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Saltine Cracker Candy for Valentine’s Day – This cute, easy and super fast treat will be sure to delight the ones you love!
Step by step photos and instructions below!
I’ve long been a fan of what we call in my house “Christmas Crack” (it has many names – toffee bark, cracker candy etc, saltine toffee etc). It’s a very simple treat – made with saltine crackers, caramel, chocolate and either nuts or candy sprinkled over the top.
Since Christmas is LONG gone, I thought I’d make this treat with a Valentine’s Day spin…. a drizzle of pink colored white chocolate, and some cute little heart sprinkles. See below for step-by-step photos.
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner! You’re all set, right? Got your cards and treats etc all ready to go? No? No problem!
This is so fast, you can make a couple of batches, and pack it in cute little bags with a ribbon, and be good to GO!
A quick cool down in the fridge, break it up and it’s ready.
As for me, I’ll probably make White Chocolate Fudge, Chocolate Cheesecake, or these Oreo Dirt Pudding Parfaits to go along with a nice dinner and call it good.
Ingredients
The full list of ingredients and quantities is found in the printable recipe card below.
- Saltine Crackers. These are the base of the candy. You will need 40 crackers. Some people use ritz crackers, but I like the saltines because they are square and in the baking sheet really well.
- Butter. I use salted butter for this (1 stick)
- Brown Sugar. Dark brown sugar is my favorite for this but light brown works too.
- Vanilla Extract. This flavors the caramel.
- Chocolate Chips. I use the mini ones, the melt quicker! You can use any kind you have. Milk chocolate, semi sweet dark chocolate – you choose.
- Candy Melts. I use pink for Valentine’s Day, green for St Patrick’s Day, pastel colors for Easter, etc. You can skip the candy melts if you want a plainer look.
- Sprinkles. Use whatever you have for whatever season it is. If you want to skip the seasonal aspect, you could just sprinkle over chopped pecans and call it good.
How to make Saltine Cracker Toffee (Cracker Candy)
Scroll for Recipe
The full list of ingredients, quantities and instructions can be found in the printable recipe card below.
Get prepped
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F and line a baking sheet or jelly roll pan with parchment paper.
Make the Caramel
Make the caramel on the stove. Heat the butter and brown sugar in a sauce pan over medium heat until the sugar dissolves, add the vanilla and bring to a boil, and cook until it thickens.
Make the cracker candy
Spread saltines on the prepared baking sheet. Pour the caramel over saltine crackers.
Bake in the oven for 5 minutes.
Sprinkle chocolate chips over the surface of the caramel.
Return to the oven for 1 minute, then spread the melted chocolate chips evenly over the caramel.
Decorate
Melt the candy melts and pipe over the chocolate.
Decorate with sprinkles.
Cool
Cool completely, then refrigerate until very firm.
Break into pieces, and share (or devour).
Kylee’s Notes
Be careful with the hot caramel, that stuff will cause serious burning if you spill it!
Substitutions/Additions
Use different colored sprinkles and decorations, depending on the occasion.
Vary up the chocolate – white chocolate is also super yummy with this!
What to do with leftovers
Store in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
More recipes to treat yourself
- Slutty Brownies Make this decadent dessert from scratch! With cookie dough on the base, Oreos in the middle and brownie batter poured over the top, these are the ultimate dessert!
- Old Fashioned Buttermilk Pie. Flaky pie crust filled with a custard-like filling, that will invoke memories of times gone by.
- Apple Dumplings. Tart apples wrapped in a flaky biscuit and smothered in a buttery vanilla sauce. Topped with crunchy cinnamon sugar, this is a super easy recipe that delivers on taste!
- Blondies. A super easy recipe for a classic, this Blondie Recipe mixes up fast, contains only 7 ingredients, and tastes amazing!
If you have tried this recipe or any other recipe on Kylee Cooks, leave a comment and rating – I truly love to hear from you!
