Vegan Toffee: Graham Cracker Toffee Bars
Searching for an easy, crowd-pleasing dessert? Look no further than this irresistible vegan toffee made with graham crackers, chocolate, and nuts…aka vegan Christmas crack! Made with just 4-6 ingredients, you won’t believe how simple they are to make.
Inspiration for this Graham Cracker Toffee
My husband and I discovered graham cracker “crack” at a recent Halloween party (yes, I had a bite or three, not knowing what I was eating;)). MINDS BLOWN!
They reminded me of the scrumptious vegan chocolate covered matzo that my mother in law makes us every year…but just a bit more addictive with the graham cracker cookies!
Once I tracked down the baker behind them (my dear friend Shanna!), I was able to get her recipe. And get this…it was from one of those 1980s recipe rolodexes from a family friend! Turns out the recipe was actually for a super simple microwave toffee.
How cute is this?
So naturally, I set off to veganize…
It took quite a few tries. The microwave didn’t work for me; guessing it was the vegan butter. So I moved to the stove. The toffee was tough to get right, but I finally figured it out!
WHY YOU WILL LOVE THESE VEGAN TOFFEE BARS
They are:
EASY
KID-FRIENDLY
CROWD-PLEASING
SWEET
ADDICTIVE
ADAPTABLE
INEXPENSIVE
DAIRY FREE
GLUTEN FREE (with gluten free graham crackers)
VEGAN
Tips for Making Vegan Toffee Bark
Dairy Free Toffee cooks differently than toffee made with dairy butter. It took me 5 tries to get the right texture and proportions without burning the toffee. Turns out, vegan butter burns more easily than dairy butter when making the toffee, so this recipe differs most dairy toffee recipes in the following ways:
- Stove: start on low, do not cook the butter too quickly. Once combined with sugar and boiling, only stir toffee another 15-20 seconds, then remove. Dairy recipes will boil for a few minutes: this will burn the vegan butter.
- Oven: this recipe cooks at a lower temperature and for less time than most dairy toffee recipes.
Variations and Substitutions for Vegan Toffee Bars
- CHOCOLATE:
- Both vegan dark chocolate and vegan semi-sweet chocolate chips work wonderfully in this recipe. The toffee is sweet, so the dark chocolate offers a nice balance to offset the sweetness. The semi-sweet chocolate tastes more like milk chocolate when melted, and is particularly delicious with a small sprinkle of sea salt on top to balance the sweet on sweet.
- I like to vary the toppings and textures. For some graham crackers, I melt the chocolate. For others, I let them stay in chocolate chip form.
- COOKIES: Graham crackers can be substituted with other simple cookies or crackers, like saltines, or even matzo for Passover!
- NUTS: Nuts are optional in this recipe, though they really add to the texture, flavor, and balance of this vegan butter toffee. Any kind of nut will work, but I particularly love roasted and salted nuts. For example, pistachios, pecans, peanuts, walnuts, almonds, or hazelnuts. Or go big and use candied pecans!
EQUIPMENT NEEDED
- full size baking sheet: for baking vegan toffee cookies
- parchment paper, silicon mat, or foil: for lining baking sheet
- saucepan (small or medium): for making toffee
- spatula: for stirring toffee
- spatula or spoon: for spreading toffee and chocolate
Step by Step Instructions
Vegan toffee bark comes together in 4 easy steps:
Make the toffee: Melt butter on low and then add light brown sugar. Stir until blended. Bring to boil and remove within 20 seconds.
Bake toffee-covered cookies: Once toffee is poured and spread over graham crackers, bake for 5 minutes at 350.
Add toppings: add chocolate, nuts, and/or sea salt. Chocolate can be melted or left in chip form.
Rest until cool: it takes at least an hour (pending the weather, even longer); to speed up, place in refrigerator to set. Break into pieces and enjoy!
FAQs
Does Christmas crack need to be refrigerated?
No, it can be left at room temperature, covered in an air tight container. It can also be refrigerated or frozen. Toffee graham cracker bars are delicious to eat at any temperature too: room temperature, cold, and even frozen!
Are there vegan graham crackers?
Yes, many brands offer vegan graham crackers! When shopping, just be sure to look for graham crackers that do not contain honey.
Are graham crackers dairy free?
Yes, graham crackers are typically dairy free naturally.
What is good to put on graham crackers?
Vegan toffee, vegan chocolate, and nuts, of course! Or try them with any of these combinations, like toffee and nuts, toffee and chocolate, or just toffee!
IF YOU LIKE THESE VEGAN TOFFEE BARS, YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:
- Easy Vegan Ice Cream Pie
- Rich, Chocolatey Vegan Protein Balls!
- Trader Joe’s Vegan Desserts that are Worth It!
- Vegan Finger Foods (easy party appetizers)
I hope you enjoy this simple vegan toffee graham cracker recipe! If you try it, please let me know what you think by commenting and rating below.
Cheers!
–Jenn
Vegan Toffee (Vegan Graham Cracker Toffee)
Equipment
- 13 x 18 baking sheet or two smaller ones
- silicon baking mat or parchment paper
- small or medium saucepan
- spatula
- air tight container for storing
Ingredients
- 15-16 graham crackers or gluten free graham crackers
- 3/4 cup salted vegan butter (12 tablespoons) I use Earth Balance salted vegan butter sticks
- 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 1/4 cups non dairy chocolate chips or chocolate chunks* dark chocolate or semi-sweet pending preference
- 1/2 cup chopped nuts of choice like pistachios, pecans, walnuts, almonds, or spicy nuts! optional
- sea salt for sprinkling on top optional
Instructions
- Set oven to 350 °F.
- Line baking sheet with parchment paper, foil, or silicon liner. If possible, line to/over the edges.
- Line up graham crackers over liner, aiming to fill the surface. To catch all the delicious toffee, you may consider breaking some of the crackers to fill the sides.
- In saucepan over low heat, melt vegan butter, stirring regularly.
- Once melted, add brown sugar, stirring regularly.
- At first the butter and sugar will be separated but with stirring and heat, they will form together. Turn up heat slightly to medium low, stirring constantly. Bring to boil and then stir for another 15-20 seconds ONLY.
- Pour toffee over graham crackers. Even out with a spatula or spoon to cover crackers.
- Bake for about 5 minutes, until toffee is bubbling across entire surface.
- Sprinkle with chocolate chips. If you prefer melted chocolate, use a spatula or spoon to melt and spread. It may take a minute at first but the chips will melt.
- Sprinkle nuts (optional). Press down slightly for a better chance of nuts sticking/staying in place.
- Sprinkle sea salt (optional).
- Let cool completely. To speed up cooling, place in refrigerator for an hour.
- Break into pieces and enjoy.
Notes
Nutrition
PIN THIS GRAHAM CRACKER TOFFEE RECIPE FOR LATER:
Thank you Jennifer for this delicious recipe!
Easy & incredibly good!
these are so friggin addicting!
hahah thanks Nancy! TRUE!
such a delicious treat! perfect for the holidays!
What a fantastic sweet treat to make for holiday gifts, or to enjoy any day! Thank you!
Thank you Connie!