The perfect combination of sweet and salty, this Halloween Crack Candy recipe is seriously crave-worthy and so easy to create! Made with simple ingredients including butter, sugar, chocolate, and Saltine crackers, it’s the perfect cracker candy for fall.
Table of Contents
What is Halloween Saltine Crack Candy?
In Minnesota, crack candy is a beloved treat that’s typically made during Christmas. Sweet, salty, and quick to make, it’s always a hit! So, not wanting to wait another couple of months to indulge in our favorite cracker candy, we decided to spruce it up for Halloween, and it was so fun! Not only is this crack candy recipe super festive, but it’s also:
- Made with minimal ingredients
- Quick to toss together
- Allergy-friendly
- Kid-approved
Why Is It Called Crack Candy?
Also known as Christmas crack or cracker candy, there are several common explanations as to how this recipe got its name. The first theory is that it was named after the crunch or crack it makes when you take a bite. The second is that it was given its name because it’s even more addictive than crack. Although the origin of the name has been critiqued for being insensitive, we can confirm that this recipe is seriously addictive.
Ingredients You’ll Need
For this recipe, we took the standard recipe and added a few extra Halloween-inspired ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:
For the Halloween Cracker Candy Recipe
- Butter – We chose Danish Creamery Sea Salted European Style Butter for our candy. It boasts an 85% butterfat — two to three percent more than traditional butter. This extra butterfat means more cream and less water in your butter, making this toffee so rich.
- Sugar – Brown sugar creates a sweet, caramel-like layer.
- Vanilla Extract – To enhance the rest of the ingredients.
- Saltine Crackers – Mild in flavor, these form the salty base and provide the classic crunch this treat is famous for.
- Chocolate Chips – Opt for semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips.
For the Toppings
- Toffee Bits – For even more chocolate and a little extra crunch.
- Candy – We include Halloween colored M&Ms and candy eyeballs for a spooky look, but feel free to include any candy you like best!
- Sprinkles – Orange sprinkles take the Halloween theme to the next level!
How to Make Halloween Crack Candy
The only hard part about making this saltine cracker candy recipe is waiting for it to cool. It’s so easy, even the kids can do it! Plus, they’ll love getting to decorate.
- Prepare the Crack Candy. To begin, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, and line a 13×18 baking sheet with
parchment paper . Then, line the crackers in a single layer on the baking sheet. - Create the chocolate layer. Melt the butter and brown sugar in a saucepan. Bring the ingredients to a boil for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly. Stir in the vanilla, and pour the mixture over the crackers. Use a rubber spatula to smooth the mixture, spreading it in an even layer.
- Bake. Place the baking sheet in the oven until the mixture is brown and bubbly.
- Top with chocolate. Remove the baking sheet from the oven, and sprinkle chocolate chips on top. Once the chocolate has melted, use your spatula to smooth it out over the crackers.
- Decorate and Serve. While the chocolate is still gooey, add your favorite decorations and mix-ins on top. Transfer the baking sheet to the fridge until the chocolate hardens. Break the candy into pieces, and enjoy!
Variations
- Nuts: Sprinkle chopped pecans, almonds, or walnuts onto the hot toffee before it fully sets. The nuts bring extra texture and depth of flavor, giving you that irresistible crunchy-and-crisp moment.
- Sea-salt finish: Once the candy is set, lightly flick flaky sea salt over the top. It intensifies the sweet-salty contrast and makes it feel a little more gourmet.
- Spiced caramel: Stir in a pinch of cinnamon, ginger, or even cayenne into the melted butter and brown sugar mixture. That subtle warmth adds an unexpected, cozy dimension that’s totally Halloween-friendly.
- White chocolate & candy-corn: Instead of dark or milk chocolate, melt white chocolate and before it hardens, press a few candy-corn pieces into it. It gives a festive look, plus the sweet vanilla undertones of white chocolate pair beautifully with salted crackers and toffee.
- Peanut-butter layer: Right after the toffee layer bubbles, spread a thin layer of smooth peanut butter before sprinkling chocolate on top. The peanut butter adds creamy richness and a hint of nostalgia.
- Pumpkin-spice infusion: Add ½ teaspoon of pumpkin-spice blend to the toffee mixture. It brings autumnal warmth and fits the Halloween theme beautifully, giving you a taste that echoes cozy fall evenings.