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Saltine Cracker Toffee (Cracker Candy) for Valentine’s Day
Recommended Equipment
Ingredients
- 40 saltine crackers
- 1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
- 1 cup dark brown sugar firmly packed
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 12 oz mini chocolate chips (dark or milk – you choose)
- 6 oz candy melts (pink)
- 1/2 cup sprinkles of your choice
Instructions
Get prepped
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F and line a baking sheet or jelly roll pan with parchment paper.
Make the Caramel
- Make the caramel on the stove. Heat the butter and brown sugar in a sauce pan over medium heat until the sugar dissolves, add the vanilla and bring to a boil, and cook until it thickens.
Make the cracker candy
- Spread saltines on the prepared baking sheet. Pour the caramel over saltine crackers.
- Bake in the oven for 5 minutes.
- Sprinkle chocolate chips over the surface of the caramel.
- Return to the oven for 1 minute, then spread the melted chocolate chips evenly over the caramel.
Decorate
- Melt the candy melts and pipe over the chocolate.
- Decorate with sprinkles.
Cool
- Cool completely, then refrigerate until very firm.
- Break into pieces, and share (or devour).
Notes
Use different colored sprinkles and decorations, depending on the occasion.
Vary up the chocolate – white chocolate is also super yummy with this!
Nutrition
Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Update: This recipe was originally published in May of 2016. It was republished with updated photos in May of 2021.
Chelsea says
If you cant find candy melts ..what could u use as a substitute
Kylee says
White chocolate with a little food coloring will work!
Heather G says
Could I make these ahead of time and freeze them until needed?
Kylee says
I wouldn’t – they’d get soggy. They’ll keep for several days in a sealed container though if you wanted to make it ahead!
nicole says
Oh, no! I can see these being major trouble! They’re so cute with the heart sprinkles and I bet they can be made for most holidays! Thanks for sharing — definitely pinning for later 🙂
Felesha says
I just love how easy these fun little treats are! Thanks for sharing!
Kylee says
Thanks, Felesha! I appreciate you stopping by.
Kristen says
I might get into trouble if I make this!! I am pretty sure my husband would eat all of this!
Kylee says
Hehe – I’ve hidden part of the stash… from everyone
Lara @ Uptite Mamas says
Freaking love this candy! I make it at christmas time. I have to keep it as strictly a christmas recipe because if I made it all the time, I would eat it all the time. And we know too much of a good thing… Love that you added valentine’s day theme. Hmmmm maybe I should make a batch. 😉
Visiting from the blog hop!!
Kylee says
Thanks for stopping by! I used to be a strictly “christmas only” maker of this, but… it lends itself so well to being modified… why not cheat and use it for Valentines? or St Patrick’s Day? What about white chocolate, red swirls, and blue sprinkles for 4th July?
michele says
This is so darling. I make this often, but you make it look so festive in your presentation…I am going to make it your way for the gang for valentines day! Thanks so much!
Kylee says
Thanks, Michele – I think it can be adapted for any occasion!
Terra Heck says
I had Christmas Crack for the first time last December. It was very yummy. Thanks for the Valentine’s version recipe. I’ll have to give it a try.
Kylee says
Thanks, Terra!
Tracy @ Served from Scratch says
Love toffee treats!! This looks soo good
Kylee says
Thanks, Tracy – give them a try!
Eva @ Eva Bakes says
Oooh, this looks so addicting! I’m afraid I’d eat the whole pan myself. 🙂
Kylee says
Well, you might. So you have to force yourself to share.
demeter | beaming baker says
Christmas Crack? LOL. This recipe is such a great idea for Valentine’s Day! Thanks for the recipe. 🙂
Kylee says
hehe – yeah, I think the name derived from the word “cracker” but… for me, it’s as addicting as I assume crack is…. 😉 Thanks for stopping by!
Molly Kumar says
I do have all the ingredients inclucing that box of saltine 🙂 These would be perfect for valentine!