LMCo. Family Recipes: Saltine Crack (An Absolutely Addictive Holiday Treat!)

Erin’s mama compiled this little informal field guide of the family recipes that come out of our ovens the most from Nanny's roast to Lee’s famous French onion soup and New York buttermilk biscuits.

Today, we're sharing Emily Nowell's addictive holiday treat that will make your waistband expand and your entire family experience a sugar rush. It's the easiest recipe to follow so get your oven mitts and spatula ready to make Saltine Crack.

Saltine Crack

• 1 1/2 to 2 sleeves of saltines
• 3 sticks salted butter
• 1 1/2 c. light brown sugar
• 1/2 bag chocolate chips of your choice

First and foremost, get out a non-stick pot and plenty of aluminum foil. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with the foil and make sure to cover every single speck of that pan. Spray it really well with non-stick cooking spray. Line the sprayed pan with saltines in a single layer, breaking into pieces where needed to cover the bottom (my 12 x 17 pan fits a sleeve and a half perfectly). 

In the non-stick pot, combine butter and brown sugar over medium heat. Once it boils, stir frequently for three minutes. Pour over the crackers and work quickly to spread evenly. Bake in the oven for 12-15 minutes, keeping an eye the last few minutes so as not to let it burn. When you take it out of the oven, sprinkle the chocolate chips all over the top and let them sit for a couple of minutes. When they're soft enough, spread to cover the entire top. Let it cool, then break into chunks and try not to eat the whole pan in one sitting. 

Even if you mess it up, this is still the most addictive treat — sweet, salty, buttery, and chocolatey. It's called "crack" for a reason.

We hope you enjoy this sweet treat! Funny short stories about southern cooking are woven throughout this cookbook, and it makes the perfect gift to pair with our Volume 1 and best-selling hymn tea towel.