Description
Festive candy cane truffles blend rich chocolate with peppermint’s cool essence. Smooth ganache and crushed candy canes create a luxurious winter treat you’ll savor with pure holiday joy.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup / 225 g / 2 sticks unsalted butter
- 2 cups / 10-12 oz chopped good-quality semi-sweet chocolate
- 1 cup / 220 g firmly packed dark brown sugar
- 28–35 saltine crackers (about one sleeve)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp kosher salt
Instructions
- Preparation: Position oven rack centrally and preheat to 400°F (204°C). Line a 10×15-inch jelly roll pan with aluminum foil, ensuring complete coverage and creating a non-stick surface.
- Cracker Base: Meticulously arrange saltine crackers in an uninterrupted, precise layer across the pan’s bottom, eliminating any spacing between crackers.
- Caramel Creation: In a medium saucepan, combine dark brown sugar, unsalted butter, and kosher salt over medium heat. Stir consistently until the mixture transforms into a smooth, bubbling liquid. Briefly boil to dissolve sugar completely, then swiftly incorporate vanilla extract and remove from heat.
- Baking and Chocolate Layer: Pour caramel evenly over cracker base, transfer to preheated oven, and bake for 5 minutes until caramel vigorously bubbles. Simultaneously, melt chocolate in microwave using 30-second intervals, stirring between each burst until achieving a completely smooth consistency.
- Finishing and Setting: Once base slightly cools, spread liquefied chocolate across caramel layer using a spatula to create a flawless, even coating. Allow confection to settle at room temperature, then refrigerate overnight. After complete solidification, carefully extract candy slab, remove foil, and slice into elegant, bite-sized pieces.
Notes
- Cracker Placement Precision: Arrange saltines tightly without gaps to create a sturdy, uniform base that ensures even caramel coverage and a consistent texture.
- Caramel Cooking Technique: Watch closely during sugar and butter melting; consistent stirring prevents burning and guarantees a smooth, glossy caramel sauce with perfect consistency.
- Chocolate Melting Strategy: Use short microwave intervals and stir between each to prevent chocolate scorching, ensuring a silky, glossy chocolate layer without burning.
- Cooling and Setting Secrets: Refrigerate overnight for complete solidification, allowing flavors to meld and creating a crisp, clean break when cutting into pieces.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 204
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 73 mg
- Fat: 13 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 31 mg