Why Make This Recipe
Christmas Crack Cookies are a delightful treat that combines the sweet and salty flavors of toffee, chocolate, and cookies in one delicious bite. They are perfect for holiday gatherings, cookie exchanges, or simply as a festive dessert at home. The unique blend of textures and flavors makes these cookies memorable and enjoyable for everyone who tries them. They are super easy to prepare, making them a go-to dessert for even the busiest of bakers.
How to Make Christmas Crack Cookies
Ingredients:
- 9 saltine crackers
- 6 tbsp salted butter
- 6 tbsp brown sugar
- 3/4 cup (150g) chocolate chips
- 1 cup (222g) salted butter, browned
- 1 cup (246g) brown sugar
- 1/2 cup (115g) granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2 1/4 cup (342g) all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- Flaky sea salt, for garnish
Directions:
First, make the Christmas Crack. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a 9×9 pan with parchment paper and arrange the saltine crackers in the pan, then set aside.
In a small saucepan, combine the salted butter and brown sugar. Bring to a boil. Once boiling, stop stirring. Boil for 2 1/2 minutes and then pour over the saltine crackers. Bake the toffee-covered crackers in the oven for 6 minutes.
Remove the cracker toffee from the oven and sprinkle chocolate chips on top. Let them sit for 5 minutes, then spread. Allow the cracker toffee to cool completely and then put it in the freezer.
While the toffee is chilling, brown the butter for the cookie dough. In a medium saucepan over low heat, melt the butter completely. Continue to heat the butter while stirring until it bubbles, turns golden brown, and gives off a nutty aroma. Then, remove it from the stove.
Pour the brown butter into the bowl of your stand mixer or a large bowl. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Add the brown sugar and granulated sugar to the bowl and mix thoroughly for 1 minute.
Next, add the eggs and vanilla, mixing until completely combined. Add the flour, baking soda, and salt, and mix until combined. The dough should be very soft.
Remove the cracker toffee from the freezer and chop it into small pieces. Fold the cracker toffee pieces into the cookie dough. Scoop the dough out into 3 tbsp portions and arrange them on a parchment or silicone-lined cookie sheet. Top with flaky sea salt.
Allow the cookie dough to rest at room temperature for 10 minutes prior to baking. Bake for 9-11 minutes or until spread and the cookie no longer looks glossy. Allow the cookies to cool on the pan. Enjoy!
How to Serve Christmas Crack Cookies
Serve Christmas Crack Cookies warm or at room temperature. They are delightful on their own or alongside a glass of milk, hot cocoa, or tea. For festive occasions, arrange them on a decorative platter and garnish with some holiday-themed decorations. They also make wonderful gifts when packaged in decorative boxes.
How to Store Christmas Crack Cookies
To keep these cookies fresh, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. If you want to enjoy them longer, you can freeze the baked cookies. Just make sure to wrap them well to avoid freezer burn. They can be frozen for up to three months.
Tips to Make Christmas Crack Cookies
- Ensure that you don’t over-bake the cookies; they should have a soft and slightly chewy texture.
- Don’t rush the browning process for the butter; this adds rich flavor to the cookies.
- Use high-quality chocolate chips for the best melting and flavor.
Variation
For a twist on the classic recipe, you could try adding nuts such as chopped pecans or walnuts to the cookie dough for added crunch and flavor. Additionally, you could substitute the chocolate chips with white chocolate or caramel chips for a different taste.
FAQs
1. Can I use unsalted butter instead of salted butter?
Yes, you can use unsalted butter. Just add a pinch of salt to the recipe to maintain flavor balance.
2. Can I make these cookies ahead of time?
Absolutely! These cookies store well and can be made a few days ahead of your event. Just keep them in an airtight container.
3. What if I don’t have saltine crackers?
If you don’t have saltine crackers, you can use other types of crackers, such as Ritz or any plain buttery crackers, as a substitute. The key is to achieve a sweet and salty flavor combination.
Christmas Crack Cookies
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a 9x9 pan with parchment paper and arrange the saltine crackers in the pan, then set aside.
- In a small saucepan, combine the salted butter and brown sugar. Bring to a boil, stir briefly, then stop stirring. Boil for 2 1/2 minutes and then pour over the saltine crackers.
- Bake the toffee-covered crackers in the oven for 6 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and sprinkle chocolate chips on top. Let sit for 5 minutes, then spread the melted chocolate evenly. Allow to cool completely and then place in the freezer.
- Brown the butter in a medium saucepan over low heat until it bubbles, turns golden brown, and gives off a nutty aroma. Remove from heat.
- Pour the brown butter into a large bowl. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Add the brown sugar and granulated sugar to the bowl and mix thoroughly for 1 minute.
- Add the eggs and vanilla, mixing until completely combined.
- Add the flour, baking soda, and salt, and mix until just combined. The dough should be very soft.
- Remove the cracker toffee from the freezer and chop it into small pieces. Fold the cracker toffee pieces into the cookie dough.
- Scoop the dough out in 3 tbsp portions and arrange them on a parchment or silicone-lined cookie sheet. Top with flaky sea salt.
- Allow the dough to rest at room temperature for 10 minutes prior to baking.
- Bake for 9-11 minutes or until spread and no longer glossy. Allow to cool on the pan.