This Ritz cracker bark will be the perfect, unexpected addition to your cookie tray this holiday season! These “crookies” taste a bit like a Twix candy bar!
Putting together a really beautiful holiday cookie tray is always so satisfied for me at Christmas time. It has to be beautiful, of course, but I also love when it’s filled with lots of variety and all kinds of interesting treats and sweets. A tray full of tried and true basic cookies is always welcome at any gathering, but I like to add just a little something different on my trays as well. I find that some kind of a bark is always really well-received and often one of the first things to disappear off a dessert table. I always make my peppermint bark every year, but this year I thought I’d try this Ritz cracker bark as well. It’s half cookie, half cracker, hence the name “crookies”. 🙂
This ritz cracker bark is fun because it’s also a great conversation starter. When people try it and ask you what this delicious delicacy is, they’ll be so surprised to hear that it’s actually made from plain ol’ ritz crackers! Definitely add this one to your baking list if you’re looking for one more thing to add to your cookie trays.
Even More Cookie Recipes!
Today I’m joining a bunch of friends in sharing our very best cookie recipes for this year. Just follow the links at the bottom of this post for more information on each recipe. You’re sure to find a few new ones that you just have to try this year! Thanks so much to Joanna for putting this fun day together for us! If all this inspiration doesn’t get you in the kitchen this weekend, I don’t know what will! 🙂
Ingredients for the Ritz Cracker Bark
Recipes with simple ingredients that you almost definitely already have on hand are my favourite!
You’ll need:
- Ritz crackers
- Butter or a butter substitute
- Brown sugar
- Chocolate chips
That’s it! So simple! So fun!
Some helpful baking tips you just might need right about now: The Creek Line House – How to Soften Brown Sugar Quickly & Quickly Soften Butter With This Trick
How to Make the Ritz Cracker Bark
In a saucepan, melt the butter and brown sugar together on medium heat for about 5 minutes. It’s OK if the sugar isn’t fully dissolved. Pour the brown sugar and butter mixture evenly over the crackers.
Place the baking sheet in a 375 degree oven for 5 minutes or until bubbly.
Sprinkle the chocolate chips over everything and put the baking sheet back in the oven for about 2-3 minutes to melt the chocolate.
Remove from the oven and smooth the chocolate out with the back of a spoon. Then you’ll put your bark into the fridge to chill, just like with other bark recipes.
Feel free to add some Christmassy sprinkles on top of the chocolate before you put this into the fridge if you want to fancy them up a little.
This is a great one to make with kids. They’ll either think it’s super fun that you’re going to magically turn crackers into cookies, or they’ll be a little gross-ed out at the idea. And then of course they’ll be surprised and delighted when they get brave enough to try the crookies after they’re done. 🙂
Make sure you break the bark up into a variety of sizes. You want some smaller pieces for people who just want to grab a little taste, and some larger pieces for when they come back for more!
Here’s the full printable recipe for Ritz cracker bark!
This Ritz cracker bark will be the perfect, unexpected addition to your cookie tray this holiday season! These "crookies" taste a bit like a Twix candy bar!
- 1/2 box Ritz Crackers
- 1/3 cup Butter or butter substitute
- 3/4 cup Brown sugar
- 1 package Chocolate chips (milk or semi-sweet)
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Place Ritz crackers on a parchment-lined baking sheet in a single layer. Overlap a few of the crackers here and there to add structural integrity.
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In a saucepan, melt the butter and brown sugar together on medium heat for about 5 minutes. It's OK if the sugar isn't fully dissolved.
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Pour the brown sugar and butter mixture evenly over the crackers. Place the baking sheet in a 375 degree oven for 5 minutes or until bubbly.
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Sprinkle the chocolate chips over everything and put the baking sheet back in the oven for about 2-3 minutes to melt the chocolate. Remove from the oven and smooth the chocolate out with the back of a spoon.
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Place the baking sheet in the fridge for about 20 minutes to solidify the bark.
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Break the bark into pieces and store in an airtight container.
Holiday Bonus: 12 more delicious cookie-riffic holiday baking ideas from a few of our friends!
More Delicious Christmas Cookie Recipes:
For more Christmas cookie recipes, make sure you check out the delicious recipes below!
Swiss Mountain Shortbread by Kim of Kim Power Style
German Iced Spice Christmas Cookies by Christina of The DIY Mommy
Slice and Bake Shortbread Cookies by Jo-Anna of A Pretty Life in the Suburbs
Cathedral Window Cookies by Rita of Harbour Breeze Home
Chocolate Peppermint Biscotti by Kendra of Joy In Our Home
Cranberry Orange Shortbread by Jen of Kitchen Counter Chronicles
Holiday Crinkle Cookies by Lisa of Fabulous Habits
Maple Shortbread Snowflakes by Laura of one house 2 barns
Peppermint Hot Cocoa Cookies by Jennifer of Happily Organized Chaos
Earl Grey Snowball Cookies by Tan of Squirrelly Minds
Gingerbread Cookies by Dannyelle of Life is a Party
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Courtenay Hartford is the author of creeklinehouse.com, a blog based on her adventures renovating a 120-year-old farmhouse in rural Ontario, Canada. On her blog, Courtenay shares interior design tips based on her own farmhouse and her work as founder and stylist of the interior photography firm Art & Spaces. She also writes about her farmhouse garden, plant-based recipes, family travel, and homekeeping best practices. Courtenay is the author of the book The Cleaning Ninja and has been featured in numerous magazines including Country Sampler Farmhouse Style, Better Homes and Gardens, Parents Magazine, Real Simple, and Our Homes.