Peppermint Bark Christmas Crack is the ultimate Christmas candy because it has not one, but two of the BEST Christmas candies ever; 20 Minute Christmas Crack, and Peppermint Bark! You are going to love the crunchy addition to standard peppermint bark, and you’re going to go crazy over how easy it is to make!
All December long my awesome readers go crazy over this 20 Minute Christmas Crack recipe for obvious reasons! First of all, it’s the easiest candy in the world to make. Secondly, you don’t need a candy thermometer or any other fancy equipment to make it (pretty much you just need a box of saltine crackers and you’re set). Finally, it’s the most addicitive candy on the planet! I cannot be left alone with the salty sweet combo candy!
So basically, Peppermint Bark Christmas Crack candy is a fun new version of that same Christmas Crack you already love! This time it has peppermint bark on top! It’s minty, pretty, and festive for the holidays! It’s also almost as quick and easy as the original version, yet a little fancier! Yes, I just said saltine crackers are fancy!
You know what else? It’s so inexpensive to make! That means it’s perfect for Christmas gifts for teachers, neighbors, Sunday school teachers, bus drivers, mail delivery person, etc. My only suggestions is make lots because it will go fast!
What is a full rolling boil?
You’re going to need to boil butter and sugar for exactly three minutes once it hits a full rolling boil. So what is a full rolling boil? It’s important to know for this recipe. A full rolling boil is when your mixture continues to boil, even when it’s being stirred.
Once the sugar/butter mixture hits a full rolling boil remove your spoon, turn the heat down to a little below medium, and time it for exactly three minutes.
How do I keep toffee (or Peppermint Bark Christmas Crack) from sticking to the pan or aluminum foil?
Prepare a rimmed half sheet baking pan with aluminum foil and spray with nonstick baking spray. This will make easy work of peeling the toffee off the aluminum foil.
If you have a few kiddos hanging around the kitchen have them do this job! They need to put crackers, salt side up, in the prepared pine. If you need to overlap the last row that’s okay.
Once the sugar/butter mixture is ready drizzle it all over the crackers. Then pop it in the oven for 5 minutes.
Remove candy from the oven and immediately sprinkle with chocolate chips. Go relax for about 5-10 minutes and when you come back you’ll be able to spread them with the back of a spoon.
Then let the candy completely cool. My garage is always cold this time of the year so I set them on my freezer for a few minutes. Find a chilly place and let them cool there.
You could stop right here and you’d be in love, but carry on with the next steps to make Peppermint Bark Christmas Crack candy!
What’s the best way to melt chocolate in the microwave?
Melt vanilla, or white, chocolate chips in the microwave. Here’s what you need to do. Cook chocolate chips for 1 minute at half power. Stir. Return to the microwave for 15 second intervals, stirring after each. Repeat that process until they are melted and smooth.
Add peppermint extracts to white chocolate chips.
Quickly pour over semisweet chocolate layer and spread it. You’ll need to work fast or the white chocolate chips will melt the semi sweet chocolate chips and you’ll end up with a marbled effect. Pretty, but probably not what you’re looking for here.
Sprinkle crushed candy canes over white chocolate to give it that gorgeous peppermint bark candy look!
Return pan to garage, or other cool place!
Grab the Peppermint Bark Christmas Crack recipe!
Christmas crack is my very favorite, go to, Christmas dessert recipe! It’s the one I share with friends, pack in my kids lunches, send to the bake sale, bring to every single cookie swap, and show up with year after year at the church Christmas party! It never gets old!
In fact, I shared some with my Sunday School class last Sunday and they said everyone at the high school rants and raves about this stuff! I do love the original 20 Minute Christmas Crack version, and the Mint Christmas Crack version. The white color of this Peppermint Bark version is a gorgeous addition to the other favorites!
You guys need to make this ASAP! Buy plenty of butter though, because you need to be prepared to make lots of batches! You’re going to become addicted!
Peppermint Bark Christmas Crack
Ingredients
- 1 c. butter
- 1 c. brown sugar
- 2 sleeves saltine crackers
- 1 1/2 c. semi sweet chocolate chips
- 12 oz. white chocolate chips, or vanilla chips
- 1/2 tsp. peppermint extract
- crushed candy canes
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line with aluminum foil and spray with nonstick baking spray.
- Line prepared pan with saltine crackers, salt side up. Crackers should be touching. If you need to overlap the last row of crackers it's okay.
