This irresistible Christmas Crack recipe transforms humble graham crackers into addictive toffee bars in just 25 minutes. A beloved holiday treat that combines buttery toffee with chocolate and crackers, creating the perfect balance of crunch and sweetness.
Whether you’re planning a festive gathering or need a quick homemade gift, these graham cracker toffee bars deliver impressive results with minimal effort. The combination of simple ingredients creates pure magic that keeps everyone coming back for more.
Ingredients for Christmas Crack Toffee
- Graham Crackers: One complete package, creating the perfect crunchy base
- Hershey’s Chocolate Bars: 14 ounces (preferably two 7 oz bars), for that silky top layer
- Butter: 1 cup, unsalted works best for controlled sweetness
- Light Brown Sugar: 1 cup, creates that irresistible toffee flavor
- Pecans: 1 cup chopped, adding delightful crunch and nutty flavor
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 350°F and line a 9×13 pan with parchment paper
- Base Layer: Arrange graham crackers neatly at the bottom of your prepared pan
- Toffee Making: Melt butter in a large saucepan, add brown sugar and pecans, bring to boil while stirring for 5 minutes
- Assembly: Pour hot toffee mixture over graham crackers, spreading evenly
- Initial Bake: Pop into oven for 7 minutes until bubbly and golden
- Chocolate Layer: Place chocolate pieces on hot toffee, cover pan for 5-10 minutes until melted
- Finishing Touch: Spread melted chocolate evenly with spatula
- Setting: Cool completely, refrigerate if desired, but let stand 15 minutes before cutting
Cooking Techniques
Making toffee might seem tricky, but it’s actually super simple! The magic happens when you stir the butter and brown sugar mixture constantly – this prevents burning and helps create that perfect candy-like texture.
Keep your heat at medium and watch for that full boil. You’ll know you’re doing it right when the mixture turns a beautiful golden caramel color as it bubbles away.
Helpful Tips
Want perfect chocolate crack bars every time? Here’s what works best: Line your pan with parchment paper instead of just spraying it – this makes removal so much easier! When melting the chocolate, don’t rush it.
The heat from the toffee layer will do all the work, and covering with foil traps the warmth perfectly. If your chocolate seems stubborn about melting, let the bars sit covered for an extra minute or two.
Storage and Make-Ahead
These bars are perfect for making ahead! They’ll stay fresh in an airtight container for up to a week. Pop them in the fridge to keep them extra firm, especially during warm weather.
Just remember to let them sit out for about 15 minutes before serving – this lets the chocolate soften just enough to cut smoothly without cracking. Planning to share? Layer the bars between pieces of wax paper to prevent sticking.
Creative Variations
Love trying new flavors? Switch things up! Try dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate for a richer taste. Not a fan of pecans? Almonds or walnuts work beautifully too.
You can even sprinkle some sea salt on top of the melted chocolate for a sweet-and-salty twist. For holiday fun, add some crushed candy canes on top of the chocolate layer!
Christmas Crack (Graham Cracker Toffee Bars)
Equipment
- 9×13 pan
- Large saucepan
- Parchment paper
Ingredients
- 1 package honey graham crackers
- 14 ounces Hershey’s chocolate bars (I use large 7 oz bars)
- 1 cup butter
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 1 cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9×13” pan with parchment paper (or spray with cooking spray.) Place graham cracker sheets along the bottom of the pan.
- 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.
- Remove from heat and pour mixture over graham crackers and spread into an even layer. Bake for 7 minutes.
- While the bars are baking, unwrap the Hershey’s chocolate bars and break them 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).
- Once chocolate has begun to melt, remove the lid and use a spatula to spread the melted chocolate evenly over the bars.
- Allow to 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.
