This festive Christmas Bark is easy and delicious! Layers of graham crackers, brown sugar toffee, peanut butter, and chocolate make this an addictive holiday treat.
Can you believe we’re into the last month of the year? What has your December looked like?
Are you existing on a diet of Egg Nog Lattes and Christmas cookies? If not, it’s time to start. Bake some cookies, drop extra marshmallows into your hot chocolate, and let’s do this season right.
This is the time of year that I make batch after batch of my favorite Pecan Praline Bark. But today I’m switching things up with this super easy Christmas Bark. Making edible gifts for friends and family is one of my favorite parts of the season. If you’re looking for some other Christmas treats, try my: Peppermint Cookies, Sugar Cookies or Cookie Mix in a Jar.
Christmas Crack Recipe
You might know also know this as Christmas crack, or graham cracker toffee. It’s a layer of graham crackers topped with brown sugar toffee, melted chocolate, and any festive holiday toppings you choose (I used M&M’s and sprinkles). And because I absolutely love the combo of chocolate and peanut butter, I also added some peanut butter into this Christmas Bark.
Bonus: There is no actual “toffee” in this recipe. We are making a toffee-like mixture of butter and brown sugar and pouring it over graham crackers which serve as our crunchy base. This is way easier than making real toffee, no candy thermometer needed. Woohoo!
This recipe makes a big batch of toffee that you can share with anyone and everyone. Package it up for gifts, stash some in your freezer for late night snacking, or set it out and watch it disappear.
Everyone goes crazy for this stuff, you will be glad you made a big batch! Also to be noted: If you’re anything like me, you will be stealing bites as you’re breaking it up. Worry not, no one will even know any is missing.
Christmas Bark
Christmas Bark- Graham crackers – Layer them in the bottom of a rimmed baking sheet.
- Toffee – A quick mixture of butter and brown sugar gets poured over the graham crackers.
- Peanut butter – Optional, but SO delicious. Pour it over the toffee.
- Chocolate – Sprinkle over chocolate chips and allow them to melt, then spread with a spatula.
- Holiday candies and sprinkles – I add holiday M&M’s and red and green sprinkles.
How can you go wrong with ↑ that ↑ combination of ingredients? You can’t. This stuff is nicknamed “crack” for a reason – it is addicting! One piece leads to another, and another, and another. Repeat after me: This is what New Year’s resolutions are for. 😉
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Recipe
Christmas Bark
Ingredients
- 15 whole graham cracker sheets
- 1 cup unsalted butter, cut into pieces
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter, melted, OPTIONAL
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup M&M's Holiday Milk Chocolate Candies
- 1 tablespoon red and green sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a 13x18 rimmed baking sheet with foil and spray it with nonstick spray. Lay the graham cracker sheets in a single layer, side by side in the pan, breaking pieces as needed to fill the pan.
- Place butter and brown sugar in a medium saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil, and boil for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Carefully pour over the graham crackers. Use a rubber spatula to evenly spread the mixture over the graham crackers.
- Place the pan in the oven for 4 minutes. Remove from the oven and pour the melted peanut butter on top (if using). Use a rubber spatula to evenly spread the peanut butter. Sprinkle with chocolate chips and place back in the oven for 1 additional minute, to melt the chocolate (the chocolate might still be in the shape of the "chips", but it should be soft enough to spread). Remove from the oven and use an offset spatula to evenly spread the melted chocolate. Allow to cool just slightly, then sprinkle the top with M&M’S and sprinkles.
- Cool to room temperature, then transfer to the refrigerator to firm up completely. Once chilled, break the toffee into irregular pieces. Store in the refrigerator.
Nutrition
Nutritional Information is an estimate based on third-party calculations and may vary based on products used and serving sizes.
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment and rating below!
Stephanie Ciaschini
Just made, cant wait to try!
Celebrating Sweets
Enjoy!
Stephanie c
It came out great, I’m not a “baker” and had no issues!
Celebrating Sweets
Wonderful! Thanks for taking the time to comment. 🙂
Mary Miller
Made these yesterday and they were a hit with family and friends! Thank you for the recipe. Will definitely be making this every Christmas from now on!
Mary Miller
Made these yesterday and they were a hit with family and friends! Thank you for the recipe. Will definitely be making this every Christmas from now on!
Celebrating Sweets
I’m so happy to hear that! Thanks for stopping by. Happy New Year!
Lauren
Hi there. How far in advance could I make this recipe? Thank you!
Allison
I’d say about 3 days. I store it in the refrigerator. Enjoy!
Lianne Robbins
Easy to follow, turned out amazing! Although I used smarties and not M&Ms it was delicious!
Allison
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for taking the time to comment. 🙂
Roxanne
The toffee stayed on top of my graham crackers instead of soaking through them. Any suggestions?
Allison
It should be fine once it cools. The toffee won’t soak in right away. Enjoy!
Carolyn
Can I ask why these require storage in the refrigerator? Other barks I have made do not require refrigeration and these ingredients don’t seem to require either. Has anyone just put them in a tin?
Allison
You don’t have to store it in the fridge. I choose to because I just like to keep the chocolate (and peanut butter if using) from getting too soft.
Jess
My toffee wouldn’t combine ? what did I do wrong?
Allison
The butter and brown sugar wouldn’t combine when you cooked it on the stovetop? At first the melted butter will rise to the top, but once it boils and you stir it it should come together.
Laurie
I tried this with white chocolate chips and the chips just wouldn’t melt. I am going to try milk chocolate or semi sweet next time. I maybe should have melt the chips first. A little disappointed.
Allison
Hi, Laurie. White chocolate isn’t actually “chocolate” and it’s much more delicate when it comes to melting. If the temperature isn’t *just right* it won’t melt or it will burn and get dry and crumbly. Sorry you had trouble.