Crockpot Christmas Crack is the most irresistible and addicting holiday treat! This festive favorite is the perfect salty and sweet combination for a delecatable dessert everyone will love. Serve them for holiday parties or as homemade Christmas gifts!
Crockpot Christmas Crack
Crockpot Christmas Crack is made with white chocolate, peanuts, pretzels, peppermint, almond bark, and a drizzle of dark chocolate. Whenever anyone takes a bite of this Crockpot Candy the next thing they ask for is the recipe! So get ready to share this recipe if you make it for a Christmas gift or party.
Crockpot Christmas Crack has been around forever. I'm pretty sure it has been a staple at every Christmas potluck or cookie exchange and it's always the best thing there.
There are so many different versions of it but it always includes a winning combination of chocolate and peanuts. I added pretzels and peppermint to this version to add even more crunch and holiday flavor.
My sweet tooth loves to make Crockpot desserts like Crockpot Lava Cake and Crockpot Hot Chocolate but holiday desserts are my absolute favorite!! I'm pretty sure it's the peppermint, I just can't get enough.
Easy Crockpot Christmas Crack Recipe
This Crockpot Christmas Crack recipe is sooooo easy to make. I know how busy Christmas gets and having one more thing on the to-do list is always difficult. But this recipe is simple but still allows that classic Christmas memory to be made as a family!
I am not very big on making Christmas cookies. Don't get me wrong I love to EAT Christmas cookies so please send them to me but making them doesn't bring me joy so I just skip it.
Cookies take too much time and effort during the already crazy Christmas season. However, Crockpot Candy in any form is always a win in my book.
Crock pot Christmas Crack
Despite the funny name, this is a delicious and decadent dessert that is made for the crockpot. Just like all the other recipes for Christmas Crack, this one gets its name from being highly addictive. I can promise you that while I'm making this I usually consume 5-10 candy clusters. Obviously to taste test and confirm that it is amazing.
You may have heard of the other Christmas crack with saltine crackers but that version has too many steps including making caramel from scratch so this version is for all those cooks out there that need the easy version.
We make it every year as our Christmas gift for family and friends. What I love most is that the kids get to help me make it and it is a fun Christmas tradition. I like to make it in the crockpot because it is much less stressful than using the stove and possibly burning the chocolate.
Since I am still cooking with two young kids I love how much fun it is to cook this homemade Christmas Candy in the Crockpot. You can make it on the stove and I have included instructions below on how to do that as well.
Ingredients for Crockpot Christmas Crack
- White Chocolate Chips
- Almond Bark or Melting Chocolate
- Peanuts
- Pretzels
- Crushed Peppermint Candy
- Dark Chocolate and Sprinkles (optional)
What is almond bark or melting chocolate?
Almond bark or melting chocolate is a chocolate-like candy coating that is made with vegetable oil instead of cocoa butter. It allows the Crockpot Christmas Crack to melt into a smooth consistency and set.
Despite the name, almond bark does not contain almonds! It gets the name from its first use which was to dip almonds into the coating for what you know as Jordan almonds. You have probably had them at a wedding at some point! As you can guess this name is very confusing and people have started calling it melting chocolate instead. It typically comes in bars or in little disks.
As you can see you can use it to coat almost anything these days like fruit, nuts, or any version of Crockpot Christmas Candy you can imagine.
How to Make Crockpot Christmas Crack
Step 1. Add white chocolate and melting chocolate (almond bark) into the slow cooker. Cook on low for 30 minutes. Stir and cook for 15 minutes intervals until the chocolate is melted.
Step 2. Add pretzels, peanuts, and peppermint and stir to combine ingredients.
Step 3. Line cooking sheets with parchment paper.
Step 4. Scoop and drop the candy mixture by spoonfuls onto parchment paper.
Step 5. Add sprinkles and chocolate drizzle if desired.
Step 6. Refrigerate Crockpot Christmas Crack for 30 minutes to 1 hour until the candy is set. If you can't fit it into the refrigerator allow it to set on the counter, it just takes a little longer. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container.
Can Christmas Crack Be Made On The Stove?
Yes, you can make this on the stovetop! I love the Crockpot version because it evenly melts the chocolate and keeps everything warm as you are making the clusters. But if that's not an option for you here are the steps for the stovetop.
- Place white chocolate and melting chocolate into a large pot on medium-low heat.
- Do not walk away! Stir chocolate until melted. Remove from heat.
- Add pretzels, peanuts, and peppermint to the pot and stir to combine.
- Scoop clusters and allow them to set.
