If you love a little salt in your desserts, then this Pretzel Christmas Crack recipe is perfect for you! It's great to make during the holidays for party guests, to take to potlucks, or to wrap and give as a homemade gift. No matter how you choose to share Christmas pretzel crack, everyone will love it.
Recipe Essentials
- 🍽️ Course: Dessert
- ⏱️ Cooking Time: 10 minutes
- 🍴 Servings: 16
- 🧄 Flavor Profile: Sweet, salty, buttery, and crunchy. Pretzels add a snap, and chocolate makes it smooth.
- 🍚 Best Served With: Great with hot cocoa, coffee, or popcorn. Crumble over yogurt or ice cream.
- 🧊 Make Ahead: Yes, it is even better the next day. Keeps airtight for up to a week.
Summarize and Save This Content On
Who knew that pretzels, chocolate, and a rich homemade caramel could taste so gourmet? I like to make these at Christmas with red and green sprinkles as a special touch, but it would work for any holiday or occasion you want. Just be careful not to eat too much in one sitting because it's so addictive!
Some more homemade holiday candy recipes to try include these Christmas marshmallows and this layered chocolate nut toffee. This Dubai chocolate bark is really good too.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- It's easy to make: This Christmas crack with pretzels is super simple to make, which is ideal when you're short on time or if you don't want to put a lot of effort into dessert.
- It's budget-friendly: I love that this is an inexpensive recipe, too! You don't have to spend a lot of money to make tasty treats.
- It makes a great gift: You can wrap up a few pieces in a cellophane treat bag and give them to friends and family as a thoughtful gift.
Ingredients
Everything you need for this Christmas crack recipe with pretzels is listed below. I use simple ingredients to create this impressive dessert.
- Pretzels: The mini pretzel twists are my favorite variety for this recipe. The waffle pretzels also work in a pinch, too.
- Butter: There's no need to soften the butter because it will be melted for the caramel layer. I use unsalted butter because I add salt to this recipe. If you have salted butter, omit the extra salt.
- Brown sugar: This is combined with the butter to make a quick homemade caramel. It has a lovely molasses flavor that adds depth and complexity to the pretzel Christmas crack.
- Chocolate chips: I love semi-sweet chocolate chips in this recipe because they keep the treat from becoming way too sweet. If you prefer, milk or even dark chocolate chips work, too.
- Holiday sprinkles: Any variety of red and green sprinkles is perfect for Christmas. Choose classic sprinkles or a fun shape like Christmas trees or stockings.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- White chocolate: Swap the semi-sweet chocolate chips for white chocolate chips for a richer version and a different color.
- Try salty crackers: Use saltine crackers or Ritz crackers in place of the pretzels for a classic version.
- Change the theme: Decorate the pretzel crack with different color sprinkles to celebrate another holiday like Easter (pastel sprinkles) or Halloween (orange and purple).
How to Make Pretzel Christmas Crack
To get started, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and line a large baking sheet with foil or parchment paper. Then, it's time to prepare this delicious Christmas crack made with pretzels!
Step 1: Lay out the pretzels. Grab your baking sheet and lay the pretzels in an even layer on the pan.
Step 2: Combine the butter and sugar. Add the butter and brown sugar to a saucepan over medium heat, and stir the mixture as the butter melts and the sugar dissolves.
Step 3: Cook the caramel. Next, bring it to a full boil and stop stirring. Add your candy thermometer and cook the caramel for 3-4 minutes, or until it reaches 290 degrees F. Then, remove it from the heat and stir in the vanilla and salt.
Step 4: Pour and bake. Now you can pour the hot caramel over the pretzels and spread it evenly with a spatula. Pop the pan in the oven for 5 minutes or until the caramel darkens.
Step 5: Add the chocolate chips. Sprinkle the chocolate chips over the hot caramel and pretzels, and let them sit for 2-3 minutes or until they melt. Then, spread the chocolate evenly.
