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This is an exquisite representation of all the Christmas goodies you may have grown up with: toffee, candy, M&Ms, buttery pecans, s’mores, and drizzled melty frosting—all rolled into one. If you are ready to recreate the sugar nostalgia for family new and old, this recipe for graham cracker toffee with pecans is one memorable Christmas candy.
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How to Make Christmas Graham Cracker Toffee With Pecans
Set out the butter to soften for these graham cracker toffee bars. Gather the graham crackers, butter, light brown sugar, salt, vanilla, chopped pecans, mini marshmallows, red and green mini M&M’s, red and green candy melts, and FANCY sprinkles. Full ingredients with measurements are in the recipe card below, but you’ll find helpful details and tips in the following steps also.
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper, then lay the graham crackers in a single layer with no spaces in between (as snug as possible).
Step 2: Set a saucepan on medium heat and add the butter and brown sugar. Stir until the butter melts and the mixture reaches a full boil, then boil for 2 minutes while stirring constantly. (The boiling is important to the consistency, but it could burn quickly so keep stirring and don’t walk away from stove at this stage.)
Step 3: Take it off the heat and stir in the salt and vanilla. Pour the hot praline mixture over the graham crackers right away and using the back of a big spoon, offset spatula, or bowl scraper, spread the hot butter mixture all the way to the edges.
Step 4: Sprinkle the chopped pecans evenly over the top.
Step 5: Bake for 10 minutes until the topping bubbles, then scatter the marshmallows over the hot pan immediately; they will soften but may not completely melt.
Step 6: After about 5 minutes, press the red and green M&M’s gently into the tacky topping and let the pan cool completely.
Step 7: Melt the red and green candy melts in separate microwave-safe bowls, drizzle them over the top in opposite directions, and add the sprinkles while the drizzle is wet. Let it set, then break or cut into pieces.
Tools & Equipment
- Large rimmed baking sheet
- Parchment paper
- Medium saucepan
- Offset spatula, bowl scraper or large spoon
- 2 small microwave-safe bowls
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Christmas Graham Cracker Pralines
Ingredients
- 12 whole graham cracker sheets
- 1 c butter
- 1 c light brown sugar packed
- 1/4 t salt
- 1 t vanilla extract
- 1 c pecans chopped
- 1 c mini marshmallows
- 1/2 c red and green mini M&M’s
- 1/3 c red candy melts
- 1/3 c green candy melts
- 2 t vegetable shortening divided, optional, for thinning
- 2 T Christmas sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Arrange the graham crackers in a single layer on the baking sheet, breaking pieces as needed to fill the pan.
- Add the butter and brown sugar to a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring often, until the butter melts and the mixture comes to a full boil. Boil for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the salt and vanilla.
- Pour the hot mixture evenly over the graham crackers and spread it to the edges with an offset spatula, bowl scraper, or the back of a large spoon.
- Sprinkle the chopped pecans evenly over the top.
- Bake for 10 minutes, until the topping is hot and bubbling. Immediately sprinkle the marshmallows over the top to melt.
- Let it cool for about 5 minutes. While the marshmallow topping is still a little tacky, scatter over the M&M's and press them in gently. (This will help them adhere when you cut or break this into pieces.) Then let the whole pan cool completely.
- Melt the red candy melts in 20 second intervals, stirring after each, adding 1 teaspoon shortening if needed to thin. Drizzle over the pralines.
- Melt the green candy melts the same way and drizzle in the opposite direction.
- Add the sprinkles while the drizzle is still wet. Let stand 20 to 30 minutes until set, then break or cut into pieces.
Nutrition
The bottom line
These Christmas Graham Cracker Pralines are the “sugar plum” of festive treats. With layers of vanilla from the marshmallows and candy coating, buttery toffee, chocolatey M&Ms, toasty graham crackers, this easy Christmas candy just takes a little patience for the homemade toffee to boil then the rest is just assembly. Looking for more festive treats? Here you go:
- Christmas Cookie Bars
- Festive Butterfinger Balls
- Christmas Tree Brownies
- Christmas Tree Buttercream Board
- Christmas Treats Recipes
- No Fail Christmas Candy
- Snowman Cake Pops
- Peppermint Crunch OREOs
