Description
Holiday gatherings spark magic with this christmas cracker candy, a sweet and salty treat that delights guests. Chocolate-covered saltines layered with caramel create a simple yet irresistible dessert you’ll want to share with everyone.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 sleeve saltine crackers (about 40 crackers)
- 1 cup (227 g / 8 oz) unsalted butter
- 1 cup (200 g / 7 oz) packed light brown sugar
- 2 cups (340 g / 12 oz) semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips
- 0.5 cup (50 g / 1.75 oz) holiday sprinkles or crushed candy canes
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 350F (175C). Line a 9×13-inch baking sheet with parchment paper, creating overhangs and lightly spraying with cooking spray.
- Cracker Foundation: Meticulously cover the entire baking surface with saltine crackers, creating a uniform edge-to-edge base.
- Caramel Creation: In a medium saucepan, combine butter and brown sugar. Stir continuously while bringing the mixture to a rolling boil, cooking for 3-4 minutes until it transforms into a rich, amber-toned liquid.
- Baking Process: Pour the molten caramel evenly over the cracker base, ensuring complete coverage. Transfer to the preheated oven and bake until the caramel becomes effervescent and golden, approximately 5-7 minutes.
- Chocolate Layer: Immediately after removing from the oven, scatter chocolate chips across the hot caramel. Allow chips to soften for 2-3 minutes, then gently spread into a smooth, glossy layer.
- Festive Finishing: While the chocolate remains warm, sprinkle with holiday-themed decorations like crushed candy canes or festive sprinkles.
- Cooling and Serving: Allow the confection to cool completely at room temperature or expedite setting by chilling in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours. Once hardened, break into rustic, irregular pieces ready for enjoyment.
Notes
- Perfect Cracker Placement: Ensure saltine crackers fit tightly without gaps, creating a solid base for caramel and chocolate layers.
- Caramel Temperature Control: Watch closely during boiling to prevent burning; aim for rich amber color without scorching, which can create bitter taste.
- Chocolate Melting Technique: Allow chocolate chips to soften naturally from caramel’s residual heat, then spread gently with offset spatula for smooth, even coverage.
- Cooling and Breaking Strategy: Let candy cool completely at room temperature for best texture, or refrigerate for faster setting; break into random shards using gentle pressure for rustic, homemade appearance.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1-2 hours
- Category: Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 11
- Calories: 212
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 210 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg