What’s better than a regular Ritz cracker? A chocolate-covered, toffee-coated Christmas Ritz cracker!
This holiday twist on the classic snack cracker turns simple ingredients into something that’ll have everyone reaching for seconds. Perfect for cookie swaps, gift boxes, or just keeping around the house during the festive season. Fair warning though – once you put these out, they tend to disappear faster than snow on a sunny day.
Suggestions for Ingredient Substitution
Buttery round crackers can be replaced with graham crackers or digestive biscuits for a different texture and flavor profile. Adjust the quantity to ensure complete coverage of the baking sheet. Unsalted butter can be substituted with coconut oil for a dairy-free option, using a 1:1 ratio. This substitution may impart a subtle coconut flavor to the toffee. Brown sugar can be replaced with coconut sugar or a sugar-free sweetener like erythritol for those watching their sugar intake. When using erythritol, use about 25% more to achieve the same level of sweetness. Cooking time may need to be slightly adjusted when using alternative sweeteners, so monitor closely for desired consistency.
| Preparation Time | 10-15 minutes |
| Cooking Time | 10-15 minutes |
| Total Time | 70-90 minutes |
| Level of Difficulty | Easy |
Estimated Nutrition
Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):
- Calories: 2700-3000
- Protein: 20-25 g
- Fat: 180-200 g
- Carbohydrates: 300-350 g
Ingredients
For the base:
- 50 round buttery crackers (such as Ritz, for their classic salty-sweet crunch)
For the caramel layer:
- 1 cup unsalted butter (I like Kerrygold for its rich flavor)
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
For the chocolate layer:
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips (Ghirardelli is a good choice for melting smoothly)
For the topping:
- 2 tsp flaky sea salt (like Maldon, for a delicate crunch and burst of saltiness)
Step 1: Prepare Baking Pan and Preheat Oven
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
Line a rimmed baking sheet, about 12″ x 17″ in size, with parchment paper.
Arrange the Ritz crackers on the prepared pan in a single layer, ensuring they’re evenly spaced and not overlapping.
Step 2: Make the Caramel Mixture
Once the oven is preheated, combine butter and brown sugar in a saucepan over medium to medium-high heat.
Stir constantly as you bring the mixture to a boil.
Allow it to boil softly, maintaining a constant stir, for 2-3 minutes until the caramel thickens.
Be vigilant to prevent burning.
Step 3: Coat Crackers and Bake
Carefully pour the hot caramel mixture over the layer of Ritz crackers on your baking sheet.
Use a spatula to spread the caramel evenly across all the crackers.
Place the pan in the oven and bake for about 5 minutes, or until the edges start to bubble and brown slightly.
Step 4: Add Chocolate Layer
Remove the baking sheet from the oven and immediately sprinkle chocolate chips evenly over the hot caramel-coated crackers.
Let them sit for about 5 minutes until the chips become glossy and start to melt.
Then, using a spatula or the back of a spoon, spread the melted chocolate evenly over the entire surface.
Step 5: Add Sea Salt and Set the Toffee
After spreading the chocolate, let the pan sit for 2 minutes to allow the chocolate to set slightly.
Sprinkle sea salt flakes evenly over the chocolate layer for an added burst of flavor.
Step 6: Freeze and Break into Pieces
Transfer the pan to the freezer and let the toffee set firmly for approximately 1 hour.
Once fully set, remove the toffee from the freezer and break it into pieces, aiming for approximately 2-inch pieces for easy snacking.
Your delicious Ritz cracker toffee is now ready to enjoy!
