Name: Christmas Cornflake Chocolate Crackles Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 25 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 3 level cups cornflake cereal; 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter; 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 12 oz semisweet chocolate, chopped

There’s something magically simple about a good old-fashioned treat that brings out childhood memories, and this Christmas Cornflake Chocolate Crackles Recipe is exactly that — crunchy, chocolatey, and perfect for holiday celebrations. It’s a snack that’s as fun to make as it is to eat, and once you get the knack of it, it becomes a festive staple in my house every year.

A round clear plastic container holds nine small chocolate clusters, each resting in a yellow paper cupcake liner inside the container. The chocolate clusters are dark brown with a rough, bumpy texture showing bits of nuts or other ingredients inside them. Outside the container at the bottom left corner, more chocolate clusters are placed on a sheet of brown parchment paper on a silver-colored tray. The container and tray are on a white marbled surface, with a red and white checkered cloth partially visible under the container. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Cornflake Chocolate Crackles Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Christmas Cornflake Chocolate Crackles Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Christmas Cornflake Chocolate Crackles Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I’ve made Christmas Cornflake Chocolate Crackles more times than I can count, and every year I’m reminded why they’re such a beloved holiday treat. They bring that perfect crunch combined with rich, melty chocolate, plus they’re surprisingly easy and fast to whip up when you have guests coming over or just want to spoil yourself.

Quick and Simple: This recipe comes together in under 30 minutes, so you can have a homemade sweet without much fuss.
Perfect Crunch: Cornflakes provide that light, crispy bit that contrasts beautifully with the smooth chocolate coating.
Customizable: You can easily tailor the recipe with nuts, sea salt, or even a twist of orange zest to keep it interesting.
Kid-Friendly Fun: It’s a fantastic activity and treat for young helpers in the kitchen, making holiday memories even sweeter.

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient in this Christmas Cornflake Chocolate Crackles Recipe plays a key role in building layers of flavor and texture, making the finished bite irresistible. Picking good quality chocolate and fresh cornflakes will elevate the taste, so here’s a little breakdown.

Flat lay of a shallow pile of golden cornflake cereal flakes, a small square of unsalted butter on a simple white ceramic plate, a small white bowl filled with packed light brown sugar, a small white bowl with clear vanilla extract, a small white bowl holding fine white salt, and a mound of roughly chopped glossy dark semisweet chocolate pieces – all arranged symmetrically on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Cornflake cereal: The classic, crispy base that holds everything together and adds light crunch without overwhelming.
Unsalted butter: Melts smooth with the sugar to create that luscious, sticky coating for the flakes.
Brown sugar: Adds a deep caramel hint and keeps the texture from drying out.
Vanilla extract: A little vanilla goes a long way to deepen the flavor, balancing the sweet and chocolate.
Salt: Just enough salt enhances all the sweet notes and rounds out the flavors.
Semisweet chocolate: Melts beautifully for dipping, creating the finishing glossy shell with that perfect bittersweet contrast.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

One of the best parts about the Christmas Cornflake Chocolate Crackles Recipe is how easy it is to personalize. Over the years, I’ve played around with little tweaks and I encourage you to do the same — it’s all about making it your kind of festive.

Variation: A sprinkle of crushed peppermint candies on the chocolate adds a refreshing holiday twist that I adore for parties.
Nutty Upgrade: Tossing in chopped toasted almonds or hazelnuts gives a lovely crunch and a flavor boost that’s awesome for nut lovers.
Spiced Up: Adding a pinch of cinnamon or ground ginger into the butter and sugar mixture brings a warm, cozy note that feels incredibly festive.
Dairy-Free Option: Swap the butter for a plant-based alternative and use dairy-free chocolate for allergen-friendly crackles that still satisfy.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Cornflake Chocolate Crackles Recipe

A close-up of a large, single layer of golden brown, glossy cereal flakes spread unevenly on a baking tray lined with light brown parchment paper. The flakes have a shiny coating and vary in size and texture, some are flat while others are slightly curled or broken. In the top right corner, a turquoise silicone spatula rests on the tray. The background is a white marbled texture. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Step 1: Prepare Your Cornflakes and Oven

First things first, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). While it’s warming up, line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spread out the cornflakes evenly. This helps them toast slightly for extra crunch before we add the buttery coating. Keep an eye on them so they don’t burn — 5 minutes in the oven is usually just right.

Step 2: Make the Butter and Sugar Sauce

In a saucepan set over medium heat, melt the unsalted butter and brown sugar together, stirring so nothing sticks or burns. Once melted, keep stirring for a minute or two to let the sugar fully dissolve and the mixture thicken slightly. Then remove from heat and stir in your vanilla extract and salt. This creates a rich, caramel-like coating that’s going to make the cornflakes so delicious.

