I took this shot of the fabric mache Santa collection. They belong to Son1 and are still living here, but I am hopeful that they will go live in Oregon next year. For the time being they hang out on the buffet in the dining room. Son1 started collecting them when he was about 10 and they have grown into a decent sized community of Santas that need a new home!
I am sure most of you have heard about the sweet/salty confection referred to as Christmas Crack and for those who have not, well, I am here to enlighten you. Though I would never put limiting the amount of this you ingest in the same category as abstaining from an opiate based product, this stuff is hard to quit eating once you start.
Sweet and Saltine Toffee
1 cup butter
1 packed cup brown sugar
1 sleeve saltines
1 cup milk chocolate bits
1/4 cup pecan pieces, optional
Line a medium jelly roll pan or sided baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place the saltines side by side to cover the entire pan bottom. For my pan I can get 4 square crackers across but I still have about an inch of space before the side of the pan is touched so I have to break several in half to fill the bottom. The object is to have the entire bottom covered with crackers, however you have to do it.
Melt the butter in a medium saucepan and stir in the brown sugar. They, whoever "they" are, say to cook it over medium heat stirring until it boils and then continue cooking for 3 minutes without stirring. I say good luck removing the sugar char from the bottom of your pan if you do. I stand there and give it quick stirs throughout the boiling process. After 3 minutes remove it from the heat and pour it as evenly as possible over the crackers. Use the back of a wooden spoon to smooth it over the cracker surface. Immediately sprinkle the milk chocolate chips over the hot toffee mixture. Let it stand for a couple or three minutes, then spread it with an offset spatula evenly over the caramel. If necessary stick it back in the oven for 30 or so seconds to help melt the bits. As soon as you have spread the chocolate sprinkle with nuts if you are using them. Let it cool well (Stick it in the freezer for about 10-15 minutes) then either cut it into very neat squares or let it break in pieces more like brittle would.
Have a Holly Jolly Christmas
Oh my goodness...We must have had our minds in the same place. I made this for the first time last night and oh my word it is good. Even hubby liked it! Will definitely be adding it to our rotation.
ReplyDeleteI love all the Santas. I, too, have a Santa collection-- which happened quite by accident; just ended up collecting some over the years. I don't have one space to display them all so they end up being scattered around our living room.
I think this stuff is close to the food of the Gods.
DeleteI am a collection buncher ( I don't think that is even a word), but I have lots of surfaces in my house to bunch things on.
I've had this before, but have never made it. Thanks for the recipe.
ReplyDeleteIf is is sweet and rich there is a good chance I have tried the recipe before. Glad to pass it on.
DeleteMy family must be the oddball on the planet when it comes to Xmas Crack. I made this last year, sent half of it to the employee lounge at my Rite-Aid store and kept the other half for the fandamily here.
ReplyDeleteThe half for R-A disappeared in record time and wasn't around long enough for the second shift at the store to get any. lol
While I ended up throwing out a large amount that I kept for our household to eat. Sacrilege, right? We aren't ultra rich/sweet sweet eaters I have found. Or it could be that the BOURBON FUDGE I also made was too stiff of a competition for the CRACK. ;-)
I think, no I know we are goodie eaters and prefer sweet things to anything else, so this is a dangerous substance to have in the kitchen.
DeleteI bought the ingredients to make Christmas crack - I don't have a good record with toffee (turns out more like fudge) but I'm going to give it a go.
ReplyDeleteThis really is almost idiot proof, unless you live at a very high altitude. If that is the case I have no idea what the adjustments are.
DeleteHi Anne, I've cut my Christmas sweets list way back but I alresdy planned to make this. You are right that it is almost addictive. I think last year was the first year I made it and it was a big hit.
ReplyDeleteIt's so simple and economical too, for a pan full of delicious candy.m
I am having the entire family here for several days, so I am going a little over the top this year. I can already tell I am going to have to make more of this before Christmas day.
ReplyDeleteI've never had this or made it, but I've heard about it. I'm sure that I couldn't be trusted alone with it for sure! lol. I used to have a huge Santa collection and a few that looked like ones in your son's collection. I even used to make paper mache Santas. Now I just have a previous few left after downsizing.
ReplyDeleteI have loved having the Santas here but it is time for them to go to their rightful owner!
DeleteMe thinks I need to do crack, NOW!!! Hmmmmm, do you think that I can get Den to make some. I mean what is a little more butter and sugar.
ReplyDeleteyeah that is what I think at least until the week after Christmas. Then it is back to paleo for me
DeleteI just made something similar but didn't use saltines. Used pecan halves as a base, made the toffee, melted choclate chips on top, and sprinkled pecan pieces over. Hope my dh likes this version better, he didn't like the one with the saltines, crazy man. Cheryl
ReplyDeleteThat sounds wonderful! If I find some cheaper pecans I will have to try it
ReplyDeleteI've never had "crack", it sounds like something i should never develop a liking for.
ReplyDeleteWe have rocky road and shortbread and licorice allsorts at Christmas but I am trying to stay away from sugar so I havent got any yet (it's Christmas eve tomorrow)
Have a lovely Christmas!
Merry Christmas to you also. For the record the count here is sugar-1 will power-0
ReplyDelete