- Other holiday themes: While googly eyes and fun orange, brown, or purple sprinkles are perfect for Halloween, you can switch it up for Christmas with green and red M&Ms or add Valentine’s Day add-ins in February.
How to Store and How Long it Will Keep
This crack candy disappears before we can even take it off the baking sheet. However, if you have more willpower not to eat it all at once, it can be stored in a sealable bag or an airtight container at room temperature for a week, in the fridge for up to 2 weeks, or freezer for up to 3 months.
Want to make these ahead for gifts? No problem! Just pop them in a small cellophane gift bag, tie a ribbon, and store them in the freezer for up to the recommended time.
Sometimes these treats will go soggy. If so, use these tricks to remedy it:
- If the crackers are slightly soft but still intact, let the candy chill longer in the fridge so everything fully sets. The chocolate and toffee layers firming up can help rigidify the base.
- If they’re seriously soggy and falling apart, break the pieces up and serve them like brittle or bark instead of clean squares. It’s still delicious, and you’ll save most of the batch.
- Serve the soggy pieces right away, so the texture contrast is less noticeable — warm and slightly soft can still be decadent.
Frequently Asked Questions
You don’t have to stick to the classic if you’re feeling adventurous! Saltines are awesome, but you can swap them for Ritz crackers, graham crackers, or even pretzels for a salty twist. It’s like a choose-your-own-adventure but with more sugar!
Go for it! You can swap the regular chocolate for white chocolate, peanut butter chips, or even butterscotch for a totally different flavor profile.
Absolutely—and they’ll love it! Kids can help spread the crackers, sprinkle on toppings, and go wild with the decorations. Just handle the hot preparation yourself, and let them take over the fun, messy stuff. It’s basically a Halloween activity and a snack in one.
Sure! You can use gluten-free crackers and just check that the rest of the ingredients you use are certified gluten-free. For vegan versions, use vegan butter alternatives and be sure to check the type of chocolate that you use in order to ensure that it meets your diet.
More Sweet Treats for Halloween
Looking for more ways to satisfy your sweet tooth this holiday? Try out more of our favorites below!
- This Hazelnut Chocolate Crock Pot Candy comes together in just under an hour for a decadent treat!
- A kid-friendly recipe, these Slow Cooker Chocolate Covered Pretzels are super tasty and so fun to make.
- We took Puppy Chow and made it even better with this Cookies and Cream Muddy Buddy recipe.
- Take traditional Rice Krispies treats to the next level with this Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats Recipe or Halloween Rice Krispies Treats.
Halloween Saltine Crack Candy
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Ingredients
- 2 sticks Danish Creamery Sea Salted butter
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1.5 sleeves Saltine crackers approximately 50 crackers
- 10 ounces semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips
- Toppings: toffee bits M&Ms, candy eyeballs, orange sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350° Fahrenheit, and line a 13×18 baking sheet with aluminum foil. Arrange the saltine crackers on top in a single layer.
- In a saucepan, melt the butter and brown sugar over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a rolling boil, and boil for 2-3 minutes or until thick, stirring constantly. Add the vanilla extract, and stir to combine.
- Pour the butter and sugar mixture over the saltines, and use a rubber spatula to spread it out evenly.
- Bake for 4-5 minutes or until the sauce is brown and bubbly.
- Remove the baking sheet from the oven, and sprinkle the chocolate on top. Let it sit for 5 minutes or until melted, and use the spatula to spread it over the crackers in an even layer. Sprinkle the candy pieces and toppings on top.
- Transfer the baking sheet to the fridge to cool for 1-2 hours or until the chocolate has hardened. NOTE: Do not put the candy in the freezer as the ingredients will separate.
- Break the candy into pieces, and enjoy!
- Storage: Leftover cracker candy will stay fresh in an airtight container or sealable bag in the fridge for up to 1 week or freezer for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
That butter is unfortunately not available where I live. can regular salted butter be used?
Yes, you can use any butter of choice!
We make this but with Graham crackers instead of saltines…. So good ❤️ it’s my go to easy “candy” treat – if you miss the salt when using the graham crackers use flaky sea salt on top of the chocolate!
ooooo YUM! Graham Crackers would be delicious too!
Xo,
Alia & Radwa