Foolproof Caramel Ritz Cracker Christmas Cookies: The Ultimate Sweet & Salty Holiday Treat
Make these irresistible Caramel Ritz Cracker Christmas Cookies for a simple, decadent holiday treat. They perfectly balance salty crackers with gooey caramel and chocolate, making them ideal for cookie exchanges and festive platters.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 5 min
- Total Time: 15 min
- Yield: 48 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 48 Ritz crackers
- 24 soft caramel candies, unwrapped
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream or milk
- 1½ cups milk chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate chips (or white chocolate chips for variation)
- Holiday sprinkles, crushed candy canes, or coarse sea salt (optional, for topping)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Arrange the Ritz crackers in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
- Place one unwrapped soft caramel candy on top of each cracker.
- Bake for 3 to 5 minutes, just until the caramel softens and begins to melt slightly. Watch closely to prevent burning.
- Remove the sheet from the oven. Let the crackers cool on the sheet for about 5 minutes until the caramel sets slightly but is still soft.
- While the crackers cool, prepare your chocolate topping. Place the chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until smooth and fully melted.
- Drizzle the melted chocolate over the caramel-topped crackers. You can use a fork or a piping bag for thin lines.
- Immediately sprinkle with your choice of holiday sprinkles, crushed candy canes, or sea salt, if using.
- Allow the chocolate to set completely at room temperature, or place the baking sheet in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes to speed up the process.
- Serve these sweet and salty holiday treats or store them in an airtight container.
Notes
- For a richer caramel, you can gently melt the caramels with the cream/milk on the stovetop until smooth before spooning over the crackers.
- If you prefer a different flavor profile, substitute the milk chocolate with white chocolate or dark chocolate chips.
- These make excellent edible Christmas gifts when packaged nicely in tins or cellophane bags.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 85
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 95mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 9g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 5mg