Step 6: Decorate and chill. Finally, sprinkle the holiday sprinkles on top and set the pan in the fridge or freezer for an hour to chill and set. Crack and enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Chill thoroughly: Allow the pretzel Christmas crack plenty of time to cool and set so it's easier to "crack" and doesn't melt all over your hands.
- Extend the parchment past the pan edges: When you add parchment to the baking sheet, allow it to extend over the edges a little bit. Then, you can carefully lift it off the pan.
- Use a candy thermometer: I like to use one when making caramel. This ensures that you get the correct consistency before you pour it over the pretzels.
If pretzel desserts like this are your calling, you just have to check out our Hershey Kiss pretzels and these brownie pretzels.
And...If delicious desserts like this one are what you're known for during the holidays, you really should take a look at these Christmas sugar cookie cups. They're so tasty and addictive that even Santa will make a forever place for you on his NICE list! Give them a try and you'll see what I mean!
Storage Directions
- Storing: Store this Christmas crack at room temperature in an airtight container for up to a week. If placed in this fridge, the shelf life is the same, but I recommend letting it sit out for a few minutes so the caramel isn't too hard. Freeze this treat for up to 3 months!
- Make ahead: Since this dessert needs some time to chill and set, feel free to make it up to 24 hours in advance so it's ready to eat. I like to do this if I'm serving it to party guests.
Serving Suggestions
- Prepare this Grinch green Christmas hot chocolate to enjoy with a piece of this Christmas pretzel crack.
- Enjoy some other themed treats as part of a holiday party spread. Great ideas include Christmas brownies and gingerbread snowflakes.
- Serve a showstopping reverse sear beef tenderloin or sous vide lamb rack for your holiday main course and then some sweet and salty pretzel crack for dessert!
Recipe FAQs
This is when the candy thermometer comes in handy. Allowing it to boil over medium heat until it reaches the right temperature ensures the caramel sets properly.
You need to stir the caramel constantly at the beginning to ensure that the butter and sugar are fully incorporated. This will prevent the sugar crystals from forming.
You must work quickly! Add the sprinkles as soon as the chocolate is melted, so they will stay put once the chocolate hardens.
More Delicious Pretzel Recipes
Do you like pretzel recipes? Here are some recipes you may also like to try.
If you try this recipe and love it please leave a star rating in the recipe card below or even better, drop a review in the comment section. I always appreciate your feedback. Be sure to follow along with me on Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube for more easy recipes!
Pretzel Christmas Crack
Ingredients
- 4 cups mini pretzels
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups semisweet or milk chocolate chips
- Holiday sprinkles for topping
Instructions
- Prepare the pan: Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or foil and arrange the pretzels in a single, even layer. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Make the caramel: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the butter and brown sugar. Stir constantly as the butter melts and the sugar begins to dissolve, creating a smooth, glossy mixture.
- Stop stirring when it boils: Once the mixture reaches a full rolling boil, stop stirring completely. Clip a candy thermometer to the side of the pan and let it cook undisturbed until it reaches 290°F (soft crack stage), about 3-4 minutes.
- Add flavoring: Remove the pan from heat and carefully stir in the vanilla extract and salt. The mixture will bubble, so use caution.
- Pour and bake: Immediately pour the hot caramel evenly over the pretzels, using a spatula to spread it quickly before it sets. Bake for 5 minutes, or until the caramel is bubbly and slightly darkened.
- Add chocolate: Remove from the oven and sprinkle the chocolate chips evenly over the hot caramel. Let sit for 2-3 minutes, then spread the melted chocolate into an even layer.
- Decorate and cool: Top with holiday sprinkles, then refrigerate or freeze until firm, about 1 hour.
- Break and serve: Once set, break into pieces and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Stir the butter and brown sugar well so the sugar fully dissolves. This will ensure that sugar crystals don't form.
- A candy thermometer is key to achieving the best caramel layer possible!
- Ensure you allow the pretzel crack plenty of time to cool and set before you serve it, so it cracks evenly.
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