Description
Pretzel Christmas Crack, also known as Pretzel Toffee, is a deliciously sweet and salty holiday treat featuring a crunchy pretzel base topped with buttery toffee, melted chocolate, and festive sprinkles. This easy-to-make dessert combines the perfect balance of flavors and textures, making it an ideal holiday party snack or gift.
Ingredients
Scale
Base
- 40-48 pretzel crisps (or pretzel crackers, or 2-3 cups pretzels, not sticks)
Toffee
- 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-topped pretzels.
- Prepare Baking Tray: Line a rimmed 15″×10″ sheet pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil sprayed with cooking spray, or use a nonstick silicone baking mat for easy removal of the finished treat.
- Arrange Pretzels: Place the pretzel crisps in a single even layer on the bottom of the lined tray. Break some pretzels if necessary to fill in gaps ensuring the entire tray is covered.
- Make Toffee: In a medium-sized pot over medium-low heat, melt the butter and brown sugar together. Bring the mixture to a rolling boil, stirring occasionally. Continue boiling for 3 minutes until the mixture bubbles vigorously and turns an amber color. Optionally, use a candy thermometer to confirm the toffee reaches between 270°F and 290°F.
- Pour Toffee: Remove the pot from heat and carefully pour the hot toffee evenly over the pretzels. Quickly use a spatula to spread and cover all pretzels with the toffee mixture.
- Bake Toffee: Place the sheet pan in the preheated oven and bake for 3 to 5 minutes or until the toffee mixture starts to bubble.
- Add Chocolate: Remove the pan from the oven and immediately scatter the chocolate chips evenly on top of the bubbling toffee. Let the chocolate sit for 1-2 minutes to soften, then spread it evenly with a spatula. If the chocolate is too firm, return the pan to the oven for 1-2 minutes to melt before spreading.
- Add Toppings: Decorate the melted chocolate with sprinkles, M&M’s, or candies of your choice while still warm.
- Cool and Harden: Allow the pretzel toffee to cool completely at room temperature or refrigerate for 30 minutes to 1 hour until the chocolate and toffee sets hard.
- Break Into Pieces: Carefully flip the tray to remove the toffee from the pan and peel off the parchment or foil. Break the toffee into shards using your hands or cut it into pieces with a sharp knife.
- Serve and Store: Enjoy immediately or store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator for several days.
Notes
- Use pretzel crisps or crackers rather than pretzel sticks for an even toffee layer.
- If you have a candy thermometer, aim for 270°F-290°F for perfect toffee consistency.
- If the chocolate doesn’t spread easily, warm it slightly in the oven before spreading.
- Store this treat in an airtight container to keep it fresh and crunchy.
- Get creative with toppings such as holiday-themed sprinkles or chopped nuts.
