Christmas Crack is an easy and delicious homemade toffee recipe topped with chocolate and sprinkled with holiday sprinkles. A snack that is perfect for the holidays.
Christmas Crack is one of the best holiday treats of all time if you ask me. If you’ve never heard of it, which I find exceedingly unlikely, then you’re in for a literal treat. It’s a sweet, buttery toffee that’s easy to make and hard to stop eating. I’ve been making it every holiday season for decades now, and I don’t ever see that changing. Throughout my children’s childhood, they looked forward to this snack as much as they did lights and presents when the holiday season rolled around. Now that I have grandkids, I continue the tradition, and although they’re young, Grandma’s Candy has already become a part of their core holiday experience. That’s why this recipe is so great, it’s an easy way to make amazing memories as well as delicious flavors for the season.
Christmas Crack
Remember kids, crack is whack. Unless, of course, it’s rich, buttery, chocolate Christmas Crack. This delicious holiday toffee recipe is super easy to make and full of all the rich sweetness we love about holiday treats. It combines simple ingredients like butter, sugar, corn syrup, and semisweet chocolate chips to create a holiday candy that everyone always asks for again and again. A buttery, toffee base is topped with chocolate and holiday sprinkles to create a festive treat that makes great Christmas presents when presented in a decorative tin or a great addition to the sweets table at your holiday gathering.
Why You’ll Love This Christmas Crack Recipe
- It only uses a handful of ingredients, and it’s so easy to make.
- The rich toffee and chocolate flavors are perfect for the holiday season.
- In addition to being a delicious holiday snack or dessert, it also makes a great gift when wrapped in pretty paper and placed in a decorative tin.
Tips
- Be sure to use a candy thermometer for this recipe. It’s important to get the toffee mixture to 290 degrees for proper results.
- Be sure to chill the toffee before breaking it up so it breaks easily.
- When spreading the melted chocolate chips, use a light touch so you spread the melted chocolate without disturbing the toffee.
Variations
- For richer flavor, you can use dark corn syrup to make the toffee.
- Change the flavor profile of this toffee by using dark or milk chocolate chips for the chocolate top and even peanut butter or white chocolate chips.
- You can use any kind of holiday sprinkles you like for this recipe.
- This can be made with all sorts of additions like caramel, toasted coconut, pretzel pieces, chopped pecans, and crushed candy canes.
What to Serve with Christmas Crack
This delicious Christmas crack candy recipe is more of a snack or dessert, so there aren’t really pairings for it per se. However, because of its holiday theme, you can serve it alongside any of your other favorite holiday desserts at your next gathering or potluck. It’s a great treat before or after your turkey, ham, or prime rib dinner.
Recipe FAQ
What is Christmas Crack made of?
Traditional Christmas crack is a type of candy made with saltine crackers coated in toffee and topped with chocolate. My version goes more old school and uses an authentic toffee base without crackers.
Does Christmas Crack have to be refrigerated?
I recommend refrigerating it to ensure that it stays hard. It won’t spoil at room temperature, but if placed in an area that is too warm, the chocolate topping can get messy when you eat it.
Why is it called Christmas Crack?
There are two reasons. Some people say it gets its name because it cracks in your mouth when you bite it. Some people say it gets its name because it’s so addictive. Honestly, it’s both!
How long can you store Christmas Crack?
It will keep for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator or up to 6 months in the freezer.
Can you freeze Christmas Crack?
Absolutely! It freezes very well and will last for up to 6 months in the freezer.
How to Store Christmas Crack
Refrigerate the toffee in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. You can also freeze it in an airtight, freezer-safe container for up to 6 months.
Christmas Crack Ingredients
It only takes a handful of ingredients to make this recipe. You’ll find them all easily at your local grocery store, and you might already have many of them in your kitchen right now.
- Butter
- Sugar
- Water
- Light corn syrup
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Holiday sprinkles
How to Make Christmas Crack
Making this candy is a very simple affair. As long as you use a candy thermometer, you should have no trouble at all. And it only takes a few steps, too!
