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This post is all about Christmas Cracker Toffee Bark.
Cozy, Crunchy, and Pumpkin-Spiced to Perfection
If fall had a signature sound, it would be the crack of this toffee breaking into perfectly crisp pieces.
Meet Spiced Pumpkin Butter Toffee a festive twist on classic Christmas Cracker Toffee that captures everything you love about fall and the holidays. It’s buttery toffee, smooth pumpkin flavor, warm cinnamon spice and rich chocolate all in one irresistible bite.
It’s easy, elegant, and dangerously delicious and perfect for dessert tables, cozy gift boxes or that “one more piece before bed” moment.
Whether you’re a pumpkin spice devotee or just love a good homemade candy this recipe brings sweater-weather sweetness to every bite.
⭐ Why You’ll Love This Pumpkin Butter Toffee
- Pumpkin spice + toffee = heaven. Buttery caramel meets cozy fall flavors.
- Quick & simple. No candy thermometer required, ready in 30 minutes.
- Perfect for gifting. Pack in jars, tins, or cellophane bags for fall treats.
- Crowd favorite. Sweet, salty, and full of flavor — it disappears fast.
- Great bridge recipe. Works beautifully from pumpkin season straight into Christmas.
🎃 Ingredients You’ll Need
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Saltine crackers | 1 sleeve (about 35 crackers) | Substitute graham crackers for extra sweetness |
| Unsalted butter | 1 cup (2 sticks / 225 g) | Salted butter works, reduce added salt |
| Brown sugar | 1 cup (200 g) | Dark brown sugar gives deeper caramel flavor |
| Pumpkin butter | 3 tablespoons | Store-bought or homemade — not pumpkin purée |
| Ground cinnamon | 1 teaspoon | Warm, classic fall spice |
| Ground nutmeg | ¼ teaspoon | Optional but highly recommended |
| Chocolate chips | 2 cups (340 g) | Dark, milk, or white — all work beautifully |
| Toasted pepitas (pumpkin seeds) | ½ cup | Adds crunch and a pretty garnish |
| Sea salt flakes | ½ teaspoon | Optional, balances the sweetness |
🧡 What’s Pumpkin Butter?
Pumpkin butter is a smooth, spiced spread made by simmering pumpkin purée with sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. It’s thicker, richer, and more concentrated than pumpkin pie filling — which makes it perfect for baking and candy recipes.
You can find it near jams or apple butter in most grocery stores, or make your own (just cook pumpkin purée with maple syrup and spices until thick).
🍂 Equipment
- Rimmed baking sheet (10 × 15 inch)
- Foil or parchment paper
- Medium saucepan
- Offset spatula
- Measuring cups & spoons
🎃 Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Prep the Base
Preheat your oven to 400 °F (200 °C).
Line your baking sheet with foil or parchment and lightly grease.
Arrange saltine crackers in a single, even layer with no gaps.
2. Make the Pumpkin Toffee
In a saucepan, melt butter and brown sugar over medium heat.
Whisk occasionally until the mixture starts to bubble and thicken (about 3–4 minutes).
Once bubbling, remove from heat and whisk in pumpkin butter, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
The scent alone will make your kitchen smell like a fall candle — cozy, warm, and completely irresistible.
3. Pour & Bake
Quickly pour the spiced caramel mixture over your crackers and spread evenly with a spatula.
Bake for 5–6 minutes, until the toffee is bubbling across the surface.
Remove from the oven and let it rest for 1 minute.
4. Add Chocolate
Sprinkle chocolate chips over the warm toffee layer.
Let them sit for 2–3 minutes to melt, then spread smooth with an offset spatula.
Pro Tip: Use white chocolate for a stunning color contrast — it makes the orange pumpkin hue pop!
5. Top with Pepitas & Sea Salt
While the chocolate is still warm, sprinkle toasted pepitas evenly on top.
Add a light dusting of sea salt flakes for balance.
If you want extra flair, drizzle with a touch of melted white chocolate or dust with cinnamon-sugar for a bakery-style finish.
6. Chill & Crack
Let the tray cool completely at room temperature for about 30 minutes, then refrigerate for 1 hour (or freeze for 20 minutes).
Once firm, lift the foil and crack into rustic shards.
Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks, or refrigerate to extend shelf life.
🍫 Flavor Variations
| Variation | Description |
|---|---|
| Pumpkin Pie Toffee | Add crushed gingersnap cookies on top for crunch. |
| Pumpkin Maple Toffee | Replace some brown sugar with maple syrup for deeper flavor. |
| White Chocolate Pumpkin Bark | Use white chocolate instead of dark and drizzle caramel over top. |
| Pecan Pumpkin Toffee | Add chopped toasted pecans for nutty texture. |
💝 Gifting & Serving Ideas
This is the kind of treat that looks fancy but takes almost no effort — perfect for fall gifts or holiday parties.
🎁 Gift jars: Layer shards with parchment, tie with burlap ribbon, and add a “Pumpkin Toffee Bliss” tag.
🍂 Fall dessert boards: Mix with dried fruit, chocolates, and apple slices for cozy grazing boards.
🧺 Hostess gifts: Wrap in parchment, slip into a rustic tin, and tie with twine + a cinnamon stick.
🎃 Party favors: Add to clear treat bags with custom tags for Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving.
🍥Recipe Card
Spiced Pumpkin Butter Toffee (Fall Cracker Candy)
Yields: 35–40 pieces | Prep: 10 min | Cook: 10 min | Chill: 1 hr
Ingredients:
- 1 sleeve saltine crackers
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 3 tbsp pumpkin butter
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp nutmeg
- 2 cups chocolate chips
- ½ cup toasted pepitas
- Pinch sea salt
Instructions:
1️⃣ Preheat oven to 400 °F (200 °C). Line baking sheet and arrange crackers.
2️⃣ Melt butter + sugar, boil 3–4 minutes. Stir in pumpkin butter + spices.
3️⃣ Pour over crackers, bake 5 minutes.
4️⃣ Remove, top with chocolate chips, spread once melted.
5️⃣ Sprinkle pepitas + sea salt, drizzle white chocolate if desired.
6️⃣ Chill 1 hr, crack apart, and enjoy.
🍽 Nutrition (Approx. per piece)
| Calories | Fat | Carbs | Sugar | Protein |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 170 | 9 g | 21 g | 17 g | 1 g |
💬 FAQ
Q: Can I use pumpkin purée instead of pumpkin butter?
No — purée has too much water. Pumpkin butter is thicker and caramelizes better.
Q: Can I use white chocolate instead of dark?
Absolutely — it complements the pumpkin flavor perfectly.
Q: Can I make this gluten-free?
Yes! Use gluten-free saltine crackers or matzo.
Q: Can I freeze it?
Yes — store between parchment layers in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
Q: How long does it last?
About 2 weeks in an airtight container (refrigerated for best texture).
❤️ Final Thoughts
This Spiced Pumpkin Butter Toffee is fall in candy form — sweet, salty, buttery, and loaded with pumpkin spice warmth. It’s the perfect make-ahead treat for pumpkin season, Thanksgiving gatherings, or cozy nights by the fire.
The best part? It’s quick, easy, and absolutely beautiful — a recipe you’ll make (and gift!) year after year.
So grab your pumpkin butter, preheat that oven, and let your kitchen smell like pure autumn magic. 🍂
