Description
Christmas Bark is a festive, salty-sweet treat featuring a buttery toffee layer baked over saltine crackers, topped with melted chocolate and a variety of fun toppings. This recipe includes a classic version and four delicious variations, perfect for last-minute holiday gifting and sharing.
Ingredients
Scale
Classic Christmas Bark
- 48 saltine crackers (about 1 sleeve; enough to line a rimmed baking sheet)
- 2 sticks (8 ounces) unsalted butter
- 1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips (about 11 ounces)
Variations
- Chocolate Peppermint Bark: Substitute 2 sleeves chocolate graham crackers for saltines, add 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract with vanilla, use 2 cups white chocolate chips, and top with 1/2 cup crushed candy canes (about 4 standard-sized candy canes)
- Funfetti Bark: Use 2 sleeves classic graham crackers, swap semisweet chips for 2 cups white chocolate chips, add 6 to 8 drops food coloring after melting, and top with 1/2 cup rainbow sprinkles
- Buckeye Bark: Use 2 sleeves Ritz crackers, swap 1 cup semisweet chips for 1 cup peanut butter chips, and top with 1/2 cup chopped Reese’s Pieces™
- Pecan Praline: Use 2 cups dark chocolate chips instead of semisweet, and top with 1 cup chopped, candied pecans
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare baking sheet: Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil for easy cleanup. Arrange 48 saltine crackers in a single layer on the prepared pan.
- Make toffee mixture: Combine 2 sticks unsalted butter, 1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar, 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract in a 2-quart saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to medium and cook, stirring just a few times, for 3 minutes until the mixture thickens slightly and becomes uniform.
- Pour toffee over crackers: Quickly pour the hot toffee mixture evenly over the crackers, spreading to cover most of them completely.
- Bake toffee and crackers: Place the pan in the oven and bake for approximately 15 minutes until the toffee is bubbling and both crackers and toffee begin to brown.
- Add chocolate topping: Remove the pan from the oven immediately, sprinkle 2 cups of semisweet chocolate chips evenly over the hot toffee. Let the chips sit for 5 minutes to melt, then spread the melted chocolate evenly with a spatula.
- Cool and cut: Let the bark cool completely at room temperature for at least 2 hours until set. Once firm, cut into 30 pieces and serve or store.
Notes
- Store Christmas Bark in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 7 days to maintain freshness.
- For variations, adjust the type of crackers, chocolate, flavoring extracts, and toppings as noted without changing the basic cooking method.
- Use a rimmed baking sheet lined with foil to simplify cleanup and ensure easy removal of the bark.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Christmas bark, toffee bark, saltine toffee, holiday treat, easy bark recipe, chocolate bark, festive dessert
