Name: Christmas Toffee Crack Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 40 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 cups + 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (270g); 2 tablespoons powdered milk (12g); 1 teaspoon salt; ½ teaspoon baking soda; 14 tablespoons unsalted butter (196g), sliced into tablespoons and divided; ½ cup granulated sugar (100g); ¾ cup light brown sugar (150g), packed; 1 tablespoon light corn syrup; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 1 large egg, room temperature; 1 large egg yolk, room temperature; 10 Saltine crackers, crushed; 1 cup bits o brickle toffee bits, plus more for topping; ½ cup pecan pieces (optional topping); 12 ounces chocolate chips; Holiday sprinkles

There’s something magical about the way buttery, crunchy toffee meets a soft, warm cookie that makes this Christmas Toffee Crack Cookies Recipe unforgettable. These cookies have become my go-to treat when I want to wow guests around the holidays, and trust me, you’re going to want to make them part of your tradition too.

The image shows a stack of five round cookies on a white plate with a red rim. Each cookie has a light brown base with a smooth dark chocolate layer on top, sprinkled with small pieces of nuts and red, green, and white round and rod-shaped sprinkles. The focus is on the front cookie leaning against the stack, showing its texture clearly. In the background, there is a green cup with white winter designs on the left and a small green Christmas tree with red and white ornaments on the right, all set on a white marbled surface. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Toffee Crack Cookies Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Christmas Toffee Crack Cookies Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Christmas Toffee Crack Cookies Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I’m excited to share this Christmas Toffee Crack Cookies Recipe because it brings out the kind of crunchy, sticky, chocolaty goodness that’s perfect for holiday gifting or cozy nights with a cup of cocoa. It’s not just a cookie; it’s a conversation starter.

Perfect Balance: The combination of browned butter, toffee bits, and crunchy Saltines creates layers of flavor and texture you won’t find in any ordinary cookie.
Unique Twist: Incorporating crushed crackers adds a salty crunch that contrasts beautifully with the rich chocolate topping.
Customizable: You can easily swap nuts, add sprinkles, or adjust sweetness to match your tastes.
Impresses Every Time: Whether you're sending these in holiday cookie trays or enjoying with family, they disappear fast and draw compliments.

The image shows several round cookies with a light brown, slightly textured base. Each cookie has a thick layer of smooth, shiny dark chocolate spread in the center, covering approximately half of the surface. The cookies are placed on a golden wire rack, which is above a red surface. The overall look is warm and inviting. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

The magic of this Christmas Toffee Crack Cookies Recipe lies in simple, familiar ingredients working together in unexpected ways. The browned butter adds a nutty depth, while the Saltine crackers bring crunch. And oh, those toffee bits — pure bliss.

Flat lay of a small mound of all-purpose flour next to a few tablespoons of powdered milk and a small pile of salt and baking soda, a simple stack of unsalted butter slices arranged neatly, separate small white ceramic bowls holding granulated sugar, light brown sugar, light corn syrup, and vanilla extract, one large whole egg and one whole egg yolk side by side, crushed saltine crackers scattered loosely, a small heap of toffee bits, half a cup of pecan pieces in a small white bowl, a small white bowl filled with chocolate chips, and a small white bowl with colorful holiday sprinkles, all ingredients fresh and natural, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

All-purpose flour: The backbone of the cookie structure; sifted well, it keeps cookies tender but sturdy.
Powdered milk: Adds a subtle richness and helps brown the cookies evenly.
Salt: Enhances the sweetness and balances flavors, particularly important when using salted butter.
Baking soda: Gives a slight lift and helps develop those signature cookie cracks.
Unsalted butter: Browning this is a game changer—it imparts a deep, caramel-like flavor you’ve got to try.
Granulated sugar and light brown sugar: A combo that achieves the perfect chewy yet crisp texture.
Light corn syrup: Adds chewiness and keeps cookies from becoming too crumbly.
Vanilla extract: Brings warmth and rounds out all the other flavors.
Egg and egg yolk: Offer moisture and richness; the extra yolk makes the cookie even more tender.
Saltine crackers: Crushed to add that surprising salty crunch that makes these cookies stand out.
Toffee bits: Provide sweet, buttery bursts that melt into the dough and top the cookies perfectly.
Pecan pieces: Optional, but toasting them adds a wonderful crunchy nutty note.
Chocolate chips: Melt into a luscious, glossy topping. I prefer melting in a microwave to control texture.
Holiday sprinkles: For that festive sparkle and extra fun—your call to add!

📝

Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

I love how this Christmas Toffee Crack Cookies Recipe invites your creativity. I’ve tried it with walnuts instead of pecans, and I always swap sprinkles depending on the holiday vibe. Feel free to experiment—you might discover your perfect holiday combo.

Nut Variation: Swapping pecans for toasted almonds adds a lovely crunch and slightly different flavor; I like to toast them extra for that caramelized touch.
Gluten-Free Version: Use a gluten-free flour blend but keep everything else the same—just expect a slightly different texture but the same delicious flavor.
Chocolate Swap: Sometimes I mix semi-sweet and milk chocolate chips for a sweeter, creamier top.
Make It Mini: Use a smaller scoop to make bite-sized treats. Great for cookie platters or little hands!

Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Toffee Crack Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Brown the Butter to Unlock Nutty Goodness

Start by melting 10 tablespoons of butter in a skillet over medium heat. Stir often as it melts and begins to foam—within 2 to 3 minutes, you’ll see golden brown bits forming at the bottom and smell that irresistible nutty aroma. This is the secret to the deep flavor of these cookies. Once browned, remove from heat, stir in the remaining 4 tablespoons of butter until just melted, then transfer this glorious mixture to a large bowl or your stand mixer bowl.

