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
Be careful with the hot caramel, that stuff will cause serious burning if you spill it!
Use different colored sprinkles and decorations, depending on the occasion.
Vary up the chocolate – white chocolate is also super yummy with this!