Homemade Toffee (AKA Christmas Crack)

I've tried to make homemade toffee a number of times, and while it has had varying results, nothing has been as good as the recipe I'm currently using (Thanks to Tricia at work).  I remember the first time I made it, I didn't caramelize the sugar/butter enough at the beginning, so the toffee was super soft and had to be refrigerated.  Other toffees I've made have been better, but nothing in comparison.


Now - you may ask yourself, Why "Christmas Crack?"  Well....Once you start eating it, you can't stop, it's so addicting!!!


Homemade Toffee, aka Christmas Crack

• 1 sleeve saltine crackers (I always use salted crackers)
• 2 sticks butter (I always use unsalted butter)
• 1 cup brown sugar (I always use light brown sugar)
• ~1 tsp Vanilla Extract
• 12-16 oz chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 400*.  Line a cookie sheet with foil and lay out saltines on the cookie sheet, all in one layer.

Melt the butter and sugar on the stovetop and bring to a boil.  Boil for 3 minutes and stir continuously (at the end of 3 minutes, the butter/sugar should look almost fluffy).

Take the butter/sugar off the heat and add the vanilla.  Stir to incorporate the vanilla and then pour the mixture over the saltines.  Spread the mixture over the saltines evenly.  Put the cookie sheet in the oven for 3-5 minutes - it should be bubbly when you take it out.

Sprinkle the chocolate chips over the toffee and put back in the oven for an additional 2 minutes.  Remove the toffee from the oven and spread the melted chocolate chips over all of the toffee.

At this point, you have some options.

1. You can leave it just as it is.  Pop the sheet into the fridge overnight (or at least for a few hours) and then take it out and break it all up.
2. Depending on the kind of chocolate that you spread out over the toffee, you can add some toppings (FYI - I usually use a mixture of milk chocolate chips and semi-sweet chips).
1. Heath Bar Bits
2. Chopped Walnuts, Pecans, Almonds
3. Crushed Candy Canes (I used this when I used White Chocolate and it was a hit)

Now, ENJOY!!!

Christmas Crack with Heath Bar Bits on top.