Ah, Christmas morning – that magical time when we’re torn between opening presents and digging into a truly special breakfast. We’ve all got our cosy Christmas breakfast ideas in mind (fluffy pancakes, cinnamon rolls, you name it), but sometimes the holidays call for something a little more extra. Enter the Christmas crack recipe – the sweet, indulgent holiday breakfast treat you didn’t even know you were craving. Yes, we’re talking about that Christmas Crack: the famously addictive toffee-and-chocolate candy that’s so good it earns its cheeky name. And guess what? We’re having it for breakfast. Before you raise an eyebrow, hear us out. In the season of sweet breakfast ideas and sugary treats, why not start the day with a bit of dessert for breakfast? It’s Christmas, after all, and we’re here to make the morning as memorable (and tasty) as possible.
And if you’re hungry for more festive inspiration beyond the sweet stuff, check out our favourite cozy breakfast ideas for Christmas (and every morning after) — it’s a full holiday buffet of feel-good recipes.
Why We’re Obsessed with Christmas Crack for Breakfast
Let’s address the sleigh in the room: What is Christmas Crack? Traditionally, it’s a simple candy made from humble saltine crackers turned decadent. You lay down a tray of plain crackers, smother them in a quick homemade toffee, bake it until bubbly, then top with melted chocolate that hardens into a snappy, candy bar-like finish. Once it cools, you crack it into irregular pieces of sugary, salty bliss. It’s the kind of sweet breakfast treat (or anytime treat) that’s so irresistible, families literally have to hide it to have any left for later—hence the tongue-in-cheek name. According to Simply Recipes, it's earned its popularity thanks to how dangerously addictive it is and how shockingly easy it is to make.
So why are we serving a Christmas crack recipe for breakfast? Because the holidays are about joy and breaking a few rules. Who says you can’t have a bit of candy alongside your morning coffee on Christmas Day? We’ve all snuck a Quality Street or two with breakfast, so consider this a cheeky upgrade – basically a crunchy toffee-and-chocolate bar disguised as a breakfast treat. Christmas Crack hits all the right notes: it’s crunchy, chocolaty, caramel-y, and just naughty enough to feel festive. Plus, you can make it ahead on Christmas Eve, meaning Christmas morning you just crack it (literally) and serve – zero stress, maximum delight. (Psst, we’re big fans of make-ahead dishes for holiday mornings – our Christmas breakfast casserole ideas prove that a little prep the night before makes for a cosy, effortless morning spread.)
And let’s be honest, the kiddos in all of us light up at the idea of candy for breakfast. This recipe brings a sense of mischief and fun to your holiday breakfast table. It’s the kind of thing that makes everyone giggle “Are we really doing this?” as we all happily munch away. In a season where we already bend the rules (pie for dinner, anyone?), a bit of toffee and chocolate to start the day doesn’t hurt. Serve it alongside some fruit or a protein dish if you like – or just savour it with a cup of hot coffee or cocoa. It’s Christmas, live a little!
For those thinking “Hmm, maybe candy at 8 AM is too wild,” don’t worry – we have plenty of wholesome options too. Check out our cosy roundup of Christmas brunch recipes for more morning delights, from hearty bakes to fruity parfaits. But for now, let’s indulge.
The Christmas Crack Recipe: Turning Dessert into Breakfast Magic
Simply Recipes / Photo by Julia Gartland / Food Styling by Barrett Washburne
Okay, time to get down to it. Ready to make this fabulously fun breakfast treat? Let’s go! This Christmas crack recipe is surprisingly quick and easy – which is exactly what we want on a busy Christmas morning. No long hours in the kitchen, we promise. Here’s the game plan:
Prep Time: ~ 15 minutes (plus time to cool)
Cook Time: ~ 15 minutes
Yield: About 35 pieces of crackly goodness (plenty for sharing... or for sneaking a few extra for ourselves).
Ingredients
We’re keeping it simple and straightforward, using mostly pantry staples. You’ll need:
Saltine crackers - Enough to line a standard baking tray (about 35–40 crackers). These plain, lightly salted crackers are the magical base that turns into a crunchy toffee layer. (Trust us on this, it works!)
Butter - 1 cup (225g). We use real butter for that rich toffee flavour. It wouldn’t be Christmas Crack without a buttery toffee, after all.
Brown sugar - 1 cup (200g). When boiled with butter, this transforms into a caramel-toffee that soaks into the crackers.
Chocolate chips - 2 cups (about 340g). Semi-sweet or dark chocolate works best. They’ll melt into our top layer of chocolate heaven.
Oatbedient Oat M!lk Barista - 1/2 cup, pre-mixed. This is where the magic happens. A splash of this creamy, dairy-free oat milk in the toffee mix adds richness, balance, and a subtle hint of roasted oats that makes people go “wait…what’s your secret?”
Salt - a pinch of sea salt to sprinkle on top. That sweet-salty contrast is chef’s kiss.
Festive toppings (optional) - Here’s where you can get creative: chopped nuts (almonds, pecans), holiday sprinkles, crushed candy canes, dried cranberries – whatever you love. We often toss on some toasted chopped almonds and red-green sprinkles to look extra celebratory.
One more optional ingredient: a dash of vanilla extract to stir into the toffee for extra depth. And if you’re feeling adventurous, a pinch of cinnamon or ginger can give a subtle gingerbread vibe. We like to play with our food during the holidays!
Instructions
Step 1: Preheat & Lay the Base
Heat your oven to 175°C (350°F). Line a baking tray with foil and lightly grease it. Arrange saltine crackers in a single layer to fully cover the tray—this is your crisp, crunchy base.
