Crunchy, chewy, sweet & salty, and so easy to make! With a smothering of chocolate and M&M’S®, this saltine toffee will be the first treat to disappear on any holiday cookie plate.

This post is sponsored by my friends at M&M’S® and was originally published in December 2015.

Why This Saltine Toffee Recipe Is an Absolute Must

While this toffee isn’t technically a cookie, it’s the 9th recipe in my 12 Days of Christmas Cookies lineup — and honestly, who doesn’t want saltine cracker candy showing up on their cookie plate?! Even the Grinch would change his mind after one bite. This classic holiday treat recipe has been all over the internet forever, and I resisted making it myself for way too long. The thought of homemade toffee gave me an instant migraine. But you guys — it’s actually one of the most beginner-bakers-friendly candy recipes out there. No special equipment, no stress, just a handful of pantry ingredients and pure magic.

Simple Ingredients for This Saltine Cracker Toffee Recipe

Here’s the beautiful thing about this saltine toffee bark: you only need a few simple ingredients. We’re talking unsalted butter and dark brown sugar — equal parts — for the toffee mixture, plus your saltine crackers, chocolate chips, and M&M’S®. That’s it! No cup butter drama, no complicated candy making steps, no candy thermometer required. I’m telling you, true confessors of toffee love will be shocked at how a cup dark brown sugar and some butter can transform a humble soda cracker toffee into something that gives See’s Chocolates a run for its money. For more indulgent chocolate inspiration, you’ll also love these Milk Chocolate Toffee Brownies!

How to Make This Christmas Crack Recipe Step by Step

First, prep your rimmed baking sheet — a half sheet pan (10.5 x 15.5) works perfectly. Line it with parchment paper or aluminum foil, then spray with non-stick cooking spray. Arrange your saltine crackers in a single layer, making sure every inch is covered. Next, melt your unsalted butter and dark brown sugar together in a medium saucepan (or small saucepan works too!) over medium heat, stirring until you hit a rolling boil. Let it bubble away for 3-5 minutes without stirring — that’s your butter toffee getting gorgeous. Pour the brown sugar mixture in an even layer over the crackers and slide into your preheated 400°f oven for about 6 minutes. Then sprinkle chocolate chips on top and bake 1-2 minutes more so the residual heat does the melting work for you!

Laura Ashley’s Tip for Perfect Melted Chocolate

Once those chips are soft, use an offset spatula to spread the melted chocolate into one glorious layer of chocolate across the whole sheet tray. This is your clear indication it’s time for the fun part: pile on your M&M’S®! You can also try milk chocolate chips, dark chocolate, or even white chocolate if you’re feeling fancy. Want a different version of saltine cracker toffee? Crushed candy canes, toffee bits, or even graham crackers as the base make for amazing different toppings — hello, graham cracker toffee vibes! For another sweet treat with major holiday energy, check out these Holiday Cake Recipes and these dreamy Salted Caramel Brownies. Laura Ashley’s tip: let the chocolate set fully before you even think about breaking it apart — a couple of minutes of patience goes a long way!

How to Store Saltine Cracker Toffee

Once your chocolate saltine toffee is fully set, break it into pieces and store saltine cracker toffee in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to a week — or refrigerate it. It’s a great make ahead holiday treat, which means it survives weeks of vacation laundry, strep throat seasons, fender benders, and all the chaos the holiday season throws at you. Package it in cellophane bags for gifting — your mail carrier, neighbors, and anyone else on your list will flip! If you want to go full small factory mode and crank out a whole lot of goodies, this simple toffee saltine crackers recipe doubles beautifully. Want a star rating from your people? Make this next day after a big dinner and watch it vanish. This easy treat honestly rivals huge handmade dilly bars at the state fair — I literally can’t even.

Make This Salty Sweet Treat Your New Holiday Tradition

If you haven’t tried this chocolate saltine toffee yet, this is your sign! It’s the ultimate sweet saltine cracker dessert — a crunchy saltine cracker base with a super crispy toffee layer and your favorite chocolate treats piled on top. Think of it as grandma’s recipe meets modern candy bar energy. Whether it’s your first time making it or your next time experimenting with a crunchy version of this dessert, you truly cannot go wrong. Need more salty-sweet inspo? Try these Whipped Shortbread Cookies or these incredible Toffee Snickerdoodle Rice Krispie Treats. Now go make this — you have to!

If you’re looking for more yummy M&M’S recipes, check out their new Pinterest page!

You also have to try these M&M’S Brownie Cookies! I’m obsessed.

Cracker Toffee

Crunchy, chewy, sweet & salty, and so easy to make! With a smothering of chocolate and M&M'S®, this toffee will be the first treat to disappear on any holiday cookie plate.

Ingredients

approximately 1 sleeve soda crackers (enough to cover the pan in one layer)
1 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
2 cups milk chocolate chips
1 cup M&M candies for topping

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400ºF. Prepare a 10.5 x 15.5 jelly roll pan by lining it with parchment paper. Be sure to crease the edges, so that it's easier to lay the crackers in a single layer.

Place the crackers in a flat, single layer on the jelly roll pan. Don't worry about any gaps in between the crackers.

Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Mix in the brown sugar. Bring to a boil (should be bubbling definitively around the edge-- you shouldn't wonder if it's boiling or not) and set a timer for 3 minutes.

Allow to boil without stirring. After 3 minutes, remove from heat immediately. Pour the mixture over the crackers, and use a spatula to gently spread the toffee over the crackers (it's ok if the crackers get displaced a little, but try to keep them as flat as possible).

Bake toffee-crackers for 6 minutes. Remove and sprinkle the chocolate chips on top. Return to oven for 1 minute.

Spread the melted chocolate chips evenly across the toffee with a spatula. Sprinkle M&M'S over top. Let the pan cool at room temperature for a few minutes before placing it in the refrigerator to chill for about 30 minutes, until hardened. Break apart to serve. Store chilled.

Tip: for easier cutting/breaking, remove toffee from the refrigerator after 10 minutes (it should be partially cooled-- the chocolate should be hardened enough that it won't be disturbed by cutting, and soft enough that it's easy to cut) and cut the toffee into small squares. Return to the refrigerator to finish cooling and harden completely.