this irresistible Peanut Butter Candy The recipe is the perfect combination of creamy peanut butter, crunchy caramel, and salty cookies, making it a treat for all ages. Whether you’re looking for a great recipe to impress your guests this holiday season, give as a hostess gift, or just want to enjoy a delicious snack, peanut butter candy is sure to hit the spot.
This candy recipe is easy to make and you can customize it to your liking with different toppings and variations. So what are you waiting for? Get ready to enjoy a delight that is sure to become your new favorite.
What is peanut butter candy?
Peanut Butter Caramel is made of pretzels coated with melted butter and a dark brown sugar mixture and topped with creamy peanut butter chips. I’ve also heard this candy called Christmas Crack, although it usually uses a bag of chocolate chips. Whatever you call it, it’s delicious!
Ingredients for peanut butter candy
To prepare this delicious delicacy, you will need the following simple ingredients:
- 30 crackers
- 1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks)
- 1 cup packed dark brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 10 ounces Reese’s peanut butter chips
Instructions for Making Peanut Butter Caramel Crackers
This easy candy recipe is made in a few simple steps:
- First, heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare a 9 x 13-inch cake pan or regular baking pan by lining it with aluminum foil or parchment paper and coating it generously with cooking spray.
- Place the crackers on the bottom of the prepared baking dish, making sure they are in a single even layer.
- Place the butter and brown sugar in a medium saucepan. Stir constantly over medium heat as the mixture boils. Then simmer for 3-5 minutes, stirring frequently, until the mixture thickens slightly. This is important to prevent burning.
- When the golden mixture has thickened, remove it from the heat and wait 30 seconds before adding the vanilla extract.
- Pour the mixture over the crackers and spread so that they are completely covered. Bake for 5 to 7 minutes or until brown sugar mixture begins to bubble.
- Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let it sit for 3 minutes before sprinkling peanut butter chips over the caramel mixture.
- Let the chips sit for 3 to 5 minutes so they begin to soften and melt. Soft peanut butter chips with a offset spatula to cover the candy layer.
- Let the peanut butter candy cool completely and harden in the refrigerator for 2 hours before pulling it apart to serve. They are best served at room temperature.
How to Store Peanut Butter Caramel with Crackers
Store the caramel in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
Recipe Variations
If you’re looking to change up the classic peanut butter caramel recipe, try adding one of these variations:
Chocolate Peanut Butter Caramel: Use equal parts milk chocolate or dark chocolate chips and peanut butter chips and spread them over the top of the cooled caramel. Sprinkle chopped peanuts on top and let the melted chocolate harden before breaking the candy into pieces.
Peanut Butter Candy with Walnuts: Add 1 cup chopped nuts (such as almonds or walnuts) to the butterscotch mixture as a finishing touch before pouring it into the baking dish.
Sea Salt Peanut Butter Caramel: Sprinkle flaked sea salt over the top of the cooled caramel before breaking it into small pieces.
Is this caramel recipe gluten free?
As written, this recipe is not gluten free. There are gluten-free substitutes for crackers, and although the label says Reese’s Peanut Butter Chips are gluten-free, you may want to check the ingredients yourself to be sure.
More caramel recipes
If you love crunchy caramel like I do, you need to try one of these delicious recipes:
This Condensed Milk Caramel with chopped almonds is an easy sweet and chewy treat. There’s a crunchy, chewy, chocolatey bite to every bite.
Biscoff Caramel Bark – I love the creamy Biscoff biscuit spread! Mixed with caramel bits and melted white chocolate chips, this easy and delicious treat is the perfect addition to your dessert tray!
These delicious skewers Bourbon Caramel Cookies Have the perfect balance between the flavor of bourbon and your favorite candies and nuts. If you’re a bourbon lover, enjoy one of these at the end of a long day for a special treat! Or make these Double Chocolate Caramel Cookies – Delicious chocolate cookies with dark chocolate chips and crunchy pieces of caramel.
Sweet Candy Recipes
If you like to make your own sweets to give as gifts (or to snack on!), you’ll love these easy recipes:
Happy baking!
~FOLLOW ME~
~ FACEBOOK ~ PINTEREST ~
~ instagram ~ TWITTER ~
~ YOUTUBE ~
Stay tuned for more easy recipes every week!
Peanut Butter Candy
This peanut butter candy is the perfect combination of creamy peanut butter, crunchy caramel, and salty cookies. It’s an easy dessert or snack recipe that will impress guests or make a great gift!
Prevent your screen from going dark
Instructions
-
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare a 9 x 13-inch baking dish by lining it with aluminum foil and coating it generously with cooking spray.
-
Place the crackers in the bottom of the prepared baking dish, making sure they are in a single layer.
-
Place the butter and brown sugar in a small saucepan. Stir constantly while bringing the mixture to a boil.
-
When it boils, lower the heat and simmer for 3-5 minutes, uncovered, until the mixture thickens slightly.
-
Stir the mixture frequently to prevent burning or scorching. When the mix has thickened, remove from heat and wait 30 seconds before adding vanilla extract.
-
Pour the mixture over the crackers and spread them out so they are completely covered.
-
Bake for 5 to 7 minutes or until brown sugar mixture begins to bubble. When you take it out of the oven, let it sit for 3 minutes before sprinkling peanut butter chips over the caramel mixture.
-
Then, let the chips sit for about 3 minutes to soften. Spread to cover the caramel mixture and refrigerate for at least 2 hours to cool completely and harden before separating to serve.
Nutrition
Service: 1service | Calories: 81calories | Carbohydrates: 8gram | Protein: 0.3gram | Fat: 5gram | Saturated fats: 3gram | Polyunsaturated fats: 0.3gram | Monounsaturated fats: 1gram | Trans fats: 0.2gram | Cholesterol: 14mg | Sodium: 27mg | Potassium: 14mg | Fiber: 0.1gram | Sugar: 6gram | Vitamin A: 162UI | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 0.2mg
This post was originally published on February 14, 2014. It was updated in format and with images on November 17, 2023.