Step 2: Make the Toffee
Melt the butter and brown sugar together in a saucepan over medium heat. Once the mixture starts to melt into each other, stir in 1/2 cup of Oatbedient Barista Oat Milk. Let it all bubble gently for 3 minutes, stirring often, until it becomes smooth, glossy, and golden. The oat milk gives the toffee a silky finish with a subtle roasted note our little trick for levelling it up without dairy. (Smells amazing, but don’t taste it yet—it’s molten hot!)
Step 3: Pour & Bake
Quickly pour the hot toffee over the crackers and spread it evenly. Bake for 5 minutes until bubbling and slightly darker in colour.
Step 4: Melt the Chocolate
Take it out of the oven and sprinkle chocolate chips evenly on top. Let them sit for 2 minutes to melt, then spread the gooey chocolate across the surface.
Step 5: Add Toppings
While the chocolate is still soft, sprinkle on sea salt, chopped nuts, dried fruit, or festive sprinkles—whatever you fancy.
Step 6: Chill & Crack
Cool until the chocolate is firm—fridge or freezer for speed. Once set, peel off the foil and break into bite-sized pieces. No rules here—just crack and snack.
Congratulations, you’ve just made Christmas Crack – for breakfast! And if you snuck a taste at each step (we certainly do), you know how absolutely delicious this is going to be. Pile those golden, chocolate-drenched pieces on a platter and watch the smiles appear. The combination of crunchy cracker-toffee base and silky chocolate top, with that hint of saltiness, is pure magic on the taste buds.
Make-It-Your-Own Tips
One of the best things about this recipe is how flexible it is. Once you’ve got the basic Christmas crack recipe down, feel free to put your own spin on it:
Want to make it vegan? Go for it! Swap in a plant-based butter and make sure your chocolate is dairy-free. The result will be just as scrumptious and entirely plant-based. (We’ve done this with great success – Oatbedient’s ethos loves a good dairy-free swap, and we promise no one will notice the difference.)
According to Healthline, swapping out refined sugar for more natural options like coconut sugar can reduce the glycaemic impact of sweet treats while still satisfying your cravings. Paired with dark chocolate, which brings antioxidants to the party, and a whole-grain cracker base, your Christmas Crack can lean a little more nourishing without losing its charm. You could even toss in some chopped nuts or seeds for added fibre and crunch. It’s still a treat—just one that feels a bit more grown-up (and your blood sugar might thank you later).
Go crazy with flavours: sprinkle crushed peppermint candies on top for a peppermint-bark vibe, or swirl melted white chocolate into the dark for a fancy marbled look. You can even add a layer of peanut butter between the toffee and chocolate (we went there one year – a Reese’s cup meets Christmas Crack situation).
Fancy a breakfast and dessert fusion? Crumble a piece of Christmas Crack over your bowl of porridge or yoghurt the next day for a “granola” like no other. (We won’t tell the food police, promise.) Feel free to experiment and have fun with it.
A (Slightly) Better-for-You Indulgence, Powered by Oats
Alright, let’s be honest, Christmas Crack isn’t pretending to be kale. It’s buttery, sugary, and absolutely worth every crumb. But here’s where we give it a bit of a glow-up—because at Oatbedient, even indulgence can come with a wink of wellness.
See, we’re oat people (obviously), and oats bring more to the table than just warm fuzzies. A quick pour of oat milk in your morning coffee, or a spoonful of oat flour in your Christmas baking, can quietly boost the whole experience. Why? Because oats aren’t just cosy, they’re clever.
According to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, oats are packed with beta-glucan, a soluble fibre known for its cholesterol-lowering effects. It forms a gel in the gut that helps reduce the absorption of LDL (bad) cholesterol, supporting better heart health. So even if you're indulging a little this season, that oat latte or bowl of porridge on the side isn’t just tasty, it’s got science-backed benefits too.
We’re not saying Christmas Crack is now a superfood. But pair it with an oat latte or a side of warm porridge, and suddenly you’ve got something that feels indulgent without going completely off the rails. It’s balance, not perfection—and we’re here for it.
And if you’ve not yet discovered the magic of Oatbedient’s clean-label oat drinks, trust us—this is your festive pantry MVP. Creamy, dairy-free, junk-free, and versatile as ever. One scoop stirs into hot chocolate, lattes, or festive baking batters. It’s the ingredient you didn’t know you needed until you’re pouring it into everything.
We always say: treat yourself, but treat yourself well. Keep the Christmas Crack recipe. But maybe pour an oat latte alongside it and feel like you’ve just hacked holiday snacking.
Bringing It All Together: A Christmas Breakfast to Remember
What started as a cheeky idea, turning a Christmas crack recipe into breakfast, has now become one of our most beloved holiday traditions. It’s bold, a little rebellious, and exactly the kind of festive fun we all need this time of year. Between the laughter, the chocolatey crumbs, and the oat lattes on the side, it brings comfort, joy, and just the right amount of chaos to Christmas morning.
So yes, we’re officially team “dessert for breakfast,” and we’re not looking back. After all, this season is all about doing what feels good and trust us, this feels very good.
Let’s make this the year we shake up our breakfast ideas, start sweet, and serve up a little mischief with our morning mugs. Oatbedient’s here for it, and so are we.
Now go on, grab your crackers, stir that oat milk with caramel, and let’s crack on with the sweetest start to Christmas.
Merry breakfasting, friends.
