December 20, 2010

Saltine Toffee Bark

Oh my. These candies are so addictive, that I don't even have a finished shot of them. They were eaten up before I could artfully arrange them and snap photos of them. But it's appropriate, I guess, since these candies aren't pretty per se, they're just delicious. Addictive even. Like, can't stop eating them until you feel sick (but you're OK with that).

And you can't get any more simple than the process. Or the ingredients for that matter. To start, cover a baking sheet with tin foil and heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray the foil with baking spray or rub with vegetable oil.


Spread about one and a half sleeves of Saltine crackers over the foil in a single layer.


Then, in a small saucepan, heat one stick of butter and one cup of brown sugar, while stirring to combine. Once melted, boil the sugar and butter until it boils rapidly. Let boil for one minute.


Pour the sugar butter mixture over the crackers, attempting to cover all the crackers, but not worrying about it too much. Heat in the oven for 5 minutes.


After the toffee has spread out over the crackers and is bubbling, remove the sheet from the oven. Sprinkle 2 cups of chocolate chips and put back in the oven for one minute.


When you pull the sheet back out, it will look the same! But the chips will be spreadable, so spread them out over the crackers. Sprinkle crushed Saltine crackers, chopped nuts, crushed peppermint or chopped dried fruit over the candies and place in the refrigerator. Refrigerate for 30 minutes and then break into pieces. Eat (try to avoid eating them all in one sitting. OK, don't. I won't tell!).

These candies would make great gifts at the holidays, whether when visiting friends and families, as a hostess gift at a party, or for those beloved family members who have everything. Trust me, they will be asking for Saltine toffee bark year after year.