Pretzel Christmas Crack is a simple, quick, and delicious way to get into the festive holiday spirit! Made with only 7 ingredients, this easy treat comes together quickly. It's perfect for keeping on hand as a holiday sweet treat, or for sending to school for the kids' class parties!
A simple, classic Christmas recipe
The holidays are a great time of the year for so many reasons, but one of the best reasons is that there are sweet treats abound! This year, as you whip up your favorite holiday dessert recipes, give this pretzel Christmas crack a try.
This easy pretzel crack recipe is truly delicious! It's the perfect combination of salty and sweet, and the fact that it's simple to prepare makes it even better. Kids and adults alike can't get enough! I like to include a large bowl on the Christmas dessert table. It goes a long way and is sure to make guests smile!
Ingredients in easy pretzel Christmas crack
To make this recipe, only 5 main ingredients are required. Then, make your crack taste even better with sea salt, and add some holiday colors with sprinkles.
- Mini pretzels: Mini pretzels serve as the base of this Christmas crack recipe. You will need 10 oz. Any type of pretzels is fine, so go with your favorite!
- Butter: 1 cup of butter will make the Christmas pretzel crack have a nice texture. It will also help the dryer ingredients stick! Skip the unsalted butter and be sure to use salted.
- Brown sugar: Use 1 cup of brown sugar to add a sweet flavor to the dish. You can use dark or light brown sugar.
- Vanilla: 2 teaspoon of vanilla makes a huge difference in this recipe.
- Chocolate chips: As for the chocolate, go with 2.5 cups of chocolate chips! You can use milk chocolate chips, dark chocolate chips, or semi-sweet chocolate chips.
- Toppings: Use Christmas sprinkles and sea salt to top the crack treat and make it flavorful and festive!
Tools used to make this pretzel Christmas crack recipe
To make your own homemade Christmas crack, you will only need a few kitchen tools. Before you begin, gather a baking sheet, parchment paper, medium saucepan, whisk, and spatula.
For measuring ingredients, you will need 1 tsp, ½ cup, and 1 cup sized measuring cups.
How to make Christmas crack with pretzels
This simple recipe comes together in about 10 minutes of prep time and 10 minutes of baking time. With a total time of just around 20 minutes, you can't beat it!
To begin, preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Crush the pretzels into small chunks and pieces, and then spread them onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet (you can also use aluminum foil, but parchment paper is preferred).
Heat a medium sized saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the butter and brown sugar and whisk until they're melted together. Once melted, bring the mixture to a boil, and continue whisking as it begins to thicken. This will take about 3-4 minutes. Once thickened, turn off the heat and then stir in the vanilla. Immediately pour over the pretzel pieces.
Be sure to remove from the stove and pour as soon as the vanilla has been added. Letting it sit on the hot stove any longer may result in burnt sugar.
From here, gently spread the caramel mixture over the pretzels and mix gently. Then, lay into a flat, even single layer on the baking sheet. It's okay if not every piece is completely coated. Bake in the oven for 5 minutes.
Sprinkle chocolate chips on top and then return to the oven for an additional 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and spread the melted chocolate chips around, covering the pretzels as much as possible.
Sprinkle with sprinkles and sea salt. Place in the freezer for at least one hour and then break into pieces.
Storing leftovers
Because Christmas crack contains chocolate and butter, it should be placed in an airtight container stored in the refrigerator. Enjoy within a week! If freezing, use within 1-2 months.
Recipe Tips
What is pretzel Christmas crack?
Pretzel Christmas crack is a tasty dessert or snack that combines salty and sweet flavors. It uses pretzels, butter, brown sugar, vanilla, chocolate chips, sprinkles, and sea salt. It's crunchy and delicious!
Can I freeze Christmas crack?
Absolutely! Christmas crack can be frozen and enjoyed within 1-2 months. Whip up a double batch and save some for later!
What can I add to this recipe?
This recipe is extremely versatile in that you can get truly creative with your toppings. You can add it all — crushed candies (Twix, Reese's Cups, Kit Kats, etc.), Mini M&Ms, chopped walnuts, peanuts, or pecans, powdered sugar, white chocolate chips, crushed saltine crackers, crushed Ritz crackers, peanut butter, toffee, coconut flakes, crushed candy canes... the list goes on!
If you liked this recipe, you'll want to try these!
In the holiday spirit and looking for some more festive recipes? Try these! The brown butter chocolate chip cookies make the perfect cookie swap recipe.
- Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Healthy White Chocolate Peppermint Cookies
- Reindeer Chow
- Best Cut Out Sugar Cookie Recipe
All recipes by Erin Morrissey and Photos by Sierra Inn
Pretzel Christmas Crack
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 350F and line baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Crush pretzels into small chunks/pieces. Spread onto parchment paper lined baking sheet.
- In a medium sized saucepan, heat over medium-high heat. Add butter and brown sugar and whisk together until melted. Once melted, bring to boil. When boiling, continue whisking until begins to thicken, this will take about 3-4 minutes. Turn off heat once thickened and stir in vanilla, then immediately pour over pretzel pieces. Cooking any longer may result in burnt sugar.
- Gently spread caramel over pretzesls and mix gently, then lay into flat even layer. It's okay if not every piece is coated totally. Bake in oven for 5 minutes then take out.
- Sprinkle chocolate chips on top then stick back in the oven for 5 minutes. Take sheet out of oven and spread melted chocolate chips all around, covering pretzels as best you can.
- Sprinkle with sprinkles and sea salt. Place in freezer for at least an hour before breaking into pieces.
- Store in fridge or in freezer!
Emmie says
Beyond good!! So easy to make too, and a nice mix up of dessert from a classic cookie. I’ve made this for different holidays other than Christmas too with different sprinkles-always a hit!
Devon Rose says
SO GOOD! And makes a good amount.
Erin says
Hi Devon, so glad you loved it!!
Sarah R says
This is my second year in a row making this pretzel christmas crack. A nice alternative to classic cookies and just as good!
Erin says
Hi Sarah, so happy you loved it!!
Katie G says
Love this recipe so much!!
Erin says
Hi Katie, so glad you loved it!!
susan says
Awesome recipe!
Erin says
Hi Susan, so glad you liked it!!
Tamar says
Not sure what I am doing wrong. I've tried this recipe twice now and all goes well until the chocolate part... I used Guittard 31% milk chocolate chips and they did not melt. So I increased temp to 375 and kept them in a little longer and they still did not melt, just burned. Is there a specific kind of chocolate chips to use?
Erin says
Hi Tamar, I would try Nestle or Ghiradelli. Let me know how yours comes out!!
CC says
Made this for Xmas and was awesome and such a nice change up to the typical Xmas cookies! I made with gf pretzels and worked just as well. Will be a staple for future years.
Erin says
Hi, so happy you enjoyed it!!
Taylor says
The perfect addition to mix up holiday cookie trays. So delicious!
Erin says
Hi Taylor, so happy you loved it!!
Colleen McCrann says
So easy to make and so delicious! Will definitely make again
Erin says
Hi Colleen, so happy you liked it!!
Colleen McCrann says
So easy to make and so delicious!
Erin says
Hi Colleen, so happy you enjoyed it!!
Micaela says
Made this for Christmas this year and already need to make a second batch! Truly lives up to the name 😍
Erin says
Hi Micaela, so happy it was a hit!!
Katie says
So addicting!! The pretzels are a great touch
Erin says
Hi Katie, so glad you love it!!
Lauren says
I have some caramel sauce (store bought) leftover from a previous baking recipe, could I use that in this recipe instead of making my caramel sauce .
Erin says
Hi Lauren, sure that should work! Let me know how it comes out!!
Sandra says
Getting ready to make crack. at 64 years old . Lol want to put peanut butter in it. Wish me luck. Thank you for sharing your recipes. So many charge for everything it's agitating although I can understand too. Be blessed this Christmas!
Erin says
Hi Sandra, good luck and let me know how yours comes out! 🙂
Tara says
I love this spin off of Christmas Crack! So easy to throw together and absolutely delicious. It was a huge hit!
Erin says
Hi Tara, so happy you liked it!! 🙂
Haley says
Delicious!! Prefer this so much to the traditional “Christmas crack.” The pretzels are just so yummy!
Erin says
Hi Haley, so glad you loved it! 🙂
Allison says
Must make for the holidays! So delicious and so easy. The pretzels really take it to the next level.
Erin says
Hi Allison, so happy you liked it!! 🙂
Annie says
I made these and they were easy and so good. I ran out of pretzels and made another pan with potato chips. Also very good!
Erin says
Hi Annie, so happy you liked it!! 🙂
Erin Poynor says
I made this recipe for my holiday party and it was SO DELICIOUS!!! I've always made the recipe with saltine crackers, but pretzels really bring this to the next level. Everyone at the party asked me for the recipe!
Erin says
Hi Erin, so happy everyone loved it!! 🙂
Judi Jacobs says
Made three trays today. Turned out great. Easy and festive. Great for giving.
Erin says
Hi Judi, so happy you loved it!! 🙂