If you are searching for a delightful and addictive holiday treat, look no further than the Christmas Crack Cookies (Cracker Toffee Cookies) Recipe. This festive favorite is a magical combination of salty, sweet, buttery, and chocolaty flavors layered atop classic Ritz crackers, creating an irresistible cookie that melts in your mouth with every bite. Perfect for holiday gatherings or gifting, these Christmas Crack Cookies (Cracker Toffee Cookies) Recipe are simple to make yet deliver a gourmet taste that everyone will rave about.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Every ingredient in this recipe has a special role in creating those perfect, crunchy, and luscious Christmas Crack Cookies. From the buttery toffee base to the melty chocolate topping, each component is essential for that signature taste and texture.
- 24 Ritz crackers: These provide a buttery, salty base that crisps up beautifully under the toffee layer.
- 1 cup butter (2 sticks, salted or unsalted): The base of the toffee sauce, bringing rich flavor and a silky texture.
- 1 cup brown sugar (packed): Adds sweetness and a deep caramel note, essential for authentic toffee.
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips: Creates a luscious, melty topping; feel free to mix with milk or white chocolate for variety.
- 1/4 cup sprinkles or crushed candy canes: These add festive color, a touch of crunch, and extra holiday fun on top.
How to Make Christmas Crack Cookies (Cracker Toffee Cookies) Recipe
Step 1: Preheat and Prepare Muffin Tin
Start by preheating your oven to 350℉. Line each cup of a muffin tin with a cupcake or muffin liner to make for easier removal and less mess later.
Step 2: Arrange Crackers in Muffin Cups
Place one Ritz cracker flat into the bottom of each lined muffin cup. These crackers are the essential foundation, and laying them evenly ensures the toffee spreads perfectly over each one.
Step 3: Make the Toffee Sauce
In a medium-sized pot over medium-low heat, melt the butter and brown sugar together. Bring the mixture to a rolling boil, stirring occasionally, and cook for about 3 minutes until the toffee bubbles up and turns a rich amber color. This step is critical for developing that classic toffee flavor and the perfect consistency.
Step 4: Pour Toffee Over Crackers
Carefully remove the pot from heat. Using a spoon or ladle, drizzle approximately 2 teaspoons of the hot toffee over each cracker in the muffin tin. Make sure to coat each cracker completely to lock in that sweet, buttery flavor.
Step 5: Bake toffee-coated Crackers
Place the muffin tin in the oven for 3 to 5 minutes. This will make the toffee bubble and meld beautifully with the crackers underneath, creating that signature crunchy texture.
Step 6: Add and Spread Chocolate
Remove the muffin tins from the oven and quickly sprinkle the chocolate chips evenly over each toffee-topped cracker. Let them sit for 1 to 2 minutes to soften, then gently spread the melted chocolate with a spatula to cover the toffee evenly. If the chocolate isn’t melting easily, pop the muffin tin back in the oven for another minute or two.
Step 7: Top with Sprinkles or Candy
Sprinkle your choice of festive toppings such as colorful sprinkles, crushed candy canes, or mini M&Ms over the warm chocolate. These add a pop of color and extra holiday cheer to your Christmas Crack Cookies (Cracker Toffee Cookies) Recipe.
Step 8: Cool and Serve
Allow the cookies to cool completely until the toffee and chocolate are firm. You can leave them at room temperature or refrigerate for 30 minutes to an hour. When cool, the cookies will pop right out of the muffin tin liner, ready to be enjoyed immediately.
How to Serve Christmas Crack Cookies (Cracker Toffee Cookies) Recipe
Garnishes
Sprinkle extra crushed candy canes or sea salt flakes over the top right before serving for that irresistible salty-sweet finish. A dusting of powdered sugar can also add a snowy holiday touch.
Side Dishes
Serve these cookies alongside a warm cup of spiced hot chocolate or creamy eggnog to complement their buttery richness. They also pair wonderfully with fresh cranberries or a light citrus fruit salad, balancing the sweetness.
Creative Ways to Present
Arrange your Christmas Crack Cookies on a festive platter lined with holiday-themed parchment paper. For gifting, carefully stack them in a decorative box layered with wax paper, tied with a colorful ribbon. You can even individually wrap each cookie for a charming homemade gift!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Store any leftover Christmas Crack Cookies (Cracker Toffee Cookies) Recipe in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator. They will stay fresh and maintain their crunchy texture for up to a week.
