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Here's your new favorite holiday snack—salty crackers stacked with buttery toffee and a glossy layer of chocolate finished off with chopped pecans. Grab a handful for your next party or wrap some up to surprise a friend. The combo of salty, sweet, and crunchy is so good, you'll keep grabbing another piece!
Why You'll Want to Try This
You only need a handful of ingredients and you don't have to be a candy pro—if you know how to heat butter, you can totally pull this off. The sweet and salty mix means no one can say no, plus it's perfect for sharing at swaps, gatherings, or handing out as little gifts. It's easy to stash away too—make it ahead and it keeps well for ages.
All the Stuff You'll Need
- Saltine Crackers: Use around 40 to lay the foundation
- Butter: One cup (unsalted works best), gets things rich and makes toffee
- Brown Sugar: Pack in 1 cup, dark or light is fine
- Chocolate Chips: Two cups semi-sweet seal the deal
- Pecans: One cup, chop them up or switch to any nut you like
- Optional Add-Ons: Try crushed candy, sea salt flakes, or some festive sprinkles
How You Do It
- Chill the Pan
- Cover a baking sheet with foil, spray it, and crank the oven to 400°F.
- Lay Out Crackers
- Set out your crackers close together so they touch and fill the tray.
- Cook the Toffee
- Blend butter with brown sugar on the stove, stir while it boils for about 3 minutes, then pour this over your crackers.
- Bake and Finish
- Slide it in to bake for 5 minutes. Scatter chocolate chips, let them melt, spread smooth, add nuts, then pop it in the fridge to set.
Tricks for Awesome Toffee
Trust me, making the toffee is a breeze. Heat up your butter and sugar slowly, giving it a good stir. After it bubbles for 3 minutes, you get perfect chewy toffee every time. If it splits at first, just keep mixing. You'll know it's ready when it smells like caramel and turns a nice golden shade.
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Picking Out Chocolate
Grab whichever chips you like best, but the good stuff always tastes better. Semi-sweet is a crowd-pleaser, but if you love extra sweet, pick milk chocolate. Dark chips make it a bit fancy. You can even combine two kinds. Sprinkle some flaky salt on top and that chocolate layer gets a big flavor boost.
Make It Your Style
Switch up toppings every time! Nuts are classic, but crushed candy, toffee bits, or colorful sprinkles are all fun. For extra crunch, try chips instead of crackers. If mint's your thing, add mint chocolate chips while it's hot—the toppings stick better that way. There's no wrong answer, so play around!
Sharing With Friends
This treat's a winner for giving away. Snap it into chunks and fill up cute bags or tins with some ribbon for a sweet gift. It stays fresh for weeks sealed up tight. Planning to share a bunch? Make a double batch so your snack stash sticks around. Teachers, neighbors, anyone—everyone loves getting these.
How to Store and Keep It Fresh
Just pop your sweet treat in a tight jar or box. It stays good for a couple weeks on the counter or a whole month in the fridge. Put wax paper between the layers to stop them sticking. Keep it out of hot spots or the chocolate will go soft. If you want to keep it even longer, stash it in the freezer; you can eat it soon after pulling it out.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- → Not a fan of pecans—what other nuts work?
Try using chopped walnuts or almonds for a pretty close swap. If you’ve got peanuts around, they taste great too but give it more of a candy bar touch. Just chop whatever you use small so it sticks.
- → How do you store it, and how long does it last?
Pop pieces in a tin or airtight container and they’ll be good for a week. Stick wax paper between layers and keep in the fridge if you want an extra snappy crunch. Stay away from heat so nothing gets gooey.
- → Can I make this ahead for a holiday party?
Totally, it’s perfect for prepping early! Just let it set fully before packing up. If your place is toasty, keep it chilled. Skip the freezer though—crackers go soggy every time.
- → What toppings can I use for a nut allergy?
Top with holiday sprinkles, candy canes, or toffee bits if you want a nut-free version. Sea salt gives a sweet-salty kick. Mini marshmallows or even colorful M&Ms are fun on top.
- → Can I use different chocolate?
Absolutely! Swap between milk, dark, or white chocolate. Or swirl a mix for a jazzy look. Just check your chocolate is fresh so it melts smooth and easy.
Conclusion
Craving more tasty bars? Check these out:
- White Chocolate Cranberry – Festive color and tartness
- S'mores Crack – Toss on marshmallows and graham bits
- Saltine Candy Bars – Go all out with peanut butter
- Pretzel Bark – Salty pretzel crunch instead of crackers
- Matzo Toffee – Swap the crackers for matzo at Passover