The Best Vegan Christmas Crack (Paleo and Gluten-Free)

This Vegan Christmas Crack is the ultimate holiday dessert. Salty crackers topped with gooey caramel and then finished off with delicious melted chocolate, this Christmas dessert will have everyone wanting more!

I don't normally have a sweet tooth but one of the things that I look forward to every holiday season is sweets. There is something about Christmas sweets that really make me excited. One of my new favorites is this Christmas Crack recipe. If you haven't heard of Christmas crack before, let me tell you, you are missing out! It is everything you could have dreamed of. Salty crackers topped with sweet and gooey caramel, baked, and then covered with melted chocolate. My goodness, this is out of this world delicious. This recipe is a spin on the Christmas classic, made with healthier swaps like grain-free crackers, dairy-free and vegan caramel, and allergy-friendly chocolate. You won't want to miss out!

For more delicious recipes, check out these Chewy Chocolate Molasses Cookies or these Vegan Peppermint Brownies!

Ingredient Notes

• Grain-Free Crackers- To make this Christmas Crack gluten-free and paleo, I like to start with a base of grain-free crackers. These are my favorite crackers to use. They are made with almond flour, sunflower seeds and flax seeds. You can use any gluten-free cracker that you like, and if you aren't concerned about being grain-free, you can make this Christmas Crack with saltine crackers as the base.
• Coconut Sugar- To keep this recipe paleo, we use coconut sugar as the base of our caramel. Coconut sugar has a lower glycemic index than cane sugar which makes it less likely to spike your blood sugar as fast as cane sugar does. If you don't have coconut sugar on hand, you can make this recipe with an equal amount of light brown sugar as well.
• Chocolate Chunks- This is my favorite brand of baking chocolate to use. It is vegan and allergy-friendly as well as being soy-free which is great for those who are sensitive to soy. Feel free to use your favorite chocolate chips in this recipe.

See the recipe card for full ingredients and quantities.

Instructions

How to Make the Vegan Caramel Sauce

1. Melt the vegan butter over high heat and once melted, add the coconut sugar and stir until melted through.
2. Whisk in the full-fat coconut milk and bring to a boil. Watch the pot carefully as to not have it boil over.
3. Stir continuously for 10-15 minutes until the caramel sauce starts to thicken and turn a dark amber color.
4. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.

How to Assemble Vegan Christmas Crack

This Christmas Crack recipe couldn't be easier to assemble and make. Your friends will think you put so much more effort into this than you have. It is one of the easiest fun holiday desserts.

1. Layout the crackers on the pan
2. Spread the vegan caramel sauce over top and bake
3. Pour the melted chocolate over the caramel and spread evenly
4. Refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight
5. Enjoy!

**Please see the recipe card for in-depth instructions.

Substitutions

• Nut-Free - Use your favorite nut-free crackers to make this dish allergy-friendly.
• Sugar-Free - While coconut sugar is refined sugar-free, it is not completely sugar-free and therefore might not be suitable for diabetics. Swap out the coconut sugar with your favorite sugar alternative.
• Oil-Free - You can make this vegan caramel sauce oil-free by using dates and cornstarch in place of the vegan butter.

Variations

• Graham Crackers - Try making this Christmas Crack Candy with Graham Crackers to give it a fun spin. You can even do cinnamon graham crackers!
• Ritz Crackers - Make this Christmas Crack with Ritz Crackers to give it an extra buttery taste.
• White Chocolate - For a fun twist, make this Christmas Crack Candy with white chocolate as a topping instead of semi-sweet.

Check out this other delicious holiday recipe here!

FAQ's

Equipment

Equipment can have a big impact on how a recipe turns out. See below for the equipment you will need to make this Christmas Crack Candy!

• Cookie Sheet
• Silicone Baking Mat
• Spatula
• Saucepan

Storage

This Christmas Crack recipe is best stored in the fridge to prevent the caramel and chocolate from melting.

You can freeze this recipe as well. Just pull it out 10 minutes before serving so you won't break your teeth!

Top tips

• When making the caramel sauce, if the coconut milk is too thick and turned into cream, scoop it out into a microwave-safe bowl and zap for 30 seconds, it should bring it back to coconut milk texture.
• This Vegan Christmas Crack makes the perfect gift! Freeze the tins ahead of time and line with parchment paper. Leave a cute note for your friends or family members instructing them to keep the Christmas Crack refrigerated.
• If you have one, try using a stainless steel saucepan to make the vegan caramel sauce. It will help you easily gauge the color as it browns and you will be able to take it off before it burns.

The Best Vegan Christmas Crack (Paleo and Gluten-Free)

kaydimaggio

This Vegan Christmas Crack is the ultimate holiday dessert. Salty crackers topped with gooey caramel and then finished off with delicious melted chocolate, this Christmas dessert will have everyone wanting more! 

5 from 17 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 mins

Cook Time 2 hrs

Total Time 3 hrs 6 mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 30 pieces candy

Calories 98 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 5 ounces grain-free crackers approximately 1 box
• 2 cups vegan chocolate chunks
• ½ cup vegan butter
• 1 cup coconut sugar
• ⅓ cup full-fat coconut milk from a can
• ¼ teaspoon sea salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

 

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees, line a 9x13 inch baking pan with tin foil or a silicone baking mat. Spray with nonstick spray
• Line the bottom of the pan completely with crackers until it is covered in full. Set aside.
• Melt the vegan butter over high heat and once melted, add the coconut sugar and stir until melted through. Whisk in the full-fat coconut milk and bring to a boil. Watch the pot carefully as to not have it boil over.
• Stir continuously for 10-15 minutes until the caramel sauce starts to thicken and turn a dark amber color. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract. 
• Allow the caramel sauce to cool slightly until it is no longer bubbling, then pour the caramel sauce evenly over the crackers. 
• Bake for 5-7 minutes until golden and bubbling. 
• While the toffee is in the oven, using a microwave safe dish, melt the chocolate in 30 second increments, stirring in between until the chocolate is fully melted. 
• When the caramel crackers come out of the oven, let them cool for 1-2 minutes until the bubbling stops. Pour the melted chocolate overtop and smooth it out using a silicone spatula. 
• Refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight until the chocolate has cooled and hardened and you can slice into squares. 

Notes

• When making the caramel sauce, if the coconut milk is too thick and turned into cream, scoop it out into a microwave-safe bowl and zap for 30 seconds, it should bring it back to coconut milk texture.
• This Vegan Christmas Crack makes the perfect gift! Freeze the tins ahead of time and line with parchment paper. Leave a cute note for your friends or family members instructing them to keep the Christmas Crack refrigerated.
• If you have one, try using a stainless steel saucepan to make the vegan caramel sauce. It will help you easily gauge the color as it browns and you will be able to take it off before it burns.

Nutrition

Serving: 1candyCalories: 98kcalCarbohydrates: 9.1gProtein: 0.9gFat: 6.6gSaturated Fat: 4.4gSodium: 50mgFiber: 0.4gSugar: 7.9g

Keyword dessert, Vegan

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Food safety

• Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
• Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
• Never leave cooking food unattended
• Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
• Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove

See more guidelines at USDA.gov.