Step 3: Coat and Bake the Cornflakes

Pour the warm butter-sugar mixture over the toasted cornflakes. Use a spoon or rubber spatula to gently fold and coat all the flakes evenly — try not to break them up too much here. Spread the coated flakes back into a neat rectangle on the baking sheet, pressing them down lightly so they stick together well. Bake for 5 minutes, then press gently again around the edges and in the center before baking for another 5 minutes. This step helps the crackles bind into chunks that will hold their shape once cooled.

Step 4: Cool and Break into Pieces

After baking, let the cornflakes cool completely on the tray. This is crucial! If you try to break them apart too soon, they’ll crumble all over the place. Once cooled, break the large rectangle into chunks of your preferred size — this is where your crackles start looking like little festive bites.

Step 5: Dip in Melted Chocolate

Place chopped semisweet chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and melt it in 30-second bursts, stirring in between until smooth. Dip each cornflake chunk in the warm chocolate, making sure it’s fully coated. Shake off excess chocolate and lay them on parchment paper to set. For an extra touch, sprinkle a tiny pinch of salt on top before the chocolate hardens — it really wakes up the flavor!

Top Tip

Making this Christmas Cornflake Chocolate Crackles Recipe year after year has taught me some handy tricks to get the best results, so here are my personal tips to make your batch shine.

Don’t Rush the Cooling: Letting the cornflakes cool fully before breaking prevents crumbling and keeps the chunks intact.
Toast Cornflakes Lightly: Baking uncooked flakes for a few minutes before coating makes the cookies crunchier — just watch carefully so they don’t burn.
Chocolate Melting Patience: Melt your chocolate slowly in bursts, stirring well — overheating can cause it to seize and get grainy.
Press Twice During Baking: Pressing the cornflakes halfway through baking really helps everything bind better and makes chunking easier.

How to Serve Christmas Cornflake Chocolate Crackles Recipe

Christmas Cornflake Crackles - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I love adding just a little extra something on top of the chocolate while it’s still wet — a pinch of flaky sea salt works wonders to balance the sweet. Sometimes I’ll sprinkle crushed candy canes for a peppermint pop or even tiny red and green edible glitter for a festive sparkle that kids adore.

Side Dishes

These crackles pair beautifully with a hot cup of spiced tea or rich coffee, rounding out an afternoon snack spread. I often serve them alongside gingerbread cookies and a cheese platter to add texture contrast.

Creative Ways to Present

For parties, try arranging your Christmas Cornflake Chocolate Crackles in mini cupcake liners on a decorative tray or stack them to build a little edible “tree.” Wrapping small bundles tied with festive ribbon makes a sweet edible gift your friends will adore.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover crackles in an airtight container at room temperature. They generally stay fresh and crunchy for about a week, although I’ll admit they rarely last that long in my kitchen! Keeping them away from humidity is key to preserving the texture.

Freezing

If you want to make a big batch ahead of time, freezing works well. Place the crackles in a sealed freezer-safe container with parchment paper between layers. When ready to eat, thaw at room temperature — they keep their crunch surprisingly well.

Reheating

If the chocolate feels a bit dull after storing, pop the crackles in the fridge for 10 minutes to re-harden the coating. Avoid microwaving or reheating in ways that could melt the chocolate and lose crispness.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use other cereals besides cornflakes?

You can experiment with cereals like Rice Krispies, but the texture and binding might be different. Cornflakes have just the right crunch and size that works perfectly with the coating in this recipe.

How do I prevent the chocolate from getting messy?

Make sure the chocolate is warm but not hot when dipping — too hot and it will drip excessively. Also, using a fork or dipping tool helps shake off the excess chocolate. Let the dipped crackles set on lined parchment paper to keep things tidy.

Can I make these crackles gluten-free?

Yes! Cornflakes are sometimes made with malt so check the packaging, but there are gluten-free cornflakes options available. When choosing chocolate and other ingredients, opt for certified gluten-free brands to ensure safety.

What’s the best way to store crackles on the counter?

Store your crackles in an airtight container at room temperature, away from heat and humidity. This keeps them crunchy for about a week. Adding a small piece of bread to the container can help absorb any moisture and keep them fresh longer.

Final Thoughts

Making this Christmas Cornflake Chocolate Crackles Recipe has become one of my favorite holiday rituals. It’s simple, nostalgic, and always brings a smile — whether I’m sharing with family, neighbors, or just sneaking a few for myself! I'm sure once you try making them, you’ll find the joy in how effortless and festive this treat is. Give it a go and enjoy the crunch, the chocolate, and all the holiday magic it brings!