Description
Christmas Crack Cookies, also known as Cracker Toffee Cookies, are a festive, crunchy treat made by layering buttery toffee over Ritz crackers, topped with melted chocolate and colorful sprinkles. These easy-to-make cookies are perfect for holiday gatherings and can be customized with different types of chocolate and toppings.
Ingredients
Scale
Base
- 24 Ritz crackers
Toffee Layer
- 1 cup butter (2 sticks, salted or unsalted)
- 1 cup brown sugar (packed)
Topping
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips (or milk chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, or a combination)
- 1/4 cup sprinkles (or crushed candy canes, M&M’s, etc.)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Muffin Tin: Preheat your oven to 350℉. Place a cupcake or muffin liner in each cup of a muffin tin to make removal easier later.
- Arrange Crackers: Place one Ritz cracker inside each lined muffin tin cup, forming the base for the toffee layer.
- Make Toffee Sauce: In a medium-sized pot over medium-low heat, combine 1 cup butter and 1 cup packed brown sugar. Stir occasionally until it reaches a rolling boil. Continue boiling for 3 minutes or until the mixture turns bubbling and amber in color, indicating the toffee is ready.
- Pour Toffee Over Crackers: Remove the pot from heat carefully and ladle about 2 teaspoons of the hot toffee mixture evenly over each Ritz cracker to coat them thoroughly.
- Bake Toffee: Place the muffin tins in the preheated oven and bake for 3-5 minutes, watching closely until the toffee mixture starts to bubble, ensuring caramelization.
- Add Chocolate Topping: Remove the tins from the oven and immediately scatter 2 cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips evenly over the hot toffee. Allow them to sit untouched for 1-2 minutes to soften, then spread evenly using a spatula. If the chocolate isn’t melting well, return the tins to the oven for an additional 1-2 minutes before spreading.
- Decorate with Sprinkles: Once the chocolate is spread smooth, sprinkle 1/4 cup of your choice of sprinkles, crushed candy canes, or M&M’s while the chocolate is still warm to set the festive top layer.
- Cool and Set: Allow the cookies to cool completely at room temperature or refrigerate them for 30 minutes to 1 hour until fully set and firm.
- Serve and Store: Carefully pop the cookies out of the muffin tin liners, then serve and enjoy! Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator to maintain freshness.
Notes
- Use salted or unsalted butter based on your flavor preference; salted butter adds a subtle salty contrast to the sweet toffee.
- For variation, substitute the semi-sweet chocolate chips with milk, white chocolate, or a mix to suit your taste.
- Customize the topping with different candies like crushed candy canes for a peppermint twist or colorful M&M’s for added fun.
- Be cautious when handling hot toffee, as it can cause burns.
- Ensure to line muffin tins properly to make cookie removal easy and prevent sticking.
- Storing in the fridge will prolong shelf life and keep the chocolate firm, while room temperature storage will keep the toffee crispy.
