This Toffee Bars Recipe is also referred to as "crack cookies," amongst some of my friends. I guess you could say they're quite addicting! Crispy graham crackers are topped with a gooey brown sugar and butter toffee mixture, loaded with ground pecans and walnuts. The results are heavenly!
The original version of this recipe was called "MJ's Can't Stop Eating Them Cookies." MJ was a teacher that worked with my sister, Beni.
Beni shared the recipe with me, but like most recipes, I couldn't just leave it as is. I added some of my favorite spices and reduced the amount of butter. After sharing the recipe with my friends, the recipe got a new name, "Hilda's Crack Cookies."
How to Make This Recipe
Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 1: Finely grind the nuts using a food processor and set aside.
Step 2: Line a 10"x15" cookie sheet with graham crackers. You will have to break the last graham cracker in half, lengthwise, to fit in the unfilled section of the tray.
Step 3: Place brown sugar, butter, spices, and vanilla in a medium-sized saucepan. Stir ingredients over medium heat until the butter is melted, and the ingredients are incorporated. Bring to a boil, then continue boiling for two minutes.
Step 4: Add the nuts and continue to boil and stir for an additional minute.
Step 5: Quickly pour the mixture over the graham crackers, making sure to cover the entire surface. Bake for 10 minutes, then cool for at least 15 minutes.
Step 6: Break cookies into squares or smaller rectangles.
We have been making these cookies for several years. They are also really good made with saltine crackers, have even had them with different snack crackers.
—Mitzi
Pro Tips
- This recipe requires that you work very fast. Especially when spreading the caramel/nut mixture over the graham crackers. It sets pretty quickly.
- Cooling the cookies in a fridge speeds up the time it takes for the cookies to set.
- Try adding other nuts or spices based on your preference to make this toffee bars recipe your own.
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Toffee Bars Recipe (Crack Cookies)
Ingredients
- 13 graham crackers
- ¾ cups salted butter
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon cardamom
- ¼ teaspoon cloves
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup ground pecans (or walnuts)
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Finely grind the nuts using a food processor and set aside.
- Line a 10"x15" cookie sheet with graham crackers. You will have to break the last graham cracker in half, lengthwise, to fit in the unfilled section of the tray.
- Place brown sugar, butter, spices, and vanilla in a medium-sized saucepan. Stir ingredients over medium heat until the butter is melted, and the ingredients are incorporated. Bring to a boil, then continue boiling for two minutes.
- Add the nuts and continue to boil and stir for an additional minute.
- Quickly pour the mixture over the graham crackers, making sure to cover the entire surface. Bake for 10 minutes, then cool for at least 15 minutes.
- Break cookies into squares or smaller rectangles.
Notes
- This recipe requires that you work very fast. Especially when spreading the caramel/nut mixture over the graham crackers. It sets pretty quickly.
- Cooling the cookies in a fridge speeds up the time it takes for the cookies to set.
- Try adding other nuts or spices based on your preference.
Cheryl says
Have you seen this made with Saltines instead?
Mitzi says
We have been making these cookies for several years. They are also really good made with saltine crackers, have even had them with different snack crackers.
HildaSterner says
Hi, Mitzi, thanks for stopping by! Yes, I have had the saltine cracker version, they are great too. I don't think you can go wrong with the combination of butter, sugar, nuts and a cracker!
Danielle@wenthere8this.com says
OMG these look absolutely amazing! I love all the flavors (except walnuts, but I can just leave those out). YUM!
HildaSterner says
Yes, walnuts can easily be replaced with other nuts such as pecans or almonds. Thanks for stopping by!
anastaciast says
You had me at "graham"
HildaSterner says
When my daughter was little, she's now 23, we used to have tea parties with my mom. We would dip the graham crackers in our tea. My daughter always referred to them as "grandma crackers." We call them grandma crackers to this day, and I still love to dip them in my tea!
beni says
And MaryJane got the recipe from Mr. Food, the TV. program, I think on Channel 9 in Chicago.
HildaSterner says
Oh, a little background info on the recipe, I like it. Thanks for letting me know. What's interesting is I'm finding a lot of similar recipes (like MJ's) on Pinterest. Some are called "Crack Praline" and others have the name "crack" in the title. I guess Teresa was onto something!