My Peanut Butter Pretzel Christmas Crack takes the traditional recipe to the next level. I add in peanut butter and instead of saltine crackers, I use pretzels for the holy trio – peanut butter, chocolate, and pretzels that creates the best dessert! Plus, I add natural holiday sprinkles with no artificial colors on top!
If you’re looking for more holiday dessert recipes try my Mint Meltaways, Easy Christmas Animal Crackers, or my Vegan Dark Chocolate Peppermint Cups.
Today I am sharing a recipe for the classic Christmas Crack. But I made Peanut Butter Pretzel Christmas Crack! This Peanut Butter Pretzel Christmas Crack is a simple Christmas candy recipe that you can use for homemade gifts!
What is Christmas Crack?
Christmas Crack is a type of holiday candy that is popular around Christmas time. It is usually made with saltine crackers, a mixture of brown sugar and butter to create a caramel/toffee flavor, and then it’s topped with chocolate.
I decided to make a Peanut Butter Pretzel Christmas Crack but with pretzels instead of crackers. I love chocolate, peanut butter, and pretzel together. So, I thought the idea to replace the traditional crackers with pretzels and adding peanut butter would be delicious, and it is!
How do you make Christmas Crack?
First, you start by lining a baking sheet with parchment paper. You also want to make sure to also grease the sides of the pan so that it comes out easily. I use butter to grease the sides of the pan. And, then preheat your oven to 400°F.
Next, you line the bottom of the pan with an even layer of pretzels, or if you want to use saltine crackers, you can also do that as well!
Butter and light brown sugar are added to a pot and cooked over medium heat. We are mimicking caramel here, but not making true caramel. So, if you notice this is not how you would make true caramel. We are just melting the butter and brown sugar together until it boils.
After the mixture comes to a boil, then you pour it over the pretzels on the baking sheet and spread it out evenly. Don’t worry if it’s not perfect or even if you have a couple bare spots, that’s no problem. The baking sheet then gets added into the oven and baked for 5 to 7 minutes, or until it is visibly bubbling.
While the pretzel mixture is in the oven, you are going to add the dark chocolate and peanut butter to a heat proof bowl. This gets melted together. You can do this using a double boiler, or you can also do this in the microwave. If you do this in the microwave, make sure to do 30 second intervals and stir the chocolate and peanut butter mixture each time after 30 seconds (this prevents burning of the chocolate). Repeat until the mixture is smooth and melted.
Once the pretzel mixture comes out of the oven, pour over the chocolate and peanut butter mixture and spread it evenly. Then, top it with the holiday sprinkles.
Place the baking sheet in the freezer, make sure that it is even so it is not tilted! Let it set in the freezer for at least two hours, or overnight.
When you remove it from the freezer, you are going to break it into pieces with your hands. This is the fun part!
Last, package up your Peanut Butter Pretzel Christmas Crack and give it as gifts to friends and family. This Peanut Butter Pretzel Christmas Crack is a simple Christmas candy recipe that everyone will love. If you are looking for more simple Christmas candy recipes, try my Easy Vegan Peanut Brittle or my Pink Peppermint Ice.
FAQ’s
Can I use saltine crackers in place of pretzels in this Peanut Butter Pretzel Christmas Crack?
Absolutely! If you want a more traditional Christmas Crack, then you can replace the pretzels with saltine crackers.
Can I use milk chocolate instead of dark chocolate?
Yes, you can totally swap out the dark chocolate for milk chocolate if you prefer. You could even use white chocolate if you want.
Can I add anything else on top?
Yes, if you don’t want to add sprinkles you can also add a flaky sea salt or chopped up roasted and salted peanuts would also be delicious!
How should I store Christmas Crack?
Christmas Crack should be stored in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. You can store it in an airtight container, zip bag, or in a tin would also be fine.
Ingredients for Peanut Butter Pretzel Christmas Crack
Hanover Ancient Grain Organic Spelt Pretzel Twists
Mama Ganache Organic Dark Chocolate
Costco Kirkland Organic Peanut Butter
India Tree Nature’s Colors Green Sugar
India Tree Nature’s Colors Red Sugar
India Tree Nature’s Colors Snowflake Sprinkles
Things You Need to Gift Peanut Butter Pretzel Christmas Crack
Why Organic
Why use organic ingredients in this recipe? You all know I’m a huge organic advocate, and I bet you may be thinking sometimes, Why would I even bother to use organic ingredients in something that is so sweet and indulgent? But, that is the exact reason why you should use organic ingredients! Sweet things need to have flavor in order to be good, otherwise they are just sweet and they don’t taste like much else. Organic ingredients are more pure than conventional ones, therefore they actually have more flavor than the non organic options. Say it with me, organic means more flavor! And not just more flavor but a more true and pure flavor. And organic ingredients are much healthier for you to eat in general as they do not contain GMOs or anything artificial. Plus, you are being environmentally friendly when you choose organic ingredients!
So, I highly recommend that you buy the best organic ingredients for this recipe! You can also shop my Amazon Storefront for all my favorite organic ingredients here. Tip – hover over each ingredient to see the name. And if you want to learn more about organic foods and the difference, read my post here on Food Labels and What They Mean.
This recipe makes enough to gift 6 bags of Peanut Butter Pretzel Christmas Crack! Or, it’s a great amount to have on a platter at your holiday party!
Ingredients
12 ounces organic pretzels
226 grams (1 cup) organic peanut butter
454 grams (2 cups) packed organic light brown sugar
1 pound (454 grams) organic salted butter, cut in cubes
1 pound organic dark chocolate
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet (half sheet pan that is 18 x 13-inches) with parchment paper and grease the sides of the baking sheet.
- Line the baking sheet with pretzels making an even layer.
- In a medium pot add the brown sugar and butter. Cook over medium heat until the butter melts and the brown sugar begins to melt. Continue to cook until the mixture is a liquid and it begins to boil, about 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Pour the sugar mixture over the top of the pretzels on the baking sheet. Bake for 5 to 7 minutes, or until the sugar mixture looks bubbly. Remove from the oven.
- In a double boiler, add the dark chocolate and peanut butter. Stir until completely melted, then remove from heat. Pour over the pretzel mixture and spread evenly.
- Sprinkle with red and green sugars, and snowflake sprinkles. Place in the freezer to set for at least 2 hours or overnight.
- Remove from the freezer and break into pieces.
- Store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks, or I’m the freezer for up to 1 month.
Recipe Video
Notes
- Gluten Free – Use gluten free pretzels.
- Hugh Altitude – Follow the recipe as noted.
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