The 3-Ingredient Retro Treat My Grandma Made Every Holiday

If there was one thing I could always count on when staying at my grandma’s house for the holidays, it was that she’d have tins full of homemade candies and cookies. Aunts, uncles, cousins, and neighbors would stop by at any time to have some of Imogene’s goodies and an extra-strong cup of coffee, so she was always prepared with treats like Martha Washington candy, pecan pie, and penuche fudge. 

One delicacy I could never get enough of was her chocolate-dipped peanut butter Ritz crackers. The first bite into that crispy, sweet, salty treat always reminded me that I was home. I carry on her tradition by stuffing them into festive cookie tins and delivering them to friends and family during the holiday season.

Creamy peanut butter is sandwiched between Ritz crackers, then dipped into melted chocolate. The crispy, salty crackers, creamy peanut butter, and decadent chocolate combine to make the most satisfying sweet-and-salty snack. With just three steps and a 20-minute prep time, this recipe might just become a holiday tradition for you, too. 

Key Ingredients

My grandma used a combination of chocolate and paraffin wax, but I’ve found that chocolate bark is a better option. Chocolate bark is a chocolate-flavored coating that melts easily in the microwave, hardens within minutes without refrigeration, and sets firm and glossy with a nice snap. If chocolate bark isn’t available, chocolate melting wafers work well, too. If chocolate chips are all you have on hand, follow the extra step of hardening in the fridge. 

My go-to brand of traditional creamy peanut butter is Jif—it has the perfect balance of sweet and salty with a creamy texture that spreads easily on Ritz Crackers without causing them to break. 

Quick Tips

• Use a piping bag: For portioning the peanut butter on the Ritz crackers, it’s easiest to transfer the peanut butter to a piping bag or a zip-top bag with a corner cut out. 
• Sheet pan shortage: If you don’t have three large baking sheets, feel free to lay the parchment paper directly on your counter and let the crackers set right there.

How To Make My Chocolate-Dipped Peanut Butter Ritz Crackers

To make 60 crackers, or about 30 servings, you’ll need:

• 4 sleeves Ritz crackers (120 crackers)
• 1 1/4 cups creamy, no-stir peanut butter, like Jif
• About 20 ounces chocolate bark or melting wafers
• Flaky sea salt or festive sprinkles, optional

Line three 11 x 17-inch baking sheets with parchment paper. 

Spread the peanut butter evenly onto half of the crackers, using about a teaspoon of peanut butter per cracker. Then top them with the other crackers and press down gently to make peanut butter cracker sandwiches. Place on the parchment-lined baking sheets.

Add the chocolate bark to a medium microwave-safe bowl. Melt in the microwave in 30-second increments, stirring after each, until the chocolate is fully melted. This took 2 minutes for me but microwaves vary. Stir until all the chocolate is melted. 

Use a fork to dip each cracker sandwich into the melted chocolate one at a time. Use the fork to flip the cracker sandwich to cover all sides in chocolate. Next, pick it up on the fork and tap the fork on the side of the cup to allow excess chocolate to drip off. 

Place each cracker on the parchment-lined baking sheets. Top with flaky sea salt or sprinkles, if using, while the chocolate is still melty. Let set at room temperature until the chocolate has hardened, about 30 minutes. Discard any leftover chocolate. 

Store fully-set crackers in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to a month.  

Variations

• Other nut butters: If peanut butter isn't your jam (see what I did there), almond butter or cashew butter both work well, too. 
• More chocolate: For an extra hit of sweetness, you can drizzle melted white chocolate melting wafers on top of the crackers after the chocolate bark has set. 
• Sweet and salty: I sprinkle flaky sea salt on top while the chocolate is still wet. It sets up quickly, so I stop halfway through dipping and sprinkle the first half, then sprinkle the remaining crackers as soon as they’re dipped. 
• Other toppings: Crushed candy canes, festive sprinkles, and crushed pecans all make great toppings. Just add any toppings while the chocolate is still wet.

Serving Suggestions

These are great served at a party on a cookie tray along with other vintage-inspired treats like thumbprint cookies, oatmeal cookies, and peanut butter blossoms. I also love to add these to homemade gift boxes with old-fashioned treats like English toffee, and peppermint bark.