Description
Craving a sweet and salty treat? Dive into the ultimate Christmas crack recipe with pretels that will satisfy any snack lover. Discover the joy of holiday baking!
Ingredients
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- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
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- 1 cup packed brown sugar
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- 2 cups mini pretels (or regular pretels broken into pieces)
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- 12 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips (about 2 cups)
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- Optional toppings: M&Ms, crushed candy canes, chopped nuts, sea salt, or sprinkles
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet (approximately 10×15 inches) with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. This is crucial, friends—without it, you’ll be chiseling caramel off your pan until Valentine’s Day!
Spread your pretels evenly across the baking sheet, creating a single layer. Don’t worry about small gaps; the toffee will fill those in.
In a medium saucepan, combine the butter and brown sugar over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a boil, then let it bubble for exactly 3 minutes without stirring. (I set a timer on my phone because those 3 minutes are non-negotiable for perfect toffee!)
The mixture should turn a beautiful amber color and smell like the inside of a butterscotch candy factory. That’s when you know it’s ready!
Carefully pour the hot toffee mixture over your pretel layer, trying to distribute it evenly. Don’t worry if some spots have more coverage than others—it’ll spread in the oven.
Place the baking sheet in your preheated oven for 5 minutes. This allows the toffee to further spread and incorporate with the pretels.
Remove the baking sheet from the oven and immediately sprinkle the chocolate chips evenly over the hot toffee-pretel layer. Wait about 2 minutes to let the chips melt from the residual heat.
Once softened, use a spatula to gently spread the chocolate into an even layer. This is my daughter Lila’s favorite part—she calls it “chocolate painting!”
While the chocolate is still melty, sprinkle on your desired toppings. In our house, we usually divide the pan into sections—candy canes for me, M&Ms for the kids, and sea salt for my husband Eric.
Allow the Christmas crack to cool completely at room temperature (about 2-3 hours) or speed things up by placing it in the refrigerator for about an hour.
Once fully cooled and set, grab the edges of the parchment paper and lift the entire sheet of Christmas crack out of the pan. Place it on a cutting board and either cut it with a sharp knife or (more fun) break it into irregular pieces with your hands.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 piece
- Calories: 220
Keywords: Christmas crack, pretzel bark, holiday dessert, caramel toffee, easy candy recipe