Description

Pretzel Christmas Crack, also known as Pretzel Toffee, is a crunchy, sweet, and salty holiday treat featuring a crispy pretzel base topped with rich brown sugar toffee, gooey melted chocolate, and festive sprinkles or candies. This easy no-fuss recipe is perfect for holiday gifting or snacking, combining a wonderful blend of textures and flavors for a crowd-pleasing sweet treat.

Ingredients

Scale

Pretzel Base

40-48 pretzel crisps (or pretzel crackers, or 2-3 cups pretzels, not sticks)

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)

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Instructions

Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 350℉ to prepare for baking the toffee layer.
Prepare Baking Tray: Line a 15″×10″ rimmed sheet pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil sprayed with cooking spray. Alternatively, use a nonstick silicone baking mat for easy removal.
Arrange Pretzels: Place the pretzel crisps in a single even layer across the entire tray. If necessary, break some pretzels to fill gaps on the edges to ensure full coverage.
Make Toffee: In a medium pot over medium-low heat, melt the unsalted butter and add the packed brown sugar. Stir occasionally until it reaches a rolling boil. Continue to cook and stir for 3 minutes until the mixture is bubbling and has an amber color. Optionally, use a candy thermometer and cook until it reaches 270℉-290℉. Remove from heat promptly.
Pour Toffee: Carefully pour the hot toffee mixture evenly over the pretzels in the pan. Quickly use a spatula to spread it, covering the entire layer for even sweetness.
Bake Toffee Layer: Place the sheet pan in the preheated oven and bake for 3-5 minutes until the toffee starts to bubble, indicating it’s cooking through.
Add Chocolate: Remove the pan from the oven. Immediately sprinkle the semi-sweet chocolate chips evenly over the hot toffee. Let them sit for 1-2 minutes to soften, then use a spatula to spread the melted chocolate smoothly over the toffee layer. If the chocolate does not melt easily, return the pan to the oven for 1-2 minutes and then spread.
Top with Sprinkles: While the chocolate is still soft, distribute your choice of sprinkles or candies evenly on top for festive decoration and extra flavor.
Cool and Harden: Allow the toffee to cool completely at room temperature or refrigerate for 30 minutes to 1 hour until the chocolate and toffee harden.
Break and Serve: Once hardened, flip the tray to remove the toffee from the pan and peel off the parchment or foil. Break the toffee into pieces with your hands or cut with a sharp knife. Serve and enjoy.
Storage: Store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature or in the fridge to keep the toffee fresh and crunchy.

Notes

Use pretzel crisps or pretzel crackers for the best texture; regular pretzel sticks won’t cover the base evenly.
A candy thermometer helps achieve perfect toffee consistency by ensuring the right temperature.
If chocolate chips don’t melt immediately when sprinkled, briefly warm them in the oven to achieve smooth spreading.
Customize by using M&M’s, different sprinkles, or your favorite candies to match holiday themes.
Store in an airtight container to maintain crunchiness and freshness for up to 1-2 weeks.