i forgot all about these little gems. and that should be a sin. they are that good. my mom discovered them probably ten years ago at a bake sale and we used to make them all the time. back then, we called them pine bark. which, honestly never sounded very appetizing to me.
thankfully, a friend mentioned to me that she had made some chocolate-y caramel crackers and i was re-introduced to CARAMEL CRACK(ERS). their new name is way better. and way more appropriate. because they are literally as addictive as the drug. the surprise factor? the key ingredient is saltines!
preheat oven to 350°f. line 11x17-inch baking sheet completely with foil.
line the bottom of the baking sheet with crackers.
in a medium heavy-duty saucepan, melt the butter and brown sugar together, and stir it over medium heat until it begins to boil. once it has begun boiling, let it bubble for three more minutes, stirring it well. it will thicken a bit as it cooks. remove from the heat and add the salt and vanilla, and then quickly pour it over the crackers. you’ll want to spread it quickly, as it will begin to set as soon as it is poured.
bake the caramel-covered crackers for 15 minutes, watching carefully as it will bubble and the corners might darken too quickly and/or burn. you can reduce the heat if you see this happening.
remove from oven and immediately cover with chocolate chips. let stand five minutes and then spread them evenly across the caramel. if you’re using them, sprinkle the chocolate with toasted chopped nuts.
once completely cool, break it into pieces and eat up.