- Over medium heat (you can turn the heat up just a touch over medium heat) bring butter and sugar to a full rolling boil while stirring constantly. As soon as mixture comes to a full rolling boil remove spoon, and reduce heat so it's just hot enough to keep the mixture boiling. Set a timer for 3 minutes.
- Pour boiled butter/sugar mixture evenly over crackers.
- Bake for 5 minutes.
- Remove from oven and immediately sprinkle with semi sweet chocolate chips.
- Let completely cool. If you want to speed cooling process move candy to a cool place, like the garage!
- Once candy has completely cooled move melt white chocolate chips in the microwave by cooking on half power for one minute. Stir. Return to microwave for 15 second intervals, stirring after each interval, until smooth and completely melted.
- Add peppermint extract to white chocolate. Working quickly pour over semi sweet chocolate layer, and spread evenly.
- Sprinkle with crushed candy canes.
- Let completely cool
- Cut into squares. Store in an airtight container for up to a week.
Alex says
Mine didn’t turn out. I think you need to put the pan back in the oven for a few minutes after sprinkling the chocolate chips on top, that way they will actually melt.
Amy Engberson says
The crackers will be hot after pouring the boiling sugar/butter mixture over them. Baking for 5 minutes will make them bubble and really hot. The milk or semi sweet chocolate chips should melt after sitting on the hot candy for a few minutes. You will have to microwave the white chocolate to spread over the milk chocolate layer. Hopefully, that helps! Let me know if you have any questions.
Lisa says
Had anyone froze these? I’m doing boxes to send to soldiers, so I have to have freezer safe cookies and candy
Amy Engberson says
I haven’t ever tried freezing them. Let me know if you try it.
Olivia says
Yes I have frozen many times! Freezer great and thaws just like you made it fresh.
Amy Engberson says
Good to know! Thanks for sharing!
Reenie says
Absolutely fantastic! The timing for the toffee is perfect! I had to hide them so that my son and I won’t demolish them before Christmas. So good!!!
Amy Engberson says
Haha! I can’t control myself around this candy either! It’s so good!
Linda Pritchett says
Mine came out in chunks rather than squares, and the crushed peppermint pieces did not adhere. Also the 12 oz. bag of white chocolate chips did not render the thick topping shown in your photo. Oh well. It does taste good, and I’ll take the pieces to my event anyway. Still was somewhat a disappointment.
Amy Engberson says
Hey, Linda! It’s perfectly fine to break the candy into chunks instead of cutting it into squares. Some people even prefer it that way! I typically use a long straight-edged knife and cut the candy because I like the clean look. Although a 12-ounce bag of chocolate chips covers my candy, you could always add extra chocolate chips if you like a little thicker chocolate layer. And I typically press the crushed peppermint candy into the melted chocolate just to make sure it sticks. I’ll go back and add those tips to make the recipe easier to make! I’m glad it tasted good!
Brenda Whitman says
That very last line of the directions was a HOOT! Store in an airtight container FOR UP TO A WEEK it says. Maybe in some parallel universe they’d last a week!
Amy Engberson says
I know! I know! They don’t last for a minute at my house! However, if someone had some serious self-control, or hid this candy really well it could last for up to a week! It won’t happen at my house! Enjoy!
Vanessa says
THanks for sharing! They have a great shelf life for the Christmas tin!
Amy Engberson says
That makes preparing for the holidays so much easier! Enjoy!
Allyson Zea says
I love how easy this is looking! I can;t wait to try it out!
Amy Engberson says
You can’t beat super easy recipes like this! Besides that it’s out of this world yummy!
Taylor W. says
This stuff is so addicting! Love all of the flavors!
Amy Engberson says
So stinking addicting! I finally sent it to school with my boys to get rid of so I didn’t eat the whole batch myself!
Krista says
This is a great Christmas treat for sure! I love how you did your step by step photos!
Amy Engberson says
Thanks Krista! Easy Christmas treats are exactly what I need to survive during December!
Dee says
I love easy, creative recipes like this, especially during the holidays! My family will eat this right uop!
Amy Engberson says
Thanks! It’s all about easy in December right? Especially when it tastes this good!
Sabrina says
This looks dangerously delicious! I’m going to have to give some away so I don’t eat it all!!
Amy Engberson says
Dangerous is the perfect word for this crack! And yes, I did have to give it away!