Step 1: Prep
Line a 9×9 baking dish with aluminum foil, extending the foil over the edges of the dish, and set it aside.
Step 2: Make the Toffee Base
Melt butter over medium heat in a 2-quart, heavy-bottom saucepan. Then, add sugar, water, and corn syrup, stir. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly. Then, reduce the heat to medium-low and continue stirring constantly until the mixture reaches 290 degrees.
Step 3: Finish the Candy
Once the mixture reaches 290 degrees, pour it immediately into the prepared baking dish and spread it quickly with a spatula. Let the candy sit for a couple of minutes, then pour the chocolate chips over the toffee layer and let it sit until slightly melted. Spread the melted chocolate gently with a spatula to cover the toffee base evenly. Finally, sprinkle the holiday sprinkles evenly over the still-melted chocolate top.
Step 4: Chill
Let the Christmas Crack chill in the refrigerator for 20 minutes or until firm, then, lift the foil out of the baking dish and break the candy into pieces.
Try This Delicious Christmas Crack Recipe Today
This easy, delicious Christmas Crack makes a great holiday gift, snack, or dessert. Wrap it in colorful paper and place it in a tin for a Christmas gift, or bring a big batch to your next holiday gathering. Everyone always loves it, and it never lasts long. Give it a try, and you’ll quickly see what I mean.
More Delicious Christmas Dessert Recipes You’ll Enjoy
Christmas Brownie Sticks – These soft and chewy, chocolaty brownie sticks are the perfect holiday dessert. Each one has frosting on the end and dipped in holiday sprinkles.
Gingerbread Cake – This gingerbread cake is so moist and delicious, and is frosted with a cinnamon molasses frosting that is so yummy! Always a favorite.
Christmas Sugar Cookies – These delicious sugar cookies are a family favorite that have been a holiday tradition for over 30 years. Soft and delicious, these are great for the holidays.
And, here are some delicious Christmas Muddy Buddies, from Deliciously Seasoned, that you are sure to enjoy as well.
Christmas Crack {Easy Toffee Recipe}
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
- ⅔ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Holiday sprinkles
Instructions
- Line an 9 x 9 baking dish with foil, extending over the edges of the dish. Set aside.
- In a 2 quart, heavy bottom pan, melt butter over medium heat. Add sugar, water and corn syrup and stir constantly.
- Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium low and continue stirring until temperature reaches 290°F.
- Once the mixture reaches 290 degrees, immediately pour into the prepared dish and spread out quickly with a spatula.
- Let candy sit for a couple minutes and then sprinkle chocolate chips on top and let sit until slightly melted.
- Once melted, use a spatula to smooth over candy.
- Evenly sprinkle holiday sprinkles over candy.
- Chill in the fridge for about 20 minutes or until firm. Once firm, lift foil out of the baking dish and break into pieces.
Notes
Nutrition
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Can you use parchment paper instead of foil?
Hi Kathy, I would use wax paper instead of parchment paper. :)
Do you use white sugar or brown sugar for this recipe.
Hi Donna, white sugar is what is used. I hope you enjoy this recipe. :)
I haven’t made this recipe yet(will very soon), but I live at altitude (about 6000 ft) and I know that I need to boil water to calibrate my candy thermometer on the day that I make the candy. At altitude, water boils at less than 212 degrees and the candy temperature needs to be lowered appropriately.
Thank you Kris for this information. Very helpful. :)
I just love all of her recipes !!! Keep them coming !
Thank you so much Alicia! We appreciate it very much. :)
Is the finished product hard? Like a hard toffee?
Hi Gayle, yes it sure is. Make sure to get to hard-crack stage. I hope you enjoy this toffee recipe. :)
I failed to find the measurements of the ingredients.
Am I blind?
Hi Shari, the actual measurements are in the recipe card at the bottom of the post. You can also click the “jump to recipe” button at the top of the post to take you right to the recipe.