Introduction

Caramel Crackers are a sweet and crunchy treat that’s perfect for satisfying your snack cravings. This easy recipe transforms simple oyster crackers into irresistible caramel-coated clusters with a hint of cinnamon and salt.

A white bowl filled with a large pile of small round golden brown cookies, each cookie coated with a shiny caramel glaze and sprinkled with large grains of salt on top, giving a textured look. The cookies have a slightly crimped edge and are stacked unevenly, showing multiple layers inside the bowl. The background is softly blurred with a warm tone, and the surface beneath the bowl is a white marbled texture. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

1 package (9 ounces) oyster crackers
2 sticks (1 cup) butter
1 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Spread the oyster crackers evenly on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Step 2: In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in the brown sugar, vanilla extract, and cinnamon until the sugar dissolves.
Step 3: Bring the mixture to a boil and let it cook for 2 to 3 minutes until it thickens slightly.
Step 4: Pour the caramel sauce over the crackers, stirring gently to coat them evenly. Sprinkle the salt over the top.
Step 5: Bake in the preheated oven for 7 to 9 minutes, watching carefully to prevent the caramel from burning.
Step 6: Remove from oven and let the crackers cool completely on the baking sheet before breaking into clusters.

Tips & Variations

For extra texture, add chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts before baking.
Use light or dark brown sugar to adjust the depth of caramel flavor.
Sprinkle a little extra sea salt on top after baking for a more pronounced salty-sweet contrast.

Storage

Store caramel crackers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. To maintain crispiness, avoid refrigerating. If they soften, re-crisp in a low oven for a few minutes before serving.

How to Serve

A wooden bowl with a white outer layer is filled with small, round, golden-brown snacks that look crispy and shiny. Each snack is covered with tiny white puffed rice pieces, giving a bumpy texture, and they are piled high inside the bowl so they slightly overflow. The bowl sits on a white marbled texture with a hint of a striped cloth underneath, and another similar bowl is visible but blurred in the background. The lighting is bright and natural, highlighting the glossy surface of the snacks. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use a different type of cracker?

Yes, pretzel sticks or small buttery crackers work well, but oyster crackers provide the best balance of texture and flavor for this caramel coating.

What if my caramel hardens too much?

If your caramel cools too quickly and hardens, you can gently warm it again on low heat while stirring, but be careful not to burn it.

Caramel Crackers Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 81 reviews

Caramel Crackers are a sweet and crunchy snack made by coating oyster crackers with a homemade caramel sauce, baked to perfection. This easy-to-make treat combines buttery, cinnamon-spiced caramel with a touch of salt, resulting in addictive clusters perfect for sharing or snacking.

Author: Lila
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Yield: Approximately 6 cups of caramel crackers 1x
Category: Snack
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale

Crackers

1 package oyster crackers (9 ounces)

Caramel Sauce

2 sticks butter (1 cup)
1 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt

Instructions

Prepare: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread the oyster crackers evenly in a single layer on the sheet to prepare for coating.
Make Caramel: In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter completely. Stir in the brown sugar, vanilla extract, and cinnamon until the sugar dissolves. Bring the mixture to a boil and let it cook for 2 to 3 minutes, allowing it to thicken into a rich caramel sauce.
Coat Crackers: Pour the caramel sauce evenly over the crackers on the baking sheet, gently tossing or stirring if needed to coat all crackers thoroughly. Sprinkle the salt evenly on top to balance the sweetness.
Bake: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake the coated crackers for 7 to 9 minutes. Watch carefully to prevent the caramel from burning while it bakes into a crispy, golden layer.
Finish: Remove the baking sheet from the oven and allow the caramel crackers to cool completely on the parchment paper. Once cooled, break them into clusters and store them in an airtight container for maximum freshness.