Description
Homemade cracker candy delivers a sweet and salty symphony of flavors that delights taste buds. Simple ingredients combine to create an irresistible treat that satisfies both snack cravings and dessert desires.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 sleeve saltine crackers (about 40 crackers)
- 1 cup (226 grams / 8 oz) unsalted butter
- 1 cup (220 grams / 7.9 oz) packed light brown sugar
- 2 cups (340 grams / 12 oz) semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips
- ½ cup holiday sprinkles or crushed candy canes
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 350°F and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper, lightly greasing with cooking spray for easy release.
- Cracker Base: Arrange saltine crackers in a single, compact layer across the entire sheet, ensuring full coverage without gaps or overlapping.
- Caramel Creation: In a saucepan, combine butter and brown sugar, heating and stirring constantly until the mixture transforms into a luxurious, amber-colored syrup with a glossy, thickened texture.
- Chocolate Layer: Pour the molten caramel evenly over the cracker foundation, spreading with a spatula to ensure complete coverage. Bake for 5-7 minutes until the caramel bubbles and deepens in color.
- Chocolate Finishing: Immediately scatter chocolate chips across the hot caramel surface, allowing them to melt naturally for 2-3 minutes. Gently spread the chocolate into a smooth, uniform layer using consistent strokes.
- Decoration and Cooling: Sprinkle with optional toppings like crushed candy canes or festive sprinkles while the chocolate remains slightly warm. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours or allow to cool at room temperature until completely set.
- Serving: Break the hardened confection into rustic, irregular pieces, ready to be devoured and enjoyed.
Notes
- Prevent Cracker Slipping: Lightly spray parchment paper with cooking spray to help crackers stay perfectly positioned during caramel pouring.
- Master Caramel Technique: Stir butter and brown sugar constantly to avoid burning, watching for rich amber color as key doneness indicator.
- Chocolate Melting Precision: Let chocolate chips sit untouched on hot caramel for 2-3 minutes to ensure smooth, even melting without additional heat.
- Customize Flavor Variations: Experiment with different chocolate types like dark, milk, or white chocolate, and try alternative toppings such as chopped nuts, sea salt, or crushed cookies for unique flavor profiles.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1-2 hours
- Category: Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 25
- Calories: 215
- Sugar: 16 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg