This easy Graham Cracker Toffee (also called Christmas Crack) is one of the easiest treats to make, with just 5-ingredients.
Graham Cracker Toffee (AKA Christmas Crack) might be the easiest holiday treat.
Graham Cracker Toffee (AKA Christmas Crack) might be the easiest holiday treat.Whether you call it Cracker Toffee, or Christmas Crack, this recipe is hugely popular for a reason! It's very easy to make with just 5 ingredients, and it has that rich, buttery toffee flavor we all love, without being brittle and hard like traditional toffee.
It's my go-to if I need a really simple dessert for a crowd, or even to whip up holiday treats for neighbors and friends. Grab a package of graham crackers, chocolate, butter, brown sugar, and pecans, and you're ready to go.
(And if you're a toffee lover like me, don't miss my Toffee Cookie Bars, Chocolate Trifle with toffee bits, or this delicious Sticky Toffee Pudding!)
How to make Christmas Crack:
Line a pan with Graham Crackers. Us a 9x13inch pan, and line it with parchment paper. Arrange crackers in a single layer to act as the base for these bars.
Toffee Layer: In a saucepan, melt butter then add brown sugar and pecans. Stir to combine, then bring to a gentle boil and boil for 5 minutes.
Layer: Pour toffee mixture over the graham crackers and smooth into an even layer.
Bake at 350°F for 7 minutes.
Add chocolate: Remove from oven and carefully place chocolate bar pieces on top. Cover pan for 5-10 minutes to allow the chocolate to melt, then spread melted chocolate into an even layer.
Cool: Let these Christmas crack toffee bars cool completely before serving. You can refrigerate them if you want, but rest at room temperautre for 15 minutes before cutting.
Recipe Variations:
- White Chocolate: Use white chocolate instead of milk or dark, or drizzle some melted white chocolate on top of the milk chocolate.
- Crackers: Saltine crackers are also a popular choice for Christmas crack. You could also use club crackers or ritz crackers. You could even try a base of pretzels.
- Candy: Sprinkle on some crushed peppermint candy, m&m's, or sprinkles.
More Candy-like Treats:
- Chocolate Truffles
- Homemade Caramels
- Oreo Balls
- Chocolate Fudge
- Peanut Brittle
- Rocky Road
- Chocolate Covered Pretzel Rods
- Chocolate Turtles
- Browse all of my Christmas Recipes!
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Recipe
Graham Cracker Toffee (Christmas Crack)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 package Honey Graham Crackers
- 14 ounces Hershey's chocolate bars (I use two large 7oz bars)
- 1 cup butter
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 1 cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly spray a 9×13'' pan with cooking spray, then lay parchment paper on top, so it sticks firmly in the pan.
- Place graham cracker sheets to cover the bottom of the pan.
- Toffee layer: Add butter to a large saucepan over medium heat and allow it to melt. Add the brown sugar and pecans, and stir constantly, bringing the mixture to a full boil. Boil for 5 minutes, stirring constantly.
- Bake: Remove from heat then pour mixture over graham crackers and spread into an even layer. Bake for 7 minutes.
- Add chocolate: While the bars are baking, unwrap the Hershey's chocolate bars and break into pieces. Remove bars from oven and carefully place chocolate pieces across the top of the toffee layer. Cover the pan with a lid or aluminum foil to allow the chocolate to melt (5-10 minutes).
- Smooth melted chocolate evenly over the bars.
- Cool completely before serving. I like to store mine in the fridge to set up (not required) but I leave them out at room temperature for 15 minutes before cutting them, to allow the chocolate to soften.
Notes
Nutrition
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*I first shared this recipe November 2015. Updated November 2019 and December 2024.
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This tasted good, however on more pieces than not, the top separated from the bottom, making it impossible to serve.Anyone else have this problem? I bake a LOT and I’m not used to having something fail…twice.
My layers separated as well, even though I followed instructions carefully. It all tastes good but is kind of a crumbly mess.
European butter can cause separation due to too much fat. I have been making this for a couple of decades for holiday gifts and have never had a problem using Land of Lakes butter. As soon as the chocolate melts I put the aluminum pans in the fridge. In a very short time they can be broken into pieces. (You can top with dark, milk or white chocolate chips or even butterscotch.) These are always a huge hit. You may want to consider giving it another try!!
I wonder if you use Heath bars instead of Hershey bars? What are your thoughts?
Made Graham Cracker Toffee Bars today and used almond slices instead of pecans and Hershey’s dark chocolate bars Turned out great Will make again Easy, simple and yummy How long does it take for chocolate to harden?
I’m by far no baker but when I do I use the finest ingredients so that taste is always spot on over presentation LOL I’d never made anything like this before or tried making caramel which I’m not actually a fan of it’s too sweet but regardless mine turned out great I just winged it along and used dark chocolate but also in addition to nuts I added chopped pretzel pieces. (Again not a huge fan of sickening sweet) I’m impressed myself and how delicious they were I made try with saltine crackers this year not just grahams or get really naughty and mix them both! Ty for a fun delicious easy for me recipe.
Not a fan of too much sweetness or milk chocolate so my version if this:
Make the toffee syrup but toast the pecans separately, then chop, reserving some to use as halves after. Spread the toffee on the crackers, sprinkle with the chopped pecans and bake as per instructions. Melt dark, semi-sweet chocolate and drizzle onto finished squares. Allow to cool slightly, sprinkle with Maldon salt and pecans halves.
I did not cook the toffee long enough. Is it a total loss or can I cook it all together and make something else? Thanks
What consistancy should the toffee mix be after boiling for 5 minutes? Mine separated from the graham crackers after I baked and put the chocolate on to melt. Went to spread the chocolate and it all came off the crackers and mixed into the chocolate. I saved it, but I know that’s not how it should’ve looked!
Great recipe! It was easy and delicious! Added to my recipe binder. 🙂
I’ve n never made anything like this so I was careful to follow directions. At 5 minutes the toffee was burned but I poured it over the crackers anyway, –no oven fine thinking it would burn to a crisp-immediately topped with chocolate. What a terrible waste of expensive pecans. I’ll try again but will stop that boil at 4 minutes.
You absolutely must stir it constantly & not have the heat too high. Not following these rules will result in burnt toffee.
I gave this 5 stars because it is so easy and so yummy. But…my chocolate gets faint white areas or spots after a few days, doesn’t look very nice when serving to people. This has happened every time. Why do you think this happens?
Was the toffee was supposed to be crunchy ? kind of like a peanut brittle? Wish it was. My toffee avec 5 minutes of boiling became thinker and was just soft enough to spread. I would have thought the toffee would have been crunchy but it was soft like fudge. And chocolate over it…woahh too much loll. Just let me know if the toffee is supposed to be crunchy. Thank you
Three stars because I followed the recipe exactly and the chocolate did NOT melt. It softened enough that I could not pick it off. I was then left with a mess trying to find ways to get the chocolate to melt. The recipe was mostly ruined but we did eat it anyway so we didn’t waste all the expensive ingredients. I absolutely recommend finding some way to melt the chocolate first and then pour over the hot graham crackers.
That’s strange! If you pull the candy out of the oven and top it with the chocolate immediately and cover with foil, it has always melted for me and very quickly.
Yes of course it melts when you first take out of oven and then cover with foil…unless you wait forever to put chocolate in it …
You can try it with chocolate chips instead of little bars. They melt easily, and I have had good success with them!
I use chocolate chips. They melt faster