for about 2 to 3 minutes, just so it starts to thicken a bit and turn golden brown. Don't stir it during the process, but you can lightly swirl the pan. Keep a really close eye on it because it can go from a beautiful golden brown to a burnt mess in no time flat. As soon as it turns amber turn off the heat and swirl so it doesn't overcook.
• Place the crackers in layers in the pan while the mixture is cooking. I used 30 crackers to line my 11 x 7 pan. It made two layers.
• Pour the sugar mixture over top of the crackers as evenly as you can. Place the pan in the oven and cook for about 7 minutes. Remove from oven.
• Toss peanut butter cups over top and cover the pan with foil to help them melt a bit more. Leave covered for about 5 to 7 minutes.
• Uncover and top with walnut pieces.
• Allow the bars to cool completely. Then break or cut into pieces.
• Serve with a big old chocolate loving smile!

Notes

Recipe adapted slightly from Kraft Crunch Bars

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