Description
Pretzel Christmas Crack is a festive, crunchy, and addictive sweet treat combining salty pretzels with rich buttery toffee, melted chocolate, and colorful sprinkles. Perfect for holiday gatherings or gifting, this easy-to-make recipe delivers the delightful contrast of salty and sweet in every bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Pretzel Base
- 40-48 pretzel crisps (or Pretzel Crackers, or 2-3 cups broken pretzels)
Toffee Layer
- 1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks)
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
Topping
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ½ cup sprinkles (or M&M’s, or candies of choice)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the toffee layer.
- Prepare Baking Pan: Line a 15″×10″ rimmed sheet pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil sprayed with cooking spray, or use a nonstick silicone baking mat to prevent sticking.
- Arrange Pretzels: Place the pretzel crisps in a single, even layer across the bottom of the pan. Break a few crackers if necessary to fill in gaps along the edges, ensuring full coverage.
- Make Toffee: In a medium pot over medium-low heat, melt the butter and brown sugar together. Stir occasionally until the mixture comes to a rolling boil. Continue boiling for 3 minutes until it bubbles and turns amber in color. Optionally, use a candy thermometer and cook until it reaches 270°F-290°F.
- Pour Toffee: Remove the pot from heat and carefully pour the hot toffee evenly over the pretzel layer. Quickly spread it with a spatula to cover all pretzels before it sets.
- Bake Toffee: Place the sheet pan in the preheated oven and bake for 3-5 minutes until the toffee starts bubbling.
- Add Chocolate: Remove the pan from the oven and immediately sprinkle the chocolate chips evenly over the hot toffee. Let them sit for 1-2 minutes to soften, then spread the melted chocolate evenly with a spatula. If the chocolate is not melting easily, return the pan to the oven for 1-2 minutes and then spread.
- Top with Sprinkles: Sprinkle your choice of sprinkles, M&Ms, or other candies over the melted chocolate layer while it’s still soft.
- Cool and Set: Allow the toffee to cool completely at room temperature, or refrigerate for 30 minutes to 1 hour until the chocolate and toffee are fully hardened.
- Break into Pieces: Once set, flip the tray to remove the hardened toffee from the pan and peel off the parchment or foil. Use your hands or a sharp knife to break it into pieces.
- Serve and Store: Enjoy immediately, or store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator.
Notes
- You can substitute pretzel crisps with pretzel rods broken into pieces or pretzel crackers.
- Using a candy thermometer helps achieve perfect toffee temperature for optimal texture.
- Ensure quick spreading of toffee layer as it sets fast once poured.
- Customize toppings with your favorite candies or nuts for variety.
- Store in an airtight container to maintain crispness for up to one week.
