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Holiday toffee bark combines crispy crackers, gooey caramel, and smooth chocolate for a tasty festive snack. This sweet-meets-salty treat works great as a homemade gift or party munchie that nobody can resist.
What You'll Need
- 1 sleeve saltine crackers (about 40): They create that crispy foundation we all love.
- 1 cup salted butter: Gives the caramel mixture its luxurious taste.
- 1 cup light brown sugar (packed): Works with butter to make that yummy caramel layer.
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips: These melt into a dreamy topping over everything.
- 1 cup red and green M&Ms (roughly chopped): Adds holiday colors and candy crunch.
Step-by-Step Directions
- Step 1:
- Get your oven hot at 400°F. Put parchment paper or foil on a baking sheet and spray it lightly with cooking spray.
- Step 2:
- Put saltines flat across the whole baking sheet in one layer.
- Step 3:
- Grab a small pot and mix butter with brown sugar over medium heat. Keep stirring until it bubbles up. Let it cook for 3-4 minutes until it looks like caramel.
- Step 4:
- Pour your hot caramel carefully over all the crackers, trying to cover them evenly.
- Step 5:
- Stick the tray in your hot oven for 5-6 minutes until you see everything getting all bubbly.
- Step 6:
- Take it out and scatter chocolate chips all over the top. Wait about 5 minutes while they get soft and melty.
- Step 7:
- Grab a spatula and smooth out the melted chocolate across the whole tray.
- Step 8:
- Sprinkle your chopped M&Ms across the chocolate layer.
- Step 9:
- Cool everything in your fridge for 3 hours or pop it in the freezer for around 30 minutes until the chocolate hardens up.
- Step 10:
- Once it's firm, break up the bark into random pieces and dig in!
Keeping It Fresh
- Keep leftover pieces in a sealed container in your fridge for up to a week.
- You can freeze these treats for about 3 months if you want. Just let them warm up a bit before eating.
- These make awesome presents—just tuck some pieces into cute holiday containers and hand them out to friends.
Quick Pointers
- Watch that caramel mixture closely while cooking—it can burn fast if you turn away.
- Want more chocolate? Go ahead and throw on extra chips before you spread them out.
- Make it your own by adding crushed candy canes or festive sprinkles on top.
Pro Advice
- Martha Stewart says splurging on fancy chocolate makes the whole thing taste way better.
- Ina Garten likes adding a tiny bit of sea salt on the chocolate for that extra pop of flavor.
- Jamie Oliver recommends using a flexible silicone tool to get that chocolate spread just right.
What Makes This So Good
- It's super fast to make with stuff you probably already have—perfect when you're running around during the holidays.
- That mix of sweet chocolate and salty crackers gets everyone coming back for more.
- You can make it days ahead and just pull it out when company shows up.
Try These Twists
- Mix in smashed candy canes for a cool minty flavor that screams Christmas.
- Switch to white chocolate instead of semi-sweet for a different look and taste.
- Try topping with chopped almonds or cranberries instead of M&Ms for something different.