Step 2: Mix Sugars, Corn Syrup & Vanilla into Butter

While the butter is still warm, add granulated sugar, light brown sugar, vanilla extract, and light corn syrup. Whisk or beat the mixture until combined and smooth. This blend keeps the cookies chewy with a subtle shine.

Step 3: Whisk in Eggs with Patience

Next, add the whole egg and egg yolk, both at room temperature. Whisk for 30 seconds, then let the batter rest 3 minutes. Repeat this rest-and-whisk cycle two more times. This technique helps develop a smooth, thick, shiny batter that feels almost like silky caramel. Don’t rush this part; good things take time!

Step 4: Stir In Dry Ingredients and Mix in Crunch

Whisk together your flour, powdered milk, salt, and baking soda in a separate bowl. Using a spatula or paddle attachment, fold these dry ingredients into your buttery batter for about a minute. The dough will be soft—that’s normal, no chilling needed. Gently fold in most of the toffee bits and crushed Saltine crackers, taking care not to overmix.

Step 5: Bake to Perfection

Preheat the oven to 375°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Use a ¼ cup cookie scoop to drop dough balls 3 inches apart. Bake 8 to 10 minutes, rotating sheets halfway. Look for slightly cracked tops and light browning only at the edges—overbaking dries these cookies out. Cool on baking sheets for 3 minutes, then transfer to wire racks.

Step 6: Toast Pecans & Melt Chocolate

While cookies cool, microwave pecan pieces in a small bowl for 1 minute, stir, then 30 seconds more to lightly toast them. Then, melt your chocolate chips carefully in 30-second bursts, stirring until silky smooth and completely melted—this topping makes these cookies truly decadent.

Step 7: Top & Decorate Your Cookies

Spoon melted chocolate generously over the tops of each cooled cookie, spreading to cover most of the surface. Sprinkle with toasted pecans, extra toffee bits, and festive holiday sprinkles. Let the chocolate set before diving in—patience here pays off with a delightfully glossy finish.

Top Tip

From my years of baking these Christmas Toffee Crack Cookies, I’ve learned there are a few game-changing tips that can really elevate your results. Paying attention to these tricks will save you time and disappointment.

Browning Butter Right: Don’t rush it; watch for golden brown bits and that nutty smell—stop before it burns. This flavor depth is what sets these cookies apart.
Resting Batter: Those repeated rests and whiskings with the eggs create a smoother batter, helping the cookies hold their structure and achieve perfect cracks.
Use Two Baking Sheets: Rotating between hot and cool sheets helps the cookies bake evenly and form their signature texture—don’t skip this if you want consistently great results.
Chocolate Melting: Heat gently in short bursts and stir well to avoid overheating. Smooth melted chocolate sets up shiny and luscious.

How to Serve Christmas Toffee Crack Cookies Recipe

Christmas Toffee Cookies - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I adore adding toasted pecans and extra toffee bits as garnish—they add a satisfying crunch every bite. Festive holiday sprinkles make the cookies pop on dessert trays, especially if you’re serving at a party or cookie exchange.

Side Dishes

These cookies pair wonderfully with warm drinks like mulled wine, hot chocolate, or a spiced latte. For a holiday brunch spread, try them alongside fresh fruit, cheese, or a sprinkle of nuts for a beautifully balanced table.

Creative Ways to Present

I’ve wrapped individual cookies in colorful cellophane with a ribbon for easy gifting. For parties, arrange them in stacked towers or on decorative platters with pine sprigs and cinnamon sticks for an instant festive vibe everyone will love.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store these Christmas Toffee Crack Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They’re best within 3 days, as the toffee and chocolate maintain their delightful texture during that time. Just avoid stacking too high or they might stick together.

Freezing

If you want to prep dough ahead, portion it onto a baking sheet and freeze for at least an hour before transferring to a zip-top bag. I freeze my dough up to 3 months and bake frozen balls adding about 2 extra minutes. The cookies still come out perfectly chewy and fresh.

Reheating

Leftover cookies can be gently warmed in a 300°F oven for about 5 minutes. This softens the chocolate topping and gives a fresh-from-the-oven feel. Microwave works too, but be careful not to overheat and melt the toffee bits.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted for this recipe?

Yes, you absolutely can! Just remember to skip or reduce the additional salt in the recipe to keep the balance right.

Does this cookie dough freeze well?

Definitely! This dough freezes beautifully. Portion it out on a baking sheet, freeze until solid, and then store in an airtight bag in the freezer for up to three months. When ready to bake, add a minute or two to the bake time.

Why do you use crushed Saltine crackers in this recipe?

The crushed Saltine crackers add a subtle salty crunch that contrasts deliciously with the sweet toffee and chocolate, making the texture complex and exciting.

Can I substitute chocolate chips for chopped chocolate?

Yes, you can use chocolate chips instead of chopped chocolate. The recipe suggests chopped chocolate for larger pools of melted chocolate, but chips work well too if that’s what you have on hand.

Final Thoughts

Honestly, the Christmas Toffee Crack Cookies Recipe is one of those gems that keeps me coming back every holiday season. The balance of sweet, salty, and buttery textures hits all the right notes. I hope you find as much joy making and sharing these cookies as I do. Get your apron on — you'll want to bake these every year!