Freezing
If you want to keep them longer, these cookies freeze beautifully. Arrange them in layers separated by parchment paper in an airtight container or freezer bag. When properly stored, they maintain their texture and flavor for up to three months.
Reheating
To enjoy the cookies after freezing, let them thaw at room temperature for about 30 minutes. If desired, pop them in a preheated oven at 300℉ for 5 minutes to refresh the crispiness of the toffee and crackers.
FAQs
Can I use different types of crackers?
While Ritz crackers are preferred for their buttery flavor and texture, you can experiment with other round, buttery crackers. Just keep in mind that flavor and crunch may vary.
What kind of chocolate works best?
Semi-sweet chocolate chips offer the perfect balance of sweetness and richness, but mixing in milk or white chocolate chips can add interesting flavor twists. Choose what you love!
How long should I boil the butter and brown sugar?
Cooking the mixture for around 3 minutes at a rolling boil ensures the toffee is bubbly and amber in color, which is key for its delicious caramel flavor and proper consistency.
Can I make these cookies gluten-free?
To make a gluten-free version, substitute the Ritz crackers with a gluten-free buttery cracker alternative. Just be sure the crackers hold up well during baking.
Why do my cookies sometimes get soggy?
Make sure to bake the toffee-covered crackers long enough for the toffee to bubble and properly set and allow the cookies to cool completely before removing them. Cooling time helps maintain that crispness.
Final Thoughts
I can’t recommend the Christmas Crack Cookies (Cracker Toffee Cookies) Recipe enough for anyone looking to impress with a truly irresistible holiday treat. With just a handful of simple ingredients and minimal effort, you’ll create a batch of golden, crunchy, chocolate-covered delights that everyone will love. Once you try these cookies, I bet they’ll become a cherished tradition for your holiday celebrations!
Print
Christmas Crack Cookies (Cracker Toffee Cookies) Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 24 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Christmas Crack Cookies, also known as Cracker Toffee Cookies, are a delightful holiday treat featuring a buttery toffee layer over Ritz crackers, topped with melted chocolate and colorful sprinkles. Quick to prepare and irresistibly crunchy, these festive cookies bring a perfect blend of sweet and salty flavors for holiday gatherings.
Ingredients
Base
- 24 Ritz crackers
Toffee Layer
- 1 cup butter (2 sticks, salted or unsalted)
- 1 cup brown sugar (packed)
Topping
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips (or milk chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, or a combination)
- 1/4 cup sprinkles (or crushed candy canes, M&M’s, etc.)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 350℉ (175℃). Line each cup of a muffin tin with a cupcake or muffin liner to hold the crackers and toppings.
- Place Crackers: Place one Ritz cracker in each lined muffin tin cup, creating the base for the toffee.
- Make Toffee: In a medium pot over medium-low heat, combine 1 cup of butter and 1 cup of packed brown sugar. Stir occasionally and bring the mixture to a rolling boil. Continue boiling for 3 minutes while stirring until the mixture bubbles actively and turns amber in color.
- Pour Toffee: Remove the pot from heat and carefully ladle about 2 teaspoons of the hot toffee over each Ritz cracker, ensuring they are evenly coated but not soaked through.
- Bake Toffee: Place the muffin tin in the oven and bake for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the toffee begins to bubble up, indicating it is set and caramelized.
- Add Chocolate: Remove the tin from the oven and immediately sprinkle 2 cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips evenly over the hot toffee. Let them sit for 1-2 minutes to soften, then use a spatula to spread the melted chocolate evenly over each cracker. If the chocolate has not melted completely, return the tin to the oven for 1-2 minutes and spread again.
- Decorate: Sprinkle 1/4 cup of sprinkles or crushed candies like candy canes or M&M’s evenly over the melted chocolate to add festive color and texture.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the cookies to cool completely at room temperature or refrigerate for 30 minutes to 1 hour until the chocolate and toffee are set. Once cooled, pop the cookies out of the muffin tins, serve, and enjoy!
- Storage: Store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator to keep them fresh and crisp.
Notes
- Using salted or unsalted butter is fine; salted adds a bit more savory contrast to the sweet toffee.
- You can customize the chocolate chips to milk or white chocolate or even a combination for varied flavor.
- Try different toppings like crushed candy canes, nuts, or festive sprinkles for a personalized touch.
- If your chocolate isn’t melting well, use the oven carefully to avoid burning the chocolate or toffee.
- These cookies store well but are best enjoyed within a week for optimal freshness.
