Saltine Cracker Toffee (5 Ingredients)
This Saltine Cracker Toffee is a classic holiday treat recipe that’s so easy to make with 5 ingredients. Perfect for beginner bakers, it’s an addicting treat you can customize with all different toppings.
When the holidays arrive, this Saltine Cracker Toffee is a cookie recipe that’s always on our list. It’s one of those treats we love gifting for parties or to hand out to the neighbors down the street. Everyone loves it so much, we may just be famous for it at this point!
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A crunchy saltine cracker forms the base and is topped with sweet layers of caramel and chocolate. No special equipment is required, not even a candy thermometer. And with only a handful of pantry ingredients, it’s easy to make this dessert quickly in about 15 minutes before it needs to chill in the fridge for an hour. If you love a holiday recipe, be sure to also try Candied Pecans or Butter Toffee (similar to this recipe without the crackers!).
Laura Ashley’s Tip: If you want try a different version of saltine cracker toffee, I have a similar viral recipe called Graham Cracker Toffee that is also too delicious!
Table of Contents
Why you’ll love this recipe
- 5 ingredient holiday cookie recipe. This is a classic in our house, layers of sweet toffee, chocolate, and crunchy bits like nuts or sprinkles make it so delicious. Plus it’s affordable with only 5 ingredients.
- A gift everyone will love. Make this soda cracker toffee for the perfect party or hostess gift for the holiday season. I promise everyone will be asking you for the recipe.
- Customize it with different fun toppings. We like to add flaky sea salt, chopped nuts, sprinkles, and more. Anything that pairs well with chocolate and caramel is sure to be delicious on top.
ingredients
Scroll down to the end of this post for specific ingredient amounts in the recipe card.
- Saltine crackers: The base of this cookie recipe. The salt on the crackers pairs perfectly with the sweet toffee.
- Salted butter: Base of the caramel that is spread on top of the crackers.
- Packed light or dark brown sugar: The key ingredient to making the perfect caramel.
- Vanilla extract: Adds nice richness to the toffee layer and rounds out the flavors.
- Semisweet chocolate chips: The layer that goes on top of the toffee layer. These will melt from the heat of the hot toffee and be able to be spread into a smooth and even layer.
- Optional Toppings: chopped pecans, holiday sprinkles, flaky sea salt, crushed peppermint, chopped toffee bits
Tools You’ll Need
- Cookie Sheet (Half Sheet Pan Size 13″x18″)
- Offset Spatula
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Medium Saucepan
- Parchment Paper
how to make saltine cracker toffee
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a rimmed 13×18-inch with parchment paper.
- Arrange saltines in a single layer to completely cover the pan.
- In a medium saucepan, melt butter and brown sugar over medium heat. Bring to a gentle boil and cook 3 minutes, stirring constantly.
- Turn off the heat. Carefully add and stir in vanilla extract.
- Carefully pour the hot toffee over the crackers and spread quickly with a spatula. Bake 4-5 minutes, until bubbling and caramelized.
- Remove from oven and sprinkle chocolate chips evenly over the top. Let sit 1–2 minutes to melt, then spread smooth in an even layer.
- Add toppings while warm. Let cool completely, then refrigerate 30-60 minutes or until chocolate sets.
- Peel off parchment and break into squares or uneven pieces.
expert tips
- Have all of your ingredients pre-measured before you start cooking. This soda cracker toffee requires you to move quickly. It’s important to have your ingredients already measured out so you aren’t rushed at the stove.
- Make sure you don’t cook the toffee for too long. Once you see it begin to bubble, make sure you set a timer for 3 minutes. Allow the sugar to fully dissolve and the mixture to slightly thicken, it should look like bubbling caramel.
- Let the chocolate chips melt from the residual heat before spreading. Once you sprinkle them over, wait for a minute or two and you will see them glisten. This is when you can take a rubber or offset spatula and spread them evenly over the top.
- Make sure you let the toffee set before enjoying. Place it into the refrigerator to chill for an hour or so before breaking it into pieces and enjoying.
- The options are endless with the types of toppings you can sprinkle on top of saltine cracker topping. We’ve added shredded coconut, chopped nuts, crushed peppermint, sprinkles, and flaky sea salt. Get creative and even use multiple toppings!
storage
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in a cool place for up to 1 week. You can freeze soda cracker toffee for up to 2 months, we just can’t promise that when the toffee thaws it will be the same texture.
This is a great make ahead holiday treat. Also perfect for gifting too! We package it into festive tins or cellophane bags to hand out as party favors during the Christmas season.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, the caramel toffee will set on top and keep them crunchy on the bottom. Be sure to let the toffee cool completely before enjoying, this is key to achieving the right texture.
We’ve also used graham crackers before for a sweeter version.
No, this is easy to make without any fancy equipment and always comes out delicious. The toffee mixture is just 3 simple ingredients that boil until the sugar has dissolved and slightly thickened.
More Holiday Cookie Recipes
Saltine Cracker Toffee
Ingredients
- 48 saltine crackers
- 1 cup salted butter
- 1 cup packed light or dark brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
- Optional Toppings: chopped pecans, holiday sprinkles, flaky sea salt, crushed peppermint, chopped toffee bits
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a rimmed 13×18-inch with parchment paper.
- Arrange saltines in a single layer to completely cover the pan.
- In a medium saucepan, melt butter and brown sugar over medium heat. Bring to a gentle boil and cook 3 minutes, stirring constantly.
- Turn off the heat. Carefully add and stir in vanilla extract.
- Carefully pour the hot toffee over the crackers and spread quickly with a spatula. Bake 4-5 minutes, until bubbling and caramelized.
- Remove from oven and sprinkle chocolate chips evenly over the top. Let sit 1–2 minutes to melt, then spread smooth in an even layer.
- Add toppings while warm. Let cool completely, then refrigerate 30-60 minutes or until chocolate sets.
- Peel off parchment and break into pieces.
Video
Notes
- Have all of your ingredients pre-measured before you start cooking. This soda cracker toffee requires you to move quickly. It’s important to have your ingredients already measured out so you aren’t rushed at the stove.
- Make sure you don’t cook the toffee for too long. Once you see it begin to bubble, make sure you set a timer for 3 minutes. It should look like bubbling caramel.
- Let the chocolate chips melt from the residual heat before spreading. Once you sprinkle them over, wait for a minute or two and you will see them glisten. This is when you can take a rubber or offset spatula and spread them evenly over the top.
- Make sure you let the toffee set before enjoying. Place it into the refrigerator to chill for an hour or so before breaking it into pieces and enjoying.
- The options are endless with the types of toppings you can sprinkle on top of saltine cracker topping. We’ve added shredded coconut, chopped nuts, crushed peppermint, sprinkles, and flaky sea salt. Get creative and even use multiple toppings!
Nutrition
About Laura
Taught by some of the best, cooking and entertaining has always been my favorite hobby. Food is my love language! The conception of Dinner in 321 came from my family talks that sharing our dinners would help others learn new skills, tasty recipes, and make cooking fun! Read more…
This is the second time I’ve made this recipe and it has turned out the same way both times: a little soft. It’s not crunchy at all. It goes together great but turns out wrong. Help please!! I want to make it right. I’m pretty sure it’s the butter/brown sugar cooking but I did what it said. TYSM
You’re not boiling it for either long enough or a hard enough boil. I recommend raising the heat a little next time. 🙂 Humidity is another factor in hardening, but I’d say the heat raise will probably do the trick.
I have made this recipe before. It is easy to follow and going step by step, it is AWESOME! Thank you
Aww!🥹You’re so sweet! Thank you SO much!!!🥰