This delicious crunchy, chocolaty Christmas Crack with pretzels is so easy, has only 4 ingredients, and takes just 25 minutes. It's the perfect sweet and salty combination but, be warned, you won't be able to stop eating it! Great for holiday gifts or snacking any time of year.
I love to make candy and especially at Christmas time. Favorite homemade treats include my Gingerbread Truffles, Peanut Brittle, and some chocolate fudge, usually made with my favorite liqueur flavoring at the time. Today was time to make the infamous Christmas Crack aka Christmas Bark.
Christmas is the perfect time to make this oh-so-addictive candy. This Chocolate Bark with pretzels is so easy to make it's practically foolproof! This recipe is slightly different than the standard bark. It uses pretzels as a base in lieu of the standard crackers. I feel it adds the perfect touch of salt versus sweet.
What is Christmas Crack?
Christmas Crack, also known as Christmas Bark, is a crunchy, salty mix of layers containing saltines, or in this case pretzels, toffee and chocolate. Its name "crack" relates to the fact that it is totally addictive, like one bite and you might as well eat the whole bowl (I'm just sayin').
Of course, it could also refer to the fact that when it's cooled it certainly makes a big crack when you break it. Finally, it is usually made at Christmas time ... ummm I guess the name "Christmas Crack" is pretty accurate!
Variations
- Base - you can use saltines, Ritz crackers or even graham crackers like my S'mores Bark
- Chocolate - use a combination of white and semi-sweet chocolate or go with dark chocolate. You can even opt for peanut butter cups or Andes Creme de Menthe chips!
- Toppings - while chocolate is still warm, top with chopped nuts, toffee bits, crushed candy canes, crushed Oreos or M&Ms
Ingredients
Pretzels - look for the mini pretzels as they work much better when cracking the candy
Butter - I like to use salted butter to help stabilize the toffee
Sugar - use light brown sugar to add sweetness and a bit of molasses flavor to the candy
Chocolate Chips - semi-sweet, dark chocolate, milk chocolate or a combination of any all taste delicious
Sprinkles - an optional topping but makes the bark look like Christmas
How to make Christmas Crack
- Line a baking sheet with rim with parchment paper and spray well with nonstick spray.
- Place butter and brown sugar in a saucepan over medium heat.
- Stir until the butter is melted then let it come to a rolling boil. Cook for 3-5 minutes or until it changes to a rich caramel color and starts to foam. Remove from heat.
- Immediately pour over pretzels. Don't worry if it didn't cover all the pretzels as it will spread as it is heated in the oven. Place in 400 degree oven for 5 minutes.
- Remove from oven and immediately sprinkle chocolate chips over hot toffee.
- Wait for 3-5 minutes for the chips to start to melt then spread evenly over toffee.
- Immediately sprinkle with sprinkles or any other extra topping you prefer.
- Place in refrigerator to allow it to harden then take out and crack into pieces.
Just look at all that crunchy deliciousness! I mean, how can you go wrong with toffee and chocolate, right?! But really, in the end, the only thing that matters is that this Christmas Crack with pretzels is mighty good and lucky, or unlucky (for our waistlines), it's so easy to make.
This is one recipe you can whip up in less than 30 minutes then just wait impatiently for it to set. Voila - Christmas gifts for your family and all the neighbors! Oh, and don't forget to keep a bowl for yourself! Enjoy!
More Homemade Christmas Goodies
Sweet Candied Pecans - are cinnamon sugar-coated nuts that are baked to a sweet and crunchy finish.
Chocolate Covered Toffee - is a rich, buttery homemade toffee coated with rich dark chocolate and sprinkled with crunchy nuts.
Christmas White Trash Popcorn Snack Mix from Soulfully Made - is a combination of popcorn, pretzels, M&Ms, and mini marshmallows coated in almond bark.
Spicy Gingerbread Cake - is a quick and easy recipe that is full of rich molasses & flavored with plenty of ginger & cinnamon.
Millionaire Cookie Bars - are a treat of delicious buttery shortbread that's topped with creamy caramel and rich chocolate.
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Christmas Crack with Pretzels
Ingredients
- 8 oz. mini pretzels
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Colored sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with sides with parchment paper and spray with nonstick spray. Or simply spray a large cookie sheet with nonstick spray making sure it covers every nook & cranny.
- Break up the pretzels and spread in an even layer on the bottom of the cookie sheet.
- In a small saucepan, heat butter and sugar to boiling, stirring to combine. Once it comes to a rolling boil, stop stirring, and let it cook for 3-5 minutes. It will start to foam up and turn a pretty caramel color as it reaches the correct temperature.
- Pour the caramel (butter-sugar mixture) evenly over the pretzels. Don't worry if there are little spots it didn't cover as it will spread in the oven.
- Place cookie sheet in the oven for 5 minutes.
- Remove and immediately sprinkle chocolate chips over the top.
- Let sit 3-5 minutes to soften the chocolate then spread evenly over the top with a silicone spatula.
- Immediately sprinkle with colored sprinkles or other preferred toppings.
- Place in refrigerator to help it set faster. Once it hardens, take out and crack into pieces. Store in airtight container in the refrigerator.
Notes
- Base - you can use saltines, Ritz crackers or even graham crackers like my S'mores Bark
- Chocolate - use a combination of white and semi-sweet chocolate or go with dark chocolate. You can even opt for peanut butter cups or Andes Creme de Menthe chips!
- Toppings - while chocolate is still warm, top with chopped nuts, toffee bits, crushed candy canes, crushed Oreos or M&Ms
Nutrition
This post has been updated with step-by-step directions and new photos. It was first published on December 18, 2015.
Muncie says
I was a bit nervous to try this reading some of the FAQs. I followed it exactly and let the caramel boil for five minutes. I used about. 3 1/2 cups of chocolate chips. When they put them over the top of the hot pretzel caramel mixture, they softened, but I felt not enough. So I slid the tray back into the oven, which I had turned off and watched it for about two minutes. That made a big difference. put the whole tray in the refrigerator overnight when it was absolutely perfect the next day. I’m always skeptical of recipes posted on the Internet, but this one did not disappoint.
Linda Warren says
So glad you liked it! Mine's always melted enough but I love your solution for easier spreading. Have a sweet, delicious and very Merry Christmas!
KT BRILL says
Why does it say 1 stick in the ingredient list but there are 2 sticks in the saucepan photo.
Please explain and correct.
Thank you.
Linda Warren says
It says 1 cup of butter in the recipe card which is equal to 2 sticks of butter. I hope you get to try the recipe because it is totally and deliciously addictive! Happy New Year!
MS says
This is addicting and OMG sooooo good!!
Christmas Crack, don't leave home without it!!
Linda Warren says
I know, right!!! So happy you liked it. Merry Christmas!