Pretzel Crack
This pretzel crack is crunchy, creamy and chocolaty! This quick and easy recipe is ready in under 25 minutes. It has amazing salty and sweet flavors. Make this fun snack for the Christmas holiday season, birthdays and more!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- This pretzel crack is quick and easy.
- Only a few ingredients needed. This Banana Bark and this Valentine’s Bark are just as easy!
- The salty pretzels and sweet chocolate work so well together.
- Both kids and adults love this recipe.
- These Christmas Oreos are another fun recipe.
- This is great for Christmas.
- Serve in a gift box, as part of a charcuterie board or by themselves.
- This recipe can be made gluten free.
- Check out this Rolo Pretzels Recipe for another holiday favorite!
Ingredients & Substitutions
These are the main ingredients and substitutions for pretzel crack. Scroll down to the recipe card for full ingredients list and instructions.
Use either regular or gluten free pretzels. Any type of pretzels work except pretzel rods may be tricky. If desired, replace with graham crackers or saltine crackers. Try these 7 Layer Bars too!
I used gluten free pretzels for this gluten free Christmas crack.
Use unsalted butter. Dairy free or Vegan butter can be used if needed.
Light brown sugar adds the caramel flavor. When baked, it tastes like a delicious toffee.
Melted chocolate adds the smooth creamy top layer. Feel free to use sugar free or Vegan chocolate if needed.
Lastly, top with sprinkles. Or, consider topping with toffee bits, chopped walnuts or pecans.
What is Christmas Crack?
Christmas crack is a fun holiday treat usually consisting of saltine crackers, caramel sauce, chocolate and toffee.
The layers are as follows: saltine crackers, homemade caramel, melted chocolate, then toffee bits on top.
After freezing, then break into pieces.
Christmas crack is quick and easy to make. Serve it in tin boxes as gifts (maybe alongside some popcorn). Or, eat it by itself.
This pretzel crack is made with pretzels instead of crackers. Other variations include graham crackers.
Taste & Texture
This Christmas crack with pretzels is sweet and salty. It tastes exactly as it looks. The caramel sauce has a slight toffee flavor.
The textures are crunchy, creamy, and smooth.
How to Make
Step 1
First, preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a rimmed baking pan with parchment paper.
Step 2
Place the pretzels in one even layer.
Step 3
In a saucepan, add the butter and light brown sugar.
Step 4
Cook over medium heat for 3 minutes or until thickened. Stir constantly.
Step 5
Remove caramel from heat. Pour over the pretzel layer.
Step 6
Then, place pan in oven. Bake for 5 minutes.
Step 7
Remove pretzel crack from oven. Pour over melted chocolate.
Step 8
Carefully spread chocolate into one even layer. Top with sprinkles if desired.
Step 9
Place pan in freezer for at least 15 minutes or until hardened.
Step 10
Finally, remove pan from freezer. Break bark into bite sized pieces.
Expert Tips & Tricks
Use fresh pretzels, not stale.
Stir the caramel sauce constantly to prevent burning.
Allow the bark to freeze for at least 15 minutes. This is the bare minimum.
For easy breaking and eating, freeze for 1 hour or more.
Flavor Variations & Add Ins
Consider these fun flavor variations.
Instead of pretzels, use saltines or graham crackers.
Use melted white chocolate.
Use melted mint chocolate.
Sprinkle toffee bits on top.
Sprinkle walnuts or pecans on top.
How to Serve & Store
Serve pretzel crack once hardened.
For the holidays, serve alongside other Christmas sweet treats.
They are great with these Puff Pastry Christmas Trees, Peanut Butter Blossoms, and Vegan Gingerbread Cookies.
Wrap it up and serve as a gift.
Store in the fridge or freezer. They should not be stored at room temperature.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sure! Use saltine crackers or graham crackers.
Sure. It may be a little more gooey but it should work.
Any type of chocolate that melts well will work.
Other than pretzel rods, use any type of pretzels.
You May Also Like
- Oreo Brownies
- Brownie Bites
- Gluten Free Sugar Cookies
- Pumpkin Snickerdoodles
- Sugar Cookies with Sprinkles
If you make this pretzel crack recipe, I would really appreciate a review! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. I would love for you to follow along! For more ideas, check out these Christmas Recipes.
Get the Recipe: Pretzel Crack
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups pretzels, regular or gluten free
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- 1 cup melted chocolate
- sprinkles, optional
Instructions
- First, preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a rimmed baking pan with parchment paper.
- Place the pretzels in one even layer in pan.
- In a small saucepan, add butter and light brown sugar.
- Cook over medium heat for 3 minutes or until thickened, stirring constantly.
- Remove caramel from heat. Pour over pretzels.
- Then, place pan in oven. Bake for 5 minutes.
- Remove from oven. Pour over melted chocolate.
- Carefully spread chocolate into one even layer. Top with sprinkles if desired.
- Place pan in freezer for at least 15 minutes or until hardened.
- Finally, remove pan from freezer. Break bark into bite sized pieces.
Notes
- Use gluten free or regular pretzels. Or, consider using saltine crackers.
- I recommend using unsalted butter. The pretzels provide enough salt.
- Constantly stir the caramel sauce as it cooks. It can easily burn if left unattended.
- Caramel will start to bubble and thicken up. See photos above for reference. Do not burn.
- Freeze for at least 15 minutes. This is the bare minimum. At this point, the caramel will still be a little sticky and soft.
- Store in the fridge for up to 1 week.
- Store in the freezer for up to 2 months.
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8 Comments on “Pretzel Crack”
Does this have to be stored in the fridge or freezer? I want to make it for my neighbors for a Christmas goodie.
Do you think this will work with dairy free butter, like Miyoko’s?
Yes, definitely. Enjoy!
Can you use this with any premade caramel sauce? Would you still bake?
Hi Colleen! That should work as long as the caramel sauce is not too thin. Some store bought caramel sauces are very thin and runny. I would still try to bake it, but keep a close eye on it. Definitely use a rimmed pan so nothing falls off the edges. Enjoy!
I cant figure put what I did wrong…I measured everything and my pretzels barely have a covering of caramel. I feel like I need 3 times as much I took a photo…
Hi Heidi! I just made this again and updated the recipe to reflect using fewer pretzels. Thank you for the feedback!
Easy and simple to gather the ingredients and make fast for a quick holiday gift…..that is if you dont eat it all up!
Dangerously yummy!