Kitchen Tools Needed for Crockpot Christmas Crack
Cooking is always more fun and enjoyable when you have the right tools. After making this for a few years I always make sure to get all set up before I start my Christmas Candy cooking session. These three items make it super fun to get your Christmas cooking spirit on!
Parchment Paper- Make sure to use parchment paper so that once the Christmas Candy sets you can just lift it right off the paper. I don't recommend using wax paper since the candy is hot when you set it on the paper and the wax could melt into the candy.
Cookie/ Ice Cream scooper- I like to use a scooper for this recipe so your fingers aren't a mess the whole time. Even though licking them is tasty but not very sanitary. You can work fast with this tool!
Tins for Crockpot Candy- I bought these off Amazon this year because I didn't make it to the dollar store in time to get the cute reusable tins they have.
Crockpot Christmas Candy Gift Idea
Make this affordable Crockpot Christmas Crack as a gift! I always go to the dollar store and get their reusable tins and package them up as Christmas gifts for neighbors, delivery people, and friends. But this year I didn't get there in time so I had to order some from Amazon this year.
We make this the first weekend in December can enjoy it all month long! I love to give a homemade candy gift instead of buying something at the store and this holiday candy recipe makes it easy to do.
I like to make a few extra tins of these to have on hand for last-minute gifts. I always think I have everyone covered but there is always that co-worker, friend, or holiday party that I need a gift for that I forgot. These make a thoughtful and decadent gift for anyone!
Can I Use Different Nuts?
If you don't like peanuts you can swap them for any other nut! Peanuts are usually the cheapest nut so that's why I use those but this recipe would be tasty with cashew, pecans, or walnuts. Also, Macadamia nuts would be a fun twist!
Holiday Candy Recipes
This recipe is so versatile so you can create any holiday candy recipe you want! Feel like adding some Chex mix, cereal, or some fruit, the sky's the limit. Have fun creating your own holiday candy recipe using this as the base recipe for what you want. Just make sure to include the almond bark or melting chocolate to ensure it sets and melts correctly.
tips &
You have to use melting chocolate for this recipe. You cannot substitute more white chocolate for the melting chocolate. The chocolate will not melt evenly.
Line your baking sheets with parchment paper before you get started. I usually get out every baking sheet I have and lay out the parchment paper while the chocolate is melting.
Depending on how many clusters you want you can use a cookie scoop (this will make smaller ones) or an ice cream scooper for larger clusters.
You can double the recipe if you have a larger crockpot!
Place a kitchen towel under the lid while the chocolate is cooking if condensation starts to build on the lid.
When you are breaking up your pretzels I usually leave them in the bag and open the corner of the bag a little. Then I use a meat tenderizer to break them up. The kids really love this part of the recipe.
Do not use the high setting on your slow cooker for this recipe. You could burn the chocolate.
You can get little cupcake liners and place your clusters in the liners to set. That way they are individual servings for events!
Food Allergies
All of the ingredients I use in this recipe are gluten-free.
You will need to make sure to use gluten-free pretzels for this recipe to keep it gluten-free. I love the Snyder's ones.
Easy Crockpot Christmas Crack
Ingredients
- 24 oz almond bark or meltable chocolate
- 16 oz lightly salted peanuts
- 6 oz white chocolate chips
- 8 oz pretzels crushed
- ¾ cup peppermint crushed
Instructions
- Add white chocolate and melting chocolate (almond bark) into the slow cooker. Cook on low for 30 minutes. Stir and cook for 15 minutes intervals until the chocolate is melted.
- Add pretzels, peanuts, and peppermint and stir to combine ingredients.
- Line cooking sheets with parchment paper.
- Scoop and drop the candy mixture by spoonfuls onto parchment paper.
- Add sprinkles and chocolate drizzle if desired.
- Refrigerate Crockpot Christmas Candy for 30 minutes to 1 hour until candy is set. If you can't fit it into the refrigerator allow it to set on the counter, it just takes a little longer. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container.
Video
Celia Bass says
I’d love to make this crock pot candy for Christmas. However, how did you get crushed peppermint ? Last year I thought I could easily crush some peppermint with my meat tenderizer, but it did not work. Perhaps you can buy it already crushed, but I’ve never seen it that way.
Allison Treadwell says
Hi! Yes my grocery store, Safeway, sold crushed peppermint. It's a total gamechanger. It's such a mess crushing peppermints.
Chris Wagers says
But if you put broken candy canes into a gallon size storage bag, securely zip it closed, and put it on the floor to crush it (using a tea towel under the bag to save the mess), it DOES WORK! The crushing is less noisy this way, rather than using a counter or table. Try it!