Salted Caramel Crackers Snack Bites Recipe
These Salted Caramel Cracker Bites transform humble oyster crackers into addictive, crunchy, sweet and salty snacks with a rich caramel coating. Born from a snow day desperation, this easy recipe involves caramelizing brown sugar and butter, then coating and baking the crackers to golden perfection. They’re perfect for snacking, gifting, or serving with coffee and ice cream.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 22 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 4 cups of caramel cracker bites 1x
- Category: Snacks & Appetizers
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Crackers
- 1 (9 oz) package oyster crackers
Caramel Sauce
- 1 cup (2 sticks) butter
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp salt
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
- Arrange Crackers: Spread the oyster crackers evenly on the prepared baking sheet. Give the sheet a gentle shake to settle the crackers without overlapping to ensure even caramel coating.
- Make Caramel: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter and add brown sugar. Stir constantly and bring to a gentle boil for 2–3 minutes until the mixture looks like lava bubbles and thickens slightly, pulling away from the sides when stirred.
- Add Flavors: Remove the caramel from heat and immediately stir in vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt. Be cautious as the mixture may bubble vigorously.
- Coat Crackers: Pour the caramel sauce over the oyster crackers and gently toss them with a silicone spatula to fully coat every piece without breaking them.
- Bake: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 10–12 minutes. Stir the crackers halfway through at around 5 minutes to redistribute the caramel and ensure even baking. The crackers should look glossy and the caramel will actively bubble when done.
- Cool Completely: Remove from oven and allow the crackers to cool completely on the baking sheet. This step is crucial to avoid crumbling. You can speed cooling by placing the tray outside if weather permits.
- Break Apart and Serve: Once cooled and hardened, break the cracker bites apart into clusters or individual pieces and serve as a snack or dessert accompaniment.
Notes
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week to maintain freshness and crunch.
- For longer storage, freeze in an airtight container for up to 1 month; thaw quickly at room temperature before serving.
- Use parchment paper for easy cleanup as the caramel can be sticky.
- If using saltine crackers instead of oyster crackers, break them into quarters and reduce the salt to ½ tsp to avoid oversalting.
- For dairy-free version, substitute butter with plant-based butter sticks (do not use spreadable tubs).
- Adding an extra pinch of salt after baking enhances the flavor tremendously.
- To add variations, consider tossing in nuts before baking, drizzling melted chocolate after cooling, or adding spices like pumpkin pie spice.
Keywords: caramel crackers, snack recipe, salted caramel, oyster crackers, sweet and salty snack, easy snack, caramel snacks, holiday treats
