12 Days of Christmas: Christmas Crack

It's my 12 Days of Christmas!

Christmas Food that is! 

Today is Day #4 and I'm sharing my recipe for 

CHRISTMAS CRACK

also known as Heath Bar Crunch!

This sweet and salty snack is always very popular around Christmas time!  It's a perfect quick dessert - taking less than 15 minutes to make!  And everyone always loves it!  It's pretty addictive...hence the name Christmas Crack! 

Your Shopping List for the Heath Bar Crunch:

• 1 sleeve of salted saltine crackers (you may need a few more if some are broken...and please don't use unsalted crackers)
• 2 sticks (1 cup) salted butter (don't use unsalted...you want the salt!)
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar
• 1/4 tsp baking soda* 
• 1 bag semisweet chocolate chips (milk chocolate works too)
• foil and cooking spray

Now Let's Make the Heath Bar Crunch:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees
2. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and spray it liberally with cooking spray (like PAM)
3. Arrange saltine crackers in a single layer, covering the entire pan (you may need to break pieces to make them fit)
   
4. In a sauce pan over medium heat, melt butter and mix in brown sugar
5. Stir occasionally until the butter and sugar are thoroughly combined
6. When the mixture starts to bubble, continue to stir for exactly 2 minutes (seriously set your timer)
7. After the 2 minutes is up, add in the 1/4 tsp of baking soda and stir constantly for exactly 1 minute (the mixture should get lighter and bubble higher)
   
8. Working quickly, pour mixture evenly over crackers and put in oven for 7 minutes
   
9. Take pan out of oven and sprinkle entire bag of chocolate chips evenly over pan
10. Allow to sit one minute (chocolate will begin to melt) and then use the back of a spoon to spread into an even layer
11. Place pan in freezer until set (at least 30 minutes to 1 hour)
12. Remove from freezer, using foil remove from pan and peel off foil
13. Break into bite size pieces and serve or store in freezer (you can store it in the fridge too it will just be a bit softer - I eat it right out of the freezer!)

*Cooking Tip - if you cannot remember the last time you bought baking soda, buy a new box!  You definitely want new baking soda for holiday baking!  Throw the old box in the fridge!