Sweet, crunchy and even a little salty, this chocolate pecan pretzel crack is the Christmas pretzel crack recipe you’ve been looking for. Perfect as a snack or a dessert, we recommend a double batch as this never lasts longer than a few minutes at any gathering!
This chocolate pecan pretzel crack is an easy recipe to make and give at the holidays. That is why it has earned the nickname Christmas crack recipe. But it is so much more than just a Christmas crack candy!
It is a perfect combination of sweet and salty that will disappear every time you make it. So if you are looking for the best recipe Christmas crack there is, you have found it right here.
What is chocolate pecan pretzel crack?
Chocolate pecan pretzel crack, sometimes called Christmas Crack, is a dish layered with pretzels, homemade toffee, chocolate, and topped with nuts and candy drizzle. It can be easily customized with your favorite flavors and toppings.
However you make it, this recipe for Christmas crack is one you will use all year long, not just at Christmas time!
What ingredients do you need to make chocolate pecan pretzel crack?
- Pretzel Crisps: salty pretzels give you a perfect not too salty dessert crunch
- Butter: this makes the homemade caramel toffee layer
- Brown Sugar: this gives your toffee more depth of flavor
- Vanilla Extract: this brings out the flavor of the chocolate and toffee to give you that something extra turning it into a delicious treat
- Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips: this is the perfect blend of milk chocolate and dark chocolate
- Chopped Pecans: this goes on top of the chocolate for texture, taste, and to make it pretty
- White Chocolate Candy Melts: this is a great thing to use as a drizzle because it will give a sweet flavor without overpowering the dish
How to make chocolate pecan pretzel crack
- Preheat the oven and line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil that has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.
- Line pretzel crisps in a single layer on the baking sheet, covering as much of the surface as possible.
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, make the homemade toffee.
- Pour the toffee caramel mixture on top of the pretzels slowly, and use a rubber spatula to smooth out over the top. Cover every pretzel with toffee.
- Bake in the oven, then remove from the oven and let cool.
- Add the chocolate chips on top of the pretzel toffee layers, and return to the oven to melt chocolate.
- Remove from the oven and use the rubber spatula to smooth the melted chocolate over the top, then sprinkle on the pecans.
- Melt the white chocolate candy melts in the microwave until smooth.
- Drizzle white chocolate evenly over the top.
- Cool completely, then put into the fridge to set for 2-3 hours.
- Remove from the fridge, and pull the foil out of the pan. Cut chocolate caramel pretzel bars with a knife, or crack into pieces.
- Enjoy!
Pro Tip: You can use parchment paper, but I have found that pretzels move around and you have a harder time keeping things still as you are adding layers. For best results, use nonstick aluminum foil.
Why is my chocolate pecan pretzel crack chewy?
Pecan pretzel crack can be chewy when you don’t cook the caramel toffee layer long enough or at a high enough temperature.
For Christmas crack pretzels, you should not start the 3 minute timer until after the mixture is really boiling. It won’t reach hard crack on the candy thermometer yet, but it will finish in the oven.
Be sure to start the boiling timer after it starts boiling, and don’t put the jelly roll pan in the oven until after the oven has preheated so it can get hot enough to set at the hard crack candy stage.
Can you make chocolate pecan pretzel crack with graham crackers?
Yes you can make pretzel crack with graham crackers, saltine crackers, Ritz crackers or even pretzel sticks. Some Christmas crack recipes suggest using those. But anything tastes good covered in butter, sugar, and chocolate, right?
I recommend breaking mini pretzels on the top with the pecans to keep it true to the pretzel Christmas crack name.
What toppings can you use to make chocolate pecan pretzel crack?
The perfect thing about this chocolate pretzel crack recipe is that you can add any toppings you want to celebrate the time of year it is. It doesn’t need to be a Christmas pretzel crack if you layer other things on top!
Try colored sprinkles, M&M’s, broken peppermint candy canes, different nuts, different colored candy melt drizzles, marshmallows and graham crackers for s’mores crack, or chopped up leftover Halloween candies.
