Ritz Cracker Toffee

Ritz Cracker Toffee (also known as Christmas Crack) is a sweet and salty candy that is completely addictive thanks to a flakey layer of crackers, crunchy toffee, and silky smooth chocolate.

This easy treat is so simple to make, we’ve even been known to whip up a batch for nighttime cravings. It’s no wonder this is one of our favorite Christmas treats to make.

What Makes these So Great

• The sweet and salty combination is completely addictive – and why this recipe is also referred to as “Christmas Crack”.
• It takes less than 30 minutes to get in the fridge, which means it’s simple enough to make even after the kids go to bed. (Yes, I have definitely done that on more than one occasion.)
• This recipe is so easy. It’s one of the few candy recipes that doesn’t need thermometer.
• The texture is 100% satisfying: A flakey layer of crackers, chewy toffee, and silky smooth chocolate. Mmmm.
• It uses common ingredients you can find at any grocery store. You might even have all the ingredients in your pantry right now!

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Step-by-Step Directions:

To make things even easier for you, I created a simple photo guide below. For all measurements and a more detailed guide, check out the recipe card at the bottom of this page.

Step 1 – Place crackers in a flat layer on top of a jellyroll pan prepared with a sheet of parchment.

Step 2 – Melt the butter and brown sugar. Stir until mostly combined or mixture starts to boil.

Step 3 – Stop stirring the toffee mixture and let it boil for another 3 minutes.

Step 4 – Pour the hot toffee mixture over crackers. Bake for 6-12 minutes.

Step 5 – When the toffee is thick and bubbly, carefully remove the pan from the oven. Sprinkle chocolate chips evenly across the top. Return the pan to the oven for 30 seconds to 1 minute, until soft.

Step 6 – Spread the melted chocolate to create an even layer over top of the toffee.

Step 7 – Add sprinkles, (or whatever other toppings you like) to the top. Cool on the counter for 10 minutes and then transfer the pan to a refrigerator for 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Step 8 – When the chocolate has set, break into small pieces.

Essential Tips and FAQs:

Don’t skip these tips – read them before baking to avoid any potential mistakes.

Be patient when melting the butter and sugar

My butter and sugar didn’t completely combine until it reached the boiling point)

Don’t stir the toffee mixture while it simmers

As candy syrup boils, crystals will often form around the edge of the pot (where it’s cooler). If you stir the candy while it’s boiling, you’ll mix those crystals into the rest of the syrup and ruin the whole batch.

Heat the chocolate just to the point it melts

Have you ever had burnt chocolate? It’s pretty bad. So set your timer, and don’t forget to pull the pan out of the oven after that one minute is up.

Don’t put the Pan in the Refrigerator Too Early

Not only can the heat from the pan mess up the cold food in your fridge, cooling chocolate down too quickly can make it ‘bloom’.

Substitutions and Adaptations:

There’s not a whole lot to substitute with so few ingredients, but here are a few tips in that area:

• Butter: I don’t recommend substituting margarine for the butter in this recipe. You won’t get the same consistency with the final candy.
• Crackers: We prefer to use butter crackers (like Ritz brand), but a lot of people love to make this with saltines instead. The key is to make sure that whatever crackers you use are both flaky and salty.
• Chocolate: Semi sweet chocolate is our go-to for this recipe, but dark chocolate would be delicious too.
• Toppings: Holiday sprinkles reflect this recipe’s alternate name, ‘Christmas Crack’. But you can also top the chocolate with chopped nuts, M&Ms, pretzel pieces, or even crushed candy canes.

Storage Tips

Store the Ritz cracker toffee in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.

When you want to snack on some, let it sit out for 15-20 minutes before eating. Christmas Crack tastes best at room temperature.

Giving this away as gifts?

Ritz cracker toffee makes a fantastic holiday gift. But it does break apart easily, so you’ll want to make sure to put it in a cookie tin or another container to protect them.

Don’t forget to add a cute printable tag to your tin so everyone will know that you made this amazing candy.

If you liked this Ritz Cracker Toffee, you’re going to love my Chex Mix Christmas Crack (aka Reindeer Crack). It’s a candy coated cereal mixture that is 100% addictive in all the best ways possible.

Or you can check out my other candy recipes here.

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