Does chocolate pecan pretzel crack need to be refrigerated?
No, you do not need to refrigerate chocolate pecan pretzel crack unless you live in a place where the chocolate layer would melt if you leave it at room temperature.
In the original recipe, refrigerating Christmas crack with pretzels helps it set so you can crack or cut it into pieces.
How to store chocolate pecan pretzel crack:
Store Christmas crack in an airtight container on the counter. If you like, you may keep it in the fridge, but it is fine at room temperature.
Can you freeze chocolate pecan pretzel crack?
Yes you can freeze this Christmas Crack recipe! That is helpful if you want just one piece at a time to help you not eat the entire tray of Christmas crack recipe with pretzels at once. It’s also nice to have a ready to go dish or dessert to bring to an event.
How long does chocolate pecan pretzel crack keep fresh?
This Pretzel Crisp Crack will keep fresh for 4-5 days on the counter. It will also keep up to 2 weeks in the fridge or 3 months in the freezer.
How long can you keep chocolate pecan pretzel crack?
How long your pecan chocolate crack candy lasts is the ultimate challenge. I don’t think even a double batch has lasted more than a day at our house.
If it’s a holiday season like Christmas time, it definitely does not last long. You can make a challenge and test how long you can keep it, but I have never had it long enough to find the answer to that question.
More delicious recipes with Pecans…
- Spicy Candied Nuts
- Easy Carrot Cake Recipe
- Wreath Shaped Charcuterie Board
- Pecan Crusted Sweet Potato Casserole
- Chocolate Chip Cheese Ball
- Cold Butternut Squash Salad
- Pecan Bars Recipe
- Swedish Apple Pie
- Resurrection Cookies
- Maple Pecan Fudge
- Maple Spiced Pecans
- Grape Salad without Sour Cream
- Cinnamon Sugar Pecans
- Banana Crumb Cake
This chocolate pecan pretzel crack has seven simple ingredients that become the most delicious snack dessert you will make in your kitchen today.
Chocolate Pecan Pretzel Crack
This chocolate pecan pretzel crack has simple ingredients that become the most delicious snack dessert you will make in your kitchen today.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil and spray with non-stick cooking spray or use non-stick foil.
- Line the cookie sheet with the pretzel crisps in a single layer. Keep them as close together as possible, and use some of the broken pieces in the bag to fill the gaps. You want as much of the surface area covered as possible.
- In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.
- Add the brown sugar and bring the mixture to a boil. Boil for three minutes, stirring occasionally and wiping the sides with a rubber spatula so the sugar doesn’t crystalize or burn.
- Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla.
- Pour the caramel mixture over the pretzels and use a rubber spatula to smooth out over the top. Make sure each pretzel has caramel covering it.
- Bake in the oven for 7 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and let cool for 2 minutes.
- Add the chocolate chips over the top of the pretzels and caramel, and return to the oven for one minute.
- Remove from the oven and use the rubber spatula to smooth the chocolate out over the top.
- While the chocolate is still melted, sprinkle on the pecans.
- Melt the white chocolate candy melts in the microwave in 30 second intervals, mixing in between, until smooth.
- Use a spoon to dip into the melted white chocolate and drizzle evenly over the top.
- Let it cool completely and then put the pan into the fridge to set for 2-3 hours.
- Remove from the fridge, and pull the foil out of the pan. For an even look, cut into squares with a knife. If desired, you can break into pieces instead.
- Enjoy!
Notes
-Pour the caramel mixture very slowly so the pretzels do not move.
-White chocolate candy melts can burn very easily, make sure you are thoroughly mixing between each interval in the microwave, and do not go longer than 30 seconds. If the mixture is mostly melted, do not put it back into the microwave, just keep mixing until completely smooth.
-Cutting is much easier if you remove the entire pan with the foil onto a cutting board.
-Toppings are customizable, add and replace whatever you like!
-Non-stick foil will make these